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Geography > Water Cycle Case Studies > Flashcards

Water Cycle Case Studies Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is Kerala?

A
  • Southwestern coastal state in India
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2
Q

What problem did Kerala face?

A
  • Over abstraction of water by a coca cola plant in 2000
  • 17% of the world’s population lives in India but only 4% of accessible fresh water is there
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3
Q

What were the environmental impacts of over-abstraction in Kerala?

A
  • The water table dropped from 12m below ground to 35m
  • Harvests dropped by 40% due to lack of irrigation
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4
Q

What were the social impacts of over-abstraction in Kerala?

A
  • Wells almost empty meaning locals had to walk 5km to access water
  • The little water left was undrinkable leading to skin problems and eye soreness when using it to wash
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5
Q

What strategies did coca-cola use to restore water in Kerala?

A

Coca-Cola say they have replenished approximately 93% of the groundwater they use

  • Coca-cola have installed more than 500 rainwater harvesting structures in 22 states
  • Coca-cola have improved their water use efficiency by 14% since 2004
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6
Q

Where is the Sahel?

A
  • The Sahel region of Africa lies to the south of the Sahara desert, it encompasses 10 countries which are demographically different but all face droughts
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7
Q

What problem is the Sahel facing?

A
  • During the 1999-2000 Ethiopian- Eritrean drought 10 million people needed food. Socio-economic conditions associated with environmental degradation from overgrazing, deforestation for fuel wood, as well as high levels of rural poverty exacerbated the impacts of drought.
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8
Q

What are the natural causes of drought in the Sahel?

A
  • This region has high variability of rainfall. Under ‘normal’ conditions the mean annual rainfall varies from 100mm on the northern edge, to 800mm along the southern margins.
  • From year to year there is a huge variability which is assumed to be a result of ENSO cycles.
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9
Q

What are the human causes of drought in the Sahel?

A
  • Over-cultivation and deforestation for fuel wood on semi arid land increases the spread of desertification acting as a positive feedback loop for the drought caused by the ENSO cycles
  • Due to the population density doubling every year and widespread poverty, the process of over cultivation and deforestation will continue as the locals have no choice
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10
Q

What are the impacts of drought in the Sahel?

A
  • During the 1999-2000 Ethiopian- Eritrean drought 10 million people needed food. Socio-economic conditions associated with environmental degradation from overgrazing, deforestation for fuelwood, as well as high levels of rural poverty exacerbated the impacts of drought.
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11
Q

What caused the 2007 UK river floods?

A
  • For the three months until 29 july, 387 mm of rain fell (more than double the average)
  • The north was hit worse with floods in june whereas the west and south were affected worse in july
  • This was the wettest july on record with 129 mm of rain in south england and wales
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12
Q

What impacts were there in the upper parts of the river severn?

A
  • At shrewsbury, (who suffer with flooding), the flow was six times the normal level but mobile flood defenses begun in 2003 and they largely did their job
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13
Q

What impacts were there in the middle parts of the river severn?

A
  • Around Worcester, river levels rose to 4.5m above normal and a village had their first casualty
  • Flooding occurred here six times in 2007
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14
Q

What impacts were there in the lower parts of the river Severn?

A
  • The greatest impacts were felt here in tewkesbury where the river Avon joins the severn
  • Homes were flooded, power supplies damaged and water supplies cut off
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15
Q

How long did the Big Dry last in Australia?

A
  • The drought was a 1 in 1000 year event that ran from 1997 to 2009
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16
Q

What were the physical causes of the Big Dry?

A
  • Low, highly variable rainfall because climate is dominated by subtropical high-pressure belts of the southern hemisphere, since the 1970s there has been a shift in rainfall patterns east becoming drier
  • Droughts that vary considerably, some are intense and short lived whereas some last for years
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17
Q

What were the human causes of the Big Dry?

A
  • Increased population on the east coast has put pressure on water (highest water usage globally)
  • Over-abstraction for drinking water (40%)
    Agricultural, industrial and urban uses
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18
Q

What were the impacts of the Big Dry?

