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6GEO3 > Water Conflicts > Flashcards

Water Conflicts Flashcards

1
Q

How can geology control the water cycle?

A

Permeable soil/rocks (lime scale) may allow water to pass into underground drainage systems
Groundwater may create springs or provide the base flow of rivers
Aquifers (chalk/porous sandstones) can store vast quantities underground

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2
Q

How can climate control the hydrological cycle?

A

Distribution of water quality is related to the earths climate
High mountains with snowpack hold vast reserves of water, some of which is released in late spring and during summer
Regions near equator have high levels of precipitation
Rainfall can vary with seasons

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3
Q

How can river systems control the hydrological cycle?

A

Worlds major rivers store large quanitites of water and transfer it across continents
River flow generally increases downstream
Seasonal changes in climate can also create significant variations in discharge and produce distinctive river regimes

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4
Q

What are the 5 inputs and 3 outputs of the hydrological cycle?

A

Inputs: precipitation, interception, infiltration, percolation, run off
Outputs: evaporation, transporation, river channel discharge

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5
Q

What does water stress occur?

A

Occurs when the demand for water exceeds the amount available during a certain period, or when poor quality restricts its use

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6
Q

What are the 2 types of water scarcity?

A

Physical Scarcity: exists when shortages occur because demand exceeds supply
Economic Scarcity: exists when people simply cannot afford water, even when it is readily available

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7
Q

Why is consumption of water predicted to increase?

A 
Population growth (India/China)
Global climate change
Increased wealth = Increase in luxury goods (dish washers)
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8
Q

Why is there more demand for water in developing countries?

A

Increasing population and climate change = increase demand for irrigation water/household and industrial water

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9
Q

What are the 4 main groups of Key Players? give 2 examples of each

A

Political: international organisations (UN), government departments (DFID)
Economic (Business): World Bank, Utilitary Companies (Anglian Water)
Social (Human Welfare): individuals, NGOs (Water Aid)
Environmental: International Organisations (FAG), NGOs (WWF)

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10
Q

What does DFID do? give an example

A

Provides aid for around 90 countries, Manages Britain’s aid to poor countries
3/4 of the 1.5 million in Basrah, South Iraq didn’t have access to piped water, those who could afford to bought it treated from street vendors as taps smelt foul
DFID funded the construction of a new training center for Basrah’s Water Directorate - center taught workforce practical skills for leak detection

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11
Q

How many children a day die due to unclean water sanitation?

A

3900

20 Jumbo Jets

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12
Q

What are the main issues/conflicts/key players in El Alto, Bolivia?

A

I: wells are empty, contaminated water, connection charge is a years wage, residents distrust water companies, 10% of child mortality is due to unclean water
C: water plants only supply to those who may, French controlled company, 60% before but now 90% have water according to SUEZ - some have chosen not to be connected (can’t afford it)
P: SUEZ - French TNC who commodifies water and controls pipe lines to cities

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13
Q

What are the main issues/conflicts/key players in Rajastan, India?

A

I: dry well due to Coca Cola using same water source under desert, empty reservoir as Coca Cola take water from water cycle and it doesn’t ever go back
C: Coca Cola using aquifers that local farmers use - no one owns aquifers, they’re all connected, Coca Cola have created a cone of depression
P: Coca Cola

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14
Q

What are the main issues/conflicts in Detroit, America?

A

I: have to fetch water everyday, water is being cut off over 40,000 houses each year
C: commodification of water - making it too expensive, inequality, illegally turning it back on

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15
Q

What are the main issues/conflicts/key players in Tanzania, Africa/Dar Es Salaam?

A

I: residents being charged to use water, can’t afford it, no sewage system
C: water shortages - arguments over who uses it, commodification, increase in water prices - 1/4 net month salary
P: IMF/World Bank - want to reduce global poverty, Biwater PLC - City water

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16
Q

What are the arguments for Private companies, such as SUEZ - TNCs, controlling water?

A

Corporate efficiency
Connections have increased by 50%
Services area only extends to the city boundary
200,000 have been excluded since 2005 due to cost
Costs the equivalent of $450 for a poor person to get connected (average wage is $17 per month)
Coverage is 100% so every street has a water pipe installed - although many houses cannot afford to get connected

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17
Q

What are the arguments for public companies, such as the SEMAPA - government, controlling water?

A

Government inefficiency
Connections have been increased by 16%
Coverage of popes to individual houses - 45%
Water supplies are only available 2 hours a day, 3 days a week - residents store water for use at different times
SEMAPA are unable to supply 55% of the population who have to dig their own wells and beg for water

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18
Q

What is the problem/cause/consequence of salinity in the Salton Sea in California?

