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Water EQ3 Flashcards

1
Q

What has caused global water stress and waster scarcity?

A

The combination of rising demands and the diminishing availability of finite supplies as well as the physical distribution have created mass resource shortages
2015, 15% of the worlds population didn’t not have access to safe portable water.

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2
Q

How does the physical distribution of water led to water scarcity?

A

There is a mismatch between where water supplies are and where the demand is. Water supplies are spread unevenly across the world, 60% of the worlds supplies are contained in just 10 countries.

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3
Q

Why is there a rising demands?

A

There is a growing gab between demand and supply’s this is because
- rising standard of living (growing consumer society (Asia) higher consumption of water for agriculture and meat)
- economic growth (industry services and fracking)
- irrigated farming (Aral sea, 99% of extraction used for irrigation)
- population growth

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4
Q

What is the definition of ‘virtual water’?

A

The hidden flow of water when food or other commodities are traded.

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5
Q

What is the definition of water scarcity?

A

When there is below 1000m3 per person.

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6
Q

What is the definition of water stress?

A

When there is below 1,700m3 per person

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7
Q

What is the water availability gap?

A

The water availability gab is the gap between the ‘have nots’ largely in developing nations and the ‘haves’ largely in developed nations due to the imbalance of usages.

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8
Q

What is the definition of physical water scarcity?

A

When more than 75% of a country’s or regions blue water flows are being used. This currently applies to 25% of the world population e.g. Saudi Arabia who are one relying on desalination plants.

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9
Q

What is the definition of economic scarcity?

A

When water scarcity is due to the in ability of a country to access it due to lack of technology, capital and good governance. (Sub-Saharan Africa)

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10
Q

What are the physical causes of water insecurity?

A
  • climate variability
  • topography and distance from the sea
  • geology
  • salt water encroachment at the coast
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11
Q

How does climate variability cause water insecurity?

A

Climate determines the global distribution of water supply by controlling the annual and seasonal distribution of precipitation. Precipitation varies globally as a result of the of atmospheric pressures. This variability makes water source unreliable and maybe unavailable.
ENSO checks and climate change are exacerbating water security.

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12
Q

How does topography and distance from the sea impact water availability?

A
  • Areas with high relief tend to have increased precipitation and surface runoff and may have greater opportunities for water storage (natural lakes).
  • Snowfall and glaciers feed many water sources. (Climate change threatening these sources)
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13
Q

How does geology affect water insecurity?

A

Geology controls the distribution of aquifers that provide groundwater storage. Permeable chalk and sandstone can store vast amounts of water underground which is not subject to evaporation rates and can be accessed through wells.

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14
Q

What are the human causes of water insecurity?

A
  • over extraction of water from rivers, lakes and aquifers
  • water contamination from agriculture and industrial waste pollution.
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15
Q

How is over extraction form water sources lead to water insecurity?

A

Over extraction of water to meet growing demands (population growth, consumer societies) has resulted in diminishing supplies and salt water encroachment.
Salt water encroachment happens as removal of water can upset the natural balance of saline and fresh water causing salt water to encroach inland contaminating supplies.

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16
Q

How is contamination of water supply leading to water insecurity?

A

Human actions are polluting both surface water and ground water supplies diminishing supplies and creating water insecurity. They are polluted in the following ways
- untreated sewage disposal (water borne disease)
- chemical fertilisers (eutrophication)
- industrial waste
e.g. In Guandong China 80% of recent deaths where the cause of liver and digestive cancer caused by mis disposal of heavy metal toxins for the he Dabaoshan min PE being washed into the Hendshi River.

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17
Q

What is the green revolution?

A

The use of high yield varieties of crops along with the use of agrochemicals and irrigation to increase yields and improve food supply’s.

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18
Q

Why is the demand for water rising?

A
  • population growth (more people mean higher demands)
  • economic development (increases the demand for water for developments in industry, agriculture, services and energy)
  • rising living standards (increase in a consumer society ha increased demand per person more washing machines and meat consumption ect)
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19
Q

What are the three main pressure increasing the risk of water insecurity?

A
  1. Diminishing supplies
    - climate change
    - contamination
    - impacts of competitive users
  2. Rising demands
    - pop growth
    - rising demands
  3. Competing demands from users within a basin
    - international issues
    - upstream bs downstream
    - HEP vs irrigation
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20
Q

What is the distribution of physical scarcity?

A

The distribution of physical scarcity is largely determined by climate (balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration). However factors such as continentality (interior Asia) and topography and significant regionally. As well as geology and climate changes.

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21
Q

What is the distribution of economic scarcity?

A

This is associated with developing countries that lack capital, technology and governance meaning they can exploit there blue water supply’s. (Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti)

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22
Q

Why does the price of water vary globally?

