Water (Case Studies) Flashcards
What are some key facts about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam? (An example of water conflict)
• Located 30km south of the Sudan border on the Blue Nile (85% of Nile water)
• More than 1 mile long, 145m high
• 12 years of construction, £3.8Bn cost
+ Provides electricity for 60% of the population, x2 Ethiopia output of electricity
+ Provide electricity for neighbours (e.g. Sudan, Kenya)
- 2% reduction in Nile water= 200,000 acres of irrigated land lost for countries downstream
- Little agreement on use of water
- Construction started during Arab Spring
- Armed conflict is possible between Egypt and Ethiopia
What are some key facts about the Indus Water Treaty? (An example of water conflict)
• Command area of 20m Ha, annual irrigation over 12m Ha
• 1948- India halted water to some Paistani canals
• Treaty signed September 19, 1960:
- 3 Eastern rivers; Ravi, Sutlej + Beas given to India
- 3 Western rivers; Indus, Jhelum, Chenab given to Pakistan
• Indus Basin Development Fund administered by the World Bank
• Wular Barrage issue: 1985, Pakistan learns of the Tulbul Navigation Project (Barrage built of Jhelum River by India)
• Would allow India to withhold water, reducing irrigation and electricity for Punjab, reduce Pakistani troop mobility, increase Indian troop mobility
• Many disagreements on how the barrage should be built
What are some key facts about the South to North Water Transfer Project? (An example of infrastructure)
• Took over 50 years to complete
• $100Bn cost
• 44.88Bn cubic metres of water transferred per year
• Stakeholders= government, local authorities, businesses
• Env. protection included in project
- Worsening water quality
• 2 Western routes, Central route, Eastern route
What are some key facts about the Three Gorges Dam? (An example of infrastructure)
• Started construction in 1993, finished in 2009
• Flood control, navigation, HEP, drinking water
+• Prevents downstream flooding (e.g. Shanghai)
+• Ship lift allows upstream trading
-• Sedimentation= reduced carrying capacity of the reservoir
-• Environmental laws are weak, therefore pollution
-• 1.1m people resettled
-• Weight causes earthquakes
What are some key facts about Cochabamba, Bolivia? (An example of water insecurity)
• Occured in 2000
• Mass privatisation of water resources sparked protests
• Killed at least 7 people
• Water rights of the city were sold to the company Aguas del Tunari
• Prices of water doubled
• After protesting, the Bolivian water company SEMAPA was reinstated
What are the Helsinki rules?
These are rules stating how water resources should be managed:
• Each basin State is entitled to an equal share of the waters from its drainage basin
• Must prevent water pollution which would affect a co-basin state
How much of Nile water comes from the Blue Nile?
85%
How long and tall is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam?
Over 1 mile long, 145 metres high
What was the cost of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam?
£3.8 Billion
How many acres of irrigated land would be lost if there was a 2% reduction in Nile water?
200,000 acres downstream
By how much will the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam provide for Ethiopia’s electricity?
Double electricity output
What is the annual irrigation area of the Indus Valley?
12 million hectares
When was the Indus Water Treaty signed?
September 19, 1960
Which rivers were given to India in the Indus Water Treaty?
Ravi, Sutlej and Beas
Which rivers were given to Pakistan in the Indus Water Treaty?
Indus, Jhelum and Chenab
On which river did India build a barrage?
Jhelum River
How much has the SNWTP cost?
Over $100 Billion
How much water does the SNWTP transfer each year?
44.88 billion cubic metres
How many people were resettled due to the Three Gorges Dam?
1,100,000
When did the Cochabamba water crisis occur?
2000
How many people died due to the Cochabamba water crisis protests?
At least 7 people
What was the Bolivian water supply company which was privatised?
SEMAPA
Why did a drought occur in Brazil from 2014-15?
Over-abstraction of groundwater until the rivers began to run low.
This caused locals to illegally extract groundwater, which was full of pollutants due to improper wells
