WATER CYCLE/INSECURITY

Question 1

What is water stress?

Answer 1

When a water supply is limited within an area or when demand is significantly above that of the available clean water supply

Question 2

Human causes of water insecurity?

Answer 2

1. Increasing population
   - more water is being used
2. Improving living standards
   - water-consuming devices like washing machines contribute to water consumption
3. Agriculture
   - agriculture because it is the main industry for income
4. Industrialisation
   - production of most energy (especially that formed from the combustion of fossil fuels) is very water dependent - in the form of steam to power turbines.

Question 3

What are the 3 physical factors causing water insecurity?

Answer 3

1. Climate Variability
   - climate variation leads to regions with high rainfall (e.g. Amazon rainforest) and areas which are arid (e.g. the Sahel)
2. Salt water encroachment
   - where groundwater near the coast is contaminated with salt water
3. Over-abstraction of aquifers
   - this can change the natural flow regime and reduce water levels

Question 4

What was the problem with Agua del Tunari’s privatisation of water in Bolivia?

Answer 4

• The company raised the prices of water until they were the equivalent of 20% of the average income.
• This meant that the poorest communities could not afford to have access to water and ended up attaching themselves illegally.
• The privatisation led to protests for four days until the government cancelled the contract.