Water Flashcards
What is water security?
Having reliable & sustainable source of enough good quality water to meet everyone’s needs
What is a water deficit?
When there’s not enough water to meet people’s needs
What is a water surplus?
Having more water than needed
Name 3 things water security depends on
- Amount of water available
- Number of people who need it
- Ability to access water
What is water insecurity?
Not enough clear water to keep everyone healthy, or enable them to make a living
What is water stress?
- When demand for water exceeds supply during a certain period
- Or when water us not of high enough quality to use
Name 2 reasons why water demand is rising
- Economic development
- Rising population
Explain why water demand is rising due to rising population + give stat
Each person needs water & need more food
Irrigation for agriculture uses 70% of world’s freshwater resources
Name 3 reasons why water demand is rising due to economic development
- Industrialisation
- Energy Production
- Rising living standards
Explain why water demand is rising due to industrialisation
- Countries become more developed = produce more goods
- Manufacturing uses a lot of water
Explain why water demand is rising due to energy production
15% of water used to produce energy
Explain why water demand is rising due to rising living standards
- As countries develop = wealth increases = higher standard of living
- Increases water use = more appliances
Name 2 physical factors that affect water availability
- Climate
- Geology
Explain how climate affects water availability
- Rely on rainfall = feeds lakes and rivers = water supply
- Hot = water lost due to evaporation
Explain how geology affects water availability
- Rain falls on impermeable rock = flows into rivers and lakes
- Easy to get water from
- Rain falls on permeable rock = flows through them & forms underground water stores (aquifers)
- Harder to get to but useful in dry places
Name 4 economic and social factors that affect water availability
- Over-abstraction
- Pollution of water sources
- Limited infrastructure
- Poverty
What is over-abstraction?
More water being used than replaced
Name 3 things over-abstraction is caused by
- Improvements in sanitation and person hygiene
- Population growth & economic development
- High demand from businesses
- e.g. tourism & recreation (golf courses) = water stress
How does the pollution of water sources affect the water availability?
Reduces amount of clean water available
Where is pollution of water sources a problem? (2x)
- Human & animal waste hazard for people who share water sources & have no access to sanitation
- Problem in rapidly industrialising countries
- Where industrial waste dumped into river with treatment
Explain how limited infrastructure affects water availability
Rapid urbanisation = water pipes & sewers can’t be built quickly enough to supply population and prevent sewage from contaminating supply
Explain how poverty affects water availability
- Water providers charge fee for supplying water to homes
- People too poor = find other sources of water = not safe to drink
Name 4 impacts of water insecurity
- Food production
- Pollution and disease
- Industrial output
- Conflict
Explain how water insecurity affects food production
- Irrigation for agriculture uses lot of water
- = shortage = less food = starvation
Explain how water insecurity affects conflict
- When areas of water insecurity share same water supply, water shortage = conflict
- e.g. if 1 country take water from river = reduce water security of countries downstream
Explain how water insecurity causes pollution and disease
- Supplies of drinking water = polluted by sewage, industrial chemicals or nitrogen from fertilisers
- Diseases (e.g. cholera and typhoid) caused by micro-organism passed on through water containing untreated sewage
- People forced to drink polluted water = death or disease
Explain how water insecurity affects industrial output
- Manufacturing industries use lot of water
- Can’t produce as much during water shortages
- Reduce people’s wages & affects economy
Name 3 ways of increasing water supplies
- Water Transfer
- Dams and Reservoirs
- Desalination
What are water diversion schemes?
Transfer water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit
Name 2 ways a water deficit can be created
Seasonal variations or unpredictable rainfall
What is a water transfer?
Large-scale engineering projects = move water from river that has surplus water to river that has shortage
How can water be transferred in water transfer?
Canals & pipes
How can you improve water flow in water transfers?
Original river channel can be dredged (depended)