A

P: salt levels are 25% higher than Pacific OCean
Ca: natural sals concentrate over time by evaporation, farm drainage
Co: death of freshwater birds and fish as salinity has risen, resort towns such as Bombay beach have become salt encrusted and abandoned

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19
Q

What is the problem/cause/consequence of the nutrient load in the Salton Sea in California?

A

P: phosphates and nitrates are leading to widespread eutrophication
Ca: farm fertilisers, sewage and industrial was increase nutrient load
Co: algal blooms have choked the sea reducing dissolved oxygen, this is linked to major fish die-offs and to low wildfowl numbers, only 1 edible fish (tilapia) survives

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20
Q

What is the problem/cause/consequence of pollution in the Salton Sea in California?

A

P: pesticides, selenium and heavy metal are found in the sea
Ca: as farm drainage sinks, pollution leaching from fields drains into the sea and is concentrated
Co: some pollutants are a human health hazard due to bio magnification in fish

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21
Q

What is the Colorado river compact?

A

Head water/upper basin states will not use all water and will allow lower basin states to ave water

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22
Q

What is the actions and futures by the Federal Government?

A

A: in 2004, SNWA achieved its target of a 25% reduction in water use per person between 1990 and 2010
Futures: development of groundwater resources in Snake County- extract/transfer enough water for 100,000 houses in Las Vegas

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23
Q

What are the human factors contributing to the water supply?

A

Increased population
Farmers nor irrigating efficiently
2/3 live in South - dry part
Deep systems - 90% efficiency
Hard engineering (dams) vs. conservation (maintaining wildlife)
1/2 of water used in California homes is on landscaping
Rain water ($50-200) costs 4x less than recycled water ($400-800)

24
Q

What are the physical factors contributing to the water supply?

A

South/Far West receive less than 100m of rainfall due to the rain shadow effect of the coastal regions around the Sierra Nevada Mountains
In the south, river flow is variable and can even dry up
High pressure system over the Pacific Ocean blocks moist air currents from reaching South California - occasional shifts allow storms and heavy rain to reach the area
El Nino - above average run off to South, La Nina - drought
Prevailing moist air from the Pacific is forced upwards by the mountains, cools and condenses - forming relief rainfall, and at high altitudes, snowfall

25
Q

What is the Federal Goverment’s role in water issues?

A

Ordered California to cut its withdrawal to the legal allocation by 2015 (over withdrawing)

26
Q

What is the Salton Sea Authorities role in water issues?

A

Water treatment plants to reduce pollution levels

Parks, open spaces and wildlife areas increasing total are of these land uses from 4% to over 50%

27
Q

What is Santa Clara’s role in water issues?

A

110 million purple pipe network to recycle water - pumps water into the ground - drinkable

28
Q

What is hydropolitics?

A

Countries compete for water sources so international agreements and treaties have to be drawn up on how to best manage it - especially rivers that form international borders

29
Q

What is Helsinki rules?

A

a 1966 international legal agreement on the fair use of international waterways, such as a river used by 2 people

30
Q

Describe the conflict between India and Bangladesh (South Asia)

A

Last part of the Ganges goes through Bangladesh, but mainly goes through India
Bangladesh is deprived of much needed water and has to suffer the effects of India’s pollution of the river
Agreement signed in 1990 about sharing the Ganges, India is in control
Reduced river flow is affecting irrigation and food production i Bangladesh
The Delta in Bangladesh is eroding because less silt is being carried and deposited

31
Q

What are there water problems happening in the Beijing - Tianjin region?

A 
NE China (Beijing) is prone to flooding and in recent years, drought - half of rainfall can happen within 3 days
Tianjin, located on the coast, has a major port with heavy industry, commercial and developing services
Annual growth in Beijing - 2.5% (main threat)
32
Q

Describe the water supply in the Beijing - Tianjin region

A

Beijing draws 60% of water from aquifers - over exploited
Tianjin relies on groundwater for about 30% of water supply, but salt incursion makes the water brackish (main threat)
Surface water supply depends on 5 major rivers which enter the Hai Hi river system - upstream withdrawals and contamination of water
Beijing makes Tianjin’s water problems worse by overabstraction

33
Q

Describe the demand for water in the Beijing-Tianjin region

A

Agriculture accounts for about 60% of water demand (main threat)
Fastest rate of increase is in domestic water use

34
Q

How many rivers no longer support fish in China?

A

80%

35
Q

How many river sides will no longer be able to rely on river water supply in China?

A

186

36
Q

What are the 4 aims of the Three Gorges Dam in China?

