water Flashcards
water surplus
excessive amounts of water
water deficit
lack of water
water security
having enough water to live
water insecurity
insufficient amount of water
water stress
when demand is more than supply
water consumption
use of water
how does water stress occur
when water consumption increases
how does geology affect water availability?
permeable rock on the ground can absorb water and limit water supply
how does climate affect water availability?
lack of rainfall can reduce water supply
how does pollution affect water availability?
toxic and chemical waste can pollute clean water
how does over-abstraction affect water availability?
using water from groundwater resources can reduce river flow
how does limited infrastructure affect water availability?
limited water pipes mean people have to share appliances
why is polluted water an impact from water availability
toxic waste from industries can pollute drinking water
why is food production an impact from water availability
the less water available, the more dehydrated crops will be
why is industrial output an impact from water availability
water shortages can affect businesses economically
why is a conflict between countries an impact from water availability
for example, if a country builds a dam near a border, the other country will suffer from water insecurity
advantages of dams and reservoirs
during a water surplus, the reservoir can be filled, then during a water deficit, water can be shared
produces renewable energy
disadvantages of dams and reservoirs
expensive to build and maintain
cause damage to agricultural land and aquatic habitats
advantages of water diversion
raises the water level and can redirect water diversion
less disruptive to agriculture
produces renewable energy
disadvantages of water diversion
not reliable
expensive
advantages of water transfer
moves water from surplus to deficit
an effective strategy of reducing water insecurity
disadvantages of water transfer
water can be lost through leakage
expensive to build and maintain
not sustainable for the environment
advantages of desalination
salt is removed from seawater to make freshwater
an effective way of reducing water insecurity
disadvantages of desalination
expensive because energy is required to heat seawater
desalination plants powered by fossil fuels