A

The price of water is determined by
- cost of obtaining water (LA has high water costs as it is piped all the way from Colorado)
- degree of demand (in drought conditions water price increases significantly)
- insufficient infrastructure (need to pay for bottled water or form informal vendors normally 2x the price than form a tap)
- who supplies water (private water companies and if the waters clean)

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23
Q

Why is water supply essential for economic growth?

A

Water plays an essential role is all economic productivity for
- agriculture
- industry
- energy supply

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24
Q

What is the need for water in agriculture development?

A

Agricultural practises dominate water use about 3,770 kilometres more than twice the total withdrawn for industrial and domestic usage. The green revelation has encouraged the use of high yielding food varieties and the use of irrigation rather then rain fed agriculture massively increasing food availability which is vital for development but this has massive environmental downsides and diminishes water supplies.

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25
Q

How has the Aral Sea been depleted?

A

The Aral Sea is the 4th largest inland sea which has been steadily shrinking since the 1960 to provide irrigation water for agriculture.
- the sea has declined to 10% of its original size and split into separate lakes
- levels have fallen to 40m

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26
Q

How has water form the Aral Sea benefited development for countries?

A
  • irrigation schemes allowed Uzbekistan (once an incredibly poor country) to become one of the worlds largest cotton exporters.
  • irrigation to develop fruit and cotton in a once unproductive region has created jobs for millions of farm workers

C > water extraction has brought the water table to the surface making drinking water and food crops salty and polluted

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27
Q

How does water provide development in terms of industry and energy?

A

Over 20% of freshwater usages worldwide are for industrial and energy production. Water is essential is essential in the development and production of products (electronics, paper and petroleum) making it important for economic growth. However water pollution is associated with this rapid industrialisation.
C > over half the waste used is either for generating HEP energy or as a cooling mechanism meaning it can be returns virtually unchanged.

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28
Q

What human wellbeing factors does water insecurity impact?

A

It is important for
- sanitation
- health
- food preparation
2.5 billion people have no access to improved sanitation facilities.

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29
Q

Why is unportable water dangerous for human wellbeing?

A

Safe portable water is essential for human well-being
- if unsafe of polluted it is an incredible effective breeding ground for disease such as cholera
- it can act as a breeding ground for disease vectors such as mosquitoes
- access to clean water is important for domestic and personal hygiene (washing hands) can prevent the spread of disease.

30
Q

What are the environmental and economic problems resulting from inadequate water quality?

A
  • spread of disease can trap people into a poverty cycle
  • resulting in higher unemployment and higher amount of absolute poverty
  • new reservoirs behind damns expand the breeding ground for insects and snails interfering with food chains and webs
31
Q

When does conflict occur over water sources?

A

Conflict occurs when the demand for water overtakes the available supply, and a number of stakeholders/player want to use the diminishing supplies.

32
Q

Why do conflicts over water supplies happen between users in a country?

A

Within countries conflicts can arise
- due to the competing demands of irrigation, energy, industry, domestic use and recreation
- building of dams and water reservoirs (Nimbysim)

33
Q

Why do conflicts occur internationally?

A

International conflicts occur when several countries ‘share’ the same river or river basin (transboundary water sources).
- quantity of water and its distribution
- upstream users has diverted/ planned to divert water into a river basin at the exposed of lower basin users (e.g. River Nile)
- Building of dams and diversion canals and their ecological impact (Mekong)

34
Q

Why are open conflicts unlikely to occur internationally?

A
  • between 1948 - 2008, there have been 2000 international water ‘events’, with 25% leading to any form of conflict and only 1.5% leading to serious wars.
  • at many occasions threats to disrupt of cut off water supplies have taken place, in reality most action takes place in the form of political campaigns and protests
  • wars are only likely to take place when water is just one item on the list for wider wars
35
Q

Why is their potential for water conflict on the River Nile?

A
  • The Nile is the worlds longest river, meaning a total of 11 countries compete for its water
  • this water source supports over 300 million people to grow crops, domestic use and generate HEP energy (Human)
  • Hydrology of river Nile (Physical)
  • Historical impact
36
Q

What are physical factors that could led to water conflict in the Nile?

A
  • Discharge of 84 billion cubic meters, small compared to other great rivers
  • susceptible to ENSO cycles
  • much of the river located in hot arid areas were evaporation rates are high (white Nile losses abut 50% of flow) leading to water shortfalls in Egypt and Sudan
37
Q

What are the geopolitical issues that can create potential water conflict on the Nile?

A
  • Supports 300 billion people, which is suspected to double by 2030
  • Egypt dependant on water for 95% of water needs however other states (e.g. Ethiopia) need larger supplies of water for crops irrigation and HEP to develop
  • Many countries have economic water scarcity issues
38
Q

What are the historical issues that can create potential water conflict on the Nile?