A
  • Reservoirs fell to 40% usual capacity
  • 50% of farmland was affected meaning food supplies were severely impacted
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19
Q

Where is the Nile Basin?

A
  • Covering 10% of Africa and 11 countries including Kenya and Rwanda
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20
Q

What problems are people in the Nile basin facing?

A
  • There is increased water demand due to a fast rising population and climate change
  • Seven countries are predicted to be water scarce by 2050 and this also impacts food security and could lead to a water war
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21
Q

What peace has there been in response to the water scarcity in the Nile Basin?

A
  • The Nile Basin Initiative, Seeks to achieve sustainable socio-economic development through equitable usage of and benefit from the Nile basin resources and is helping share the rivers resources between upstream countries
  • Sudan and Egypt are too politically weak to fight a war so the emphasis has been on cooperation
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22
Q

What conflict has there been in response to the water scarcity in the Nile Basin?

A
  • Disputes between several countries took place in 1978 over the Nile water rights led to tensions
  • Negotiations between three states continue to no avail leading to no practical results
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23
Q

Where is Tanzania and where in Tanzania is there conflict over water scarcity?

A
  • The great Ruaha river is a semi-arid area in the southern highlands of Tanzania
  • Tanzania is an East African country bordering the Indian Ocean
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24
Q

Why is the Great Ruaha in Tanzania important?

A
  • Provides water for rice growing
  • Maintaining ramsar-status wetlands
  • Straining the hydro electric power scheme
  • Important for wildlife habitats for tourism
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25
Q

What problem is the great Guaha river facing?

A
  • The river has ceased flowing in the dry season because water levels in the upper course have dropped below a critical level, which is a major problem for lower river users
26
Q

What are the impacts of the drought on the great Guaha river?

A
  • National power shortages resulting from low flows through the Hydro electric power scheme
  • Desiccation in the ruaha national park, with the wetland diminishing in size and causing problems for wildlife
  • Increased competition for water causing disputes as supplies kept being turned off for domestic users
27
Q

What solutions are there to the drought of the Great Ruaha river?

A
  • Emphasis has now moved to developing integrated water management schemes to manage the problems and to manage the water resources more effectively between the regions key players
28
Q

Where is the South North project in China?

A
  • From the Yangtze River in southern China to the Yellow River Basin in arid northern China.
29
Q

What problem is the South North project trying to solve?

A
  • 35% of the population live in beijing but they only have access to 7% of the world’s freshwater
30
Q

What solution is the South North offering in China?

A
  • The aims of the project were to divert 44.8 billion cubic metres of water per year from Yangtze river in southern China to the yellow river basin in arid Northern China (cost $62 billion)
31
Q

What are the benefits of the South North operation in China?

A
  • It is an effective long term solution that solves unequal distribution
  • it can be globally replicated
32
Q

What are the costs of the South North Operation in China?

A
  • hundreds of thousands of people were displaced
  • there was ecological damage to the natural environment
  • the region is prone to earthquakes which could damage the expensive scheme
33
Q

Where is the three Gorges Dam?

A
  • Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River west of city Yichang in China
34
Q

What problem did the Three Gorges dam solve?

A
  • The dam was created to try and control flooding on the river yangtze and the electricity generated is vital for china’s growth providing 3% of China’s power
  • Enables surplus water to build up and be diverted to northern china via the s/n transfer project
35
Q

What are the costs of the Three Gorges dam?

A
  • 1.3 million people have been relocated
  • 13 cities have been submerged, destroying important wetland habitats
  • Water quality is low as the reservoir is polluted from the surrounding industry
36
Q

Where is the Israel desalination scheme?

A
  • Israel is located in the Middle East, along the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean sea
37
Q

What problem is Israel facing?

A
  • Israel is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change which puts pressure on the already scarce water resources
38
Q

What solution is there to Israel’s water scarcity problem?

A
  • Israel is taking seawater from the Mediterranean and treating it through a process called reverse osmosis (taking the salt out of the water to make it usable)
39
Q

What are the benefits of Israel’s desalination scheme?