A

Worlds largest hydro-electric scheme
Clean energy to support rapid industrial growth
Increase water storage/transfer
Reduced reliance on coal

37
Q

Name 4 benefits of the Three Gorges Dam project

A

The 18,000 MW of water-generated electricity could save 50 million tonnes of coal each year
The project will supply water to a region responsible for 22% of China’s GDP
Flood protection could save many lives and cut the financial losses created by flood damage
Navigational improvements could help open up the interior region of China to development

38
Q

Name 5 costs of the Three Gorges Dam project

A

The dammed waters will drown 100,000 hectares of arable land, 13 cities, many smaller settlements and 1,500 factors - important archaeological and other heritage sites will be lost
Some 1.9 million people will be displaced from homes and lost their land
Dam failure, earthquakes, heavy rain and terrorism pose serious safety risks
Considerable ecological impacts on fisheries, biodiversity and habitats
Pollution will increase as abandoned mines and factories are flooded

39
Q

What are the 2 aims of China’s South-North Projects?

A

Even out availability of water

Build canals which run 1,300 km across Eastern, middle and Western parts of china and like the 4 major rivers

40
Q

Name 4 benefits of China’s South-North projects?

A

Water conservation
Improved irrigation
Environmental protection
It will transfer a total of 44.8 billion m3 water per year

41
Q

What are the costs of China’s South-North projects?

A

$42 billion
Worsening water quality
Pollution Yangtze River
Significant ecological and environmental impacts along waterways - Huai River is already severely polluted
Industrial and city water mixed with agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilisers

42
Q

What are the social impacts of the Three Gorges Dam?

A

X - 9 million displaced

/ - Open china’s inferior region to development

43
Q

What are the social impacts of South-North project?

A

X - resettlement issues

44
Q

What are the economic impacts of the Three Gorges Dam?

A

/ - supply water to a region responsible for 22% of China’s GDP
X - cost $37 billion
/ - cost ratio - 138/89.3=154 (positive value in civil engineering proposals)
/ - profitable after initial loss via contruction

45
Q

What are the economic impacts of South-North project?

A

X - cost $62 billion

/ - government gave 60% of cost

46
Q

What are the environmental impacts of the Three Gorges Dam?

A

/ - save 50 million tonnes of coal each year
X - excess silt build up
X - drowned 100,000 hectares of land which could be used for agriculture
/ - blocked 10 million tonnes of plastic bags etc. that would otherwise pollute the sea

47
Q

What are the environmental impacts of South-North project?

A

X - 3 canals, 1,300km across East to Middle West of China
/ - improved irrigation pollution treatment/environmental protection
X - worse water quality

48
Q

What were the impacts of the time scale of the Three Gorges Dam?

A

/ - already built

X - takes 25 years to be profitable

49
Q

What was an impact of the time scale of the South-North project?

A

X - takes 50 years to complete (started in 2003)

50
Q

Why is there conflict in Anatolia, South East Turkey?

A

Varied climate in Turkey result sin abundant rainfall
Regional variations in rainfall
Summer drought in Anatolia
Shortages in main cities (Ankara, Istanbul)
The Hisu dam holds water for irrigation and is important for the countries crops - it currently regularly flooding, including flooding of the oldest towns in the worlds - puts 80,000 out of their homes

51
Q

What is Turkey’s GAP project?

A

Turkey is creating dams on the Euphrais and Tigris in order to increase water supply for domestic and irrigation
Stop migration of workforce
Socioeconomic development
Diversify cash crops

52
Q

Name 3 problems with Turkey’s GAP project

A

Downsteam Syria and Iraq are getting less water input - the water is being put into dams in turkey
Syria’s share would reduce by 40% and Iraq’s by 60% - affecting irrigation and electricity in these areas
Worry over use of water by Turkey as it could used for political exploitation

53
Q

What are the 3 main types of key players in Turkey’s GAP project?

A

Austrian, Swiss and German companies - formed a consortium to build the Illisu Dam - their governments approved funding for the project
World Bank - refused to fund the dam
Environmentalists protesting against illisu Dam

54
Q

Why is there conflict at Israel’s aquifers?

A

Competing population growth between Israel, Palestine, Syria and Turkey
Turkey’s GAP project redirecting water away from Israel
Israel feels Syria’s water management is inferior and could contaminate Lake Kinneret

55
Q

What are the 3 main types of key players in Israel’s aquifers?

A

Israelis, Syrians, Jordanians, Lebanese, Palestinians - have shrinking water supplies
Turkey - building more dams for irrigation
Local farmers - need water for irrigation and agriculture

56
Q

What are the solutions to Israel’s aquifers?

A

Water conservation and recycling (desalination), reverse osmosis and re-using water for irrigation
Selling desalinated water to the Gaza strip

6GEO3 (5 decks)

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