Water

Question 1

Stat about freshwater vs saltwater?

Answer 1

97% of the water on Earth is saltwater. 3% is freshwater.

Question 2

What is an aquifier?

Answer 2

A body of rock and/or sediment that holds groundwater.

Question 3

What is the water table?

Answer 3

The level underground at which the rocks or soil are completely saturated with water.

Question 4

What is renewable freshwater?

Answer 4

Surface water and groundwater resources.

Question 5

Different methods of water supply?

Answer 5

Reservoirs/dams
Wells and bore holes
Desalination
Rainwater harvesting

Question 6

Factors affecting water surplus/deficit?

Answer 6

• Level of economic development
• The presence of aquifers.
• The amount of precipitation.
• The proximity of rivers.
• Population density and growth.
• Political decisions.
• Temperatures and amount of evaporation.

Question 7

Health impacts of lack of access to clean water?

Answer 7

• Around 5.8 million children under five die annually from untreated water-related causes.
• Diarrhoea is the most widely known disease linked to contaminated water. Contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause 485 000 diarrhoeal deaths each year.

Question 8

How does access to clean water improve the potential for economic development?

Answer 8

• Better water sources mean less expenditure on health, as people are less likely to fall ill and incur medical costs, and are better able to remain economically productive.
• When water comes from improved and more accessible sources, people spend less time and effort physically collecting it.
• With children particularly at risk from water-related diseases, access to improved sources of water can result in better health, and therefore better school attendance.

Question 9

How does poor water supply affect development in a country?

Answer 9

• Poor water supply is likely to hinder development.
• Dehydration
• People will not be able to work/be educated
• Money will be spent on treating dehydration
• There may be a lack of water for use in agriculture/irrigation.
• Yields of crops/livestock will be low
• There will be insufficient water for some manufacturing industries
• Conflict over water supplies

Question 10

How can water supply be managed so it is available all year round?

Answer 10

• Use of dams to store water in tanks and be able to transfer water to areas with deficit.
• Use of water from aquifers
• Importing of water supplies
• Desalination
• Educate people about water conservation
• Use more efficient methods of irrigation or example (e.g. drip irrigation)

Question 11

Why is water important?

Answer 11

• Water is a basic need/needed for drinking/washing
• Needed for cooking food
• Reduces (water borne) disease/death rate/people live longer
• Reduces pressure on healthcare
• People need water to be fit to work
• Water is needed for good sanitation
• Reduces need to walk a long way for water