Water as a resource

Question 1

Abstractive uses

Answer 1

Domestic uses
Industrial uses
Removes water from where it is found

Question 2

Domestic uses

Answer 2

Washing
Flushing toilets
Food preparation
Drinking
Watering house/garden plants
Recreation

Question 3

Industrial uses

Answer 3

Power stations
Chemical industry
Mining
Mineral processing industries
Major uses are cooling, heating, washing, steam generation, transport, solvents
Approx. 1/2 of water used in industry is condensing towers

Question 4

Domestic water uses in MEDCs and LEDCs

Answer 4

MEDC water is usually purified
MEDCs don’t limit water use depended on availability
LEDCs have shortages so water use is for essentials only
Water borne diseases are common in impurified LEDC water

Question 5

Human water use

Answer 5

70% agriculture
15% industrial
15% domestic

Question 6

Water in agriculture

Answer 6

Irrigation

Livestock drinking

Question 7

Irrigation

Answer 7

Single biggest use of water in agriculture
Cereal crops need lots of water
Cereal crops usually grown in drier USA areas
Irrigation is used to increase growth of cereal crops
Aids nutrient uptake

Question 8

Water quality

Answer 8

Turbidity
pH
Calcium content
Pesticide concentration
Dissolved O2
Heavy metal concentration
Chlorine retention
E.COLI abundance

Question 9

Turbidity

Answer 9

Suspended solids must be removed
Gives water unpleasant appearance
Gives water unpleasant taste
Settling of suspended solids blocks pipes
Expressed as TSS in mg1 to the power of 1

Question 10

pH

Answer 10

Acidic water can dissolve copper pipes
Ideal pH range is 6.5 to 8.5
Outside ideal range can make water taste unpleasant

Question 11

Calcium content

Answer 11

Dissolved calcium ions decide how hard/soft water is
Hard water can help reduce tooth decay, osteoporosis, heart disease
Hard water can react with soap to make scum
Hard water produces solid limescale

Question 12

Pesticide concentration

Answer 12

All pesticides are toxic

Question 13

Heavy metal concentration

Answer 13

Heavy metals eg. lead, mercury
Neurotoxins
Damage the nervous system
Low concentrations don’t leave noticeable damage

Question 14

Dissolved O2

Answer 14

Low levels make water smell musty or like rotten eggs

Low O2 can make toxic metals more soluble

Question 15

Chlorine retention

Answer 15

Added to water to keep it sterile

other materials/pipes reduce concentration

Question 16

E.COLI abundance

Answer 16

E.COLI is a common gut bacteria
Will be present if sewage has been present
Helps prevent sewage contaminated drinking water
Measured using coliform count
Potable water has coliform count of 0

Question 17

Spray irrigation water qualities

Answer 17

Low turbidity
Low heavy metals
Sediments block pipes
Toxins harm crops/livestock/consumers

Question 18

Power station condenser water qualities

Answer 18

No gross solids eg. turbidity

Blocks pipes

Question 19

Power station boiler seam water qualities

Answer 19

Absolutely pure water

Mineral deposits block pipes, reduce heat exchange/water flow

Question 20

Textile washing water qualities

Answer 20

Soft water

Prevents scum from forming

Question 21

Non abstractive uses

Answer 21

Uses the water where it is found
Energy
Transport
Recreation
Wildlife conservation

Question 22

Energy

Answer 22

Hydroelectric (HEP) stations
Uses kinetic energy of moving water
Dam is built to hold water
Condensing tower water returned to source

Question 23

Transport

Answer 23

First mas transport system for bulk goods

Ship transport

Question 24

Recreation

Answer 24

Sailing
Canoeing
Holiday boating
Sport fishing
Swimming

Question 25

Wildlife conservation

Answer 25

Wetlands provide valuable habitats
Many UK wetlands created by human activities
Eg. reservoirs, flooded gravel pits
Highly important for migratory birds

Question 26

Conflicts over water

Answer 26

Abstracting/storing water can cause problems for other users or for users in the surrounding area
Other user groups could threaten water supply

Question 27

Abstracting water conflicts

Answer 27

Damage aesthetic appeal
Loss of previous land use
Lowered water table
Restricted activities
Need for a fish ladder
Alter river bed
Increase in heavy metal solubility down food chain

Question 28

Case study- conflicts of interest

Answer 28

Syr Darya River
Flows through 4 central asian countries
Toktogul reservoir Krygystan used for electricity
Reduce summer flow to increase winter generation
Countries downstream want more summer flow for irrigation
Similar conflicts between countries sharing river Danube