A
  • Provides 80% of the countries domestic water
40
Q

What are the costs of Israel’s desalination scheme?

A
  • The minerals used lead to heart disease
  • The extra salt gets dumped in the oceans
  • Each plant requires its own power station leading to an increase in co2
41
Q

Where is Singapore?

A
  • Singapore is an island in Southeast Asia
42
Q

What problem is Singapore is facing?

A
  • Singapore is considered to be one of the most water insecure countries. It is heavily dependent on rainfall due to the lack of natural water resources
43
Q

What solution is Singapore offering to its water scarcity problem?

A
  • They adopted the four taps approach:
  • Collect every drop of water: the government has various ways of encouraging citizens to use water prudently. Since 2003, per capita domestic water consumption has fallen from 165 litres per day to 150 litres per day.
  • Re-use water endlessly: Singapore is at the cutting edge of new technologies to re-use grey water
  • Desalinate more seawater: two desalination plants now meet 25% of the water demand.
44
Q

What is the end goal to the four taps approach?

A
  • It is the goal of Singapore to become self-sufficient, with 40% of water from recycling, 30% from desalination, and 20% from rainwater collection
45
Q

What are the benefits of the four taps scheme?

A
  • There has been increased education to decrease water use
  • In Singapore water leaks have decreased to only 5% (in the UK it is 20%
  • Despite these impressive actions, Singapore has to import water from Malaysia.
46
Q

Where is Kitiyita?

A
  • A small village in central Uganda
47
Q

What issue is Kitiyita facing?

A
  • 3000 people lack access to a safe water supply
48
Q

What is the solution to Kitiyita’s water scarcity?

A
  • Rainwater harvesting jars, WaterAid have trained local builders to construct these harvesting jars that collect water from roofs and it can be stored until the dry seasons
49
Q

What are the benefits of the rainwater harvesting jars in Kitiyita?

A
  • made from locally available materials
  • one jar can hold 1,500 litres of water
  • prevents local people travelling long distances to collect water
  • jars are durable and long lasting
50
Q

What are the criticisms of Kitiyita’s rainwater harvesting jars?

A
  • bird and rodent droppings can contaminate the water
  • water can be polluted during the collection process
  • environmental pollutants infiltrate the pipes
51
Q

Where is Israel?

A
  • Israel is located in the Middle East, along the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea
52
Q

What problem is Israel facing?

A
  • Israel is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change which puts pressure on the already scarce water resources
53
Q

What solution is Israel providing? (No. 2)

A
  • About 94% of all wastewater is collected and treated, and 87% is reused, primarily for agriculture
54
Q

What are the benefits of Israel’s sustainable management?

A
  • Between 2000 and 2018, agriculture’s share of freshwater abstractions decreased from 64% to 35% of total water abstractions
  • Water plans have helped determine the flow regime, water quality and actions necessary to protect the ecosystem or rehabilitate it
55
Q

What is the negatives of Israel’s sustainable management?

A
  • Nutrient pollution of groundwater caused by extensive fertiliser use in agriculture remains a problem
56
Q

Where is the Murray Darling Basin?

A
  • The Murray Darling Basin is a river in the south east of Australia that covers 14% of Australia’s land
57
Q

Who are the people influencing the outcomes of the Murray Darling Basin?

A
  • Farmers, urban residents, industrial users, governments, environmental groups, indigenous people, aquaculture groups and leisure activities + businesses
58
Q

What problem is the Murray Darling Basin facing?

A
  • Due to variations in Australia’s climate and biome distributions, the rainfall within the basin varies hugely. When combined with ENSO cycles, it becomes even more unreliable.
59
Q

What solution is there to solving water scarcity in the murray darling basin?

A
  • Determines the amount of water that can be extracted or taken annually for consumptive use (urban, industrial and agricultural). The volume determined is a volume of extraction that will not have a negative impact on the natural environments
60
Q

What benefits does the Murray Darling Basin offer?

A
  • Good quality water is delivered to people, businesses and the environment, water trade is efficient and fair, communities always have access to drinking water, the implementation of the Plan is monitored and evaluated

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