A
  • 1929 the first Nile water agreement signed giving 86% of water to Egypt and Sudan and Egypt given the right to veto any modification in the use of the Niles water
  • 1959 a second agreement was signed giving in effect all the water to Egypt (55.5 bil) and Sudan (18.5 bil), again only signed by colonial powers. Ethiopia refused to recognise the legitimacy of the agreement
39
Q

How has the potential for water conflict in the Nile been managed?

A
  • 2005 9/11 Nile Basin countries have been exploring development on the NBI (Nile Basin Initiative) in partnership with certain IGOs resulting in two action plans
  • 2010 new water treaty signed stating that all countries should have equal rights to use the Nile waters

c > Little was achieved in spite of the high amount of funding

40
Q

Why might conflict occur between the approaches to managing water supplies?

A
  • Social vs Political players (Social player see accesses to safe water a human rights whereas political players see waters as a human need)
  • Economic vs Environmental (economic players typically opt for har engineering to maximise profit, whereas an environmental players tend to favour a more sustainable approach.
41
Q

What is hard engineering?

A

Hard engineering involves the use of artificial and manmade structures that tend to be high cost and involve modern technology and interfere/change physical processes.

42
Q

What are examples of hard engineering (water management)?

A
  • Water transfer scheme
  • megadams
  • desalination plants
43
Q

What is water transfer schemes?

A

Water transfer schemes involve the diversion of water from one drainage basin to another, either by diverting a river or constructing and canals. Its associated with idea of moving water from an area of surplus to one of deficit.
e.g. Chinas South-North Transfer Project

44
Q

What new the issues with water transfer schemes?

A
  • source area experiences drop in flow of up to 60% as a result go transfer
  • source river experiences low flow and can become polluted impacting ecosystems
  • increase in availability in receiving areas oculi simply just result in greater use
  • pollution transfer
45
Q

What is an example of a water transfer scheme?

A

Chinas South - North Transfer scheme:
- costs $100 billion in 50 years
- involves building three canals that sign China and links that 4 major river
- transfers 44.8 billion cubic meters annually
- uncertainties have arisen about the significant ecological and environmental impacts, resettlements issues and worsening water qualities.

46
Q

What are mega dams (water management)?

A

Mega dams are very large structures built across a river to control the flow, generate HEP power and store water.
60% of the worlds major rivers are impeded by dams, with a total of 5,000 megadams
e.g. Three gorges dam China

47
Q

What are the benefits of mega dams?

A
  • have the capacity to store 15% of annual global runoff
  • Provide water for irrigation and domestic usage
  • generate HEP energy (renewable shift)
  • control water flow
  • can act as a tourism location (Aswan High Dam)
48
Q

What are the drawbacks to mega dams?

A
  • very expensive
  • disruption of downstream transport silt
  • displacement of people
  • high evaporation losses as majority in semiarid locations
49
Q

What is an example of a mega dam?

A

Three Gorges Dam China:
- $28.6 to construct
- constructed in the River Yangtze and finish in 2012
- provides flood protections vital for the livelihood of the locals
- provides 10% of Chinas total electricity needs
- improved water supply
- resettlement of 1.2 Million people due to flooding during construction (historical landmarks and whole towns)
- sewage and industrial waster built up in reservoir
- impacting ecosystems (extinction of the Yangtze River Dolphin)

50
Q

What is desalination (water management)?

A

Desalination is the process by which dissolved solids in sea water are partially or completely removed to make is suitable for human loss. Recent technological advances (reverse osmosis, carbon nanotube membranes) have made it more energy and coast efficient.
e.g. Saudi Arabia is the top nation in desalination

51
Q

What are the advantages of desalination?

A

With the increasing price of water desalination is becoming more and more popular, with TNCs building plants all around the world
- Advances in technology making it more and more cost efficient
- is a sustainable processes

52
Q

What are the disadvantages of desalination?

A
  • still very expensive and energy intensive (use of fossil fuels)
  • massive ecological impacts with the waste water returned to the oceans with twice the salt concentration, having consequences on coral reefs an food webs
53
Q

What are the main aims of sustainable water management?

A
  • minimise wastage and pollution of water resources
  • ensure their is a safe and affordable access to safe water for all people
  • all stakeholders and player views taken into consideration
  • equitable distribution of water within and between countries
54
Q

What are the two main ways of sustainable water management?

A
  • restoration of water supplies
  • water conservation
55
Q

What are the main ways of water conservation?

A

Water conservation is important for sustainable water use as it manages demand it involves
- Smart irrigation
- hydroponics
- grey water recycling
- rainwater harvesting
- filtration technology

56
Q

What is smart irrigation?

A

70% of freshwater globally is used for irrigation making it top priority. Smart irrigation involves the replacing of sprinklers by modern automated spray technology and advanced drip irrigation. Moto is ‘more crop per drop’.

57
Q

What is hydroponics?

A

This is the growing of crops in high greenhouse that are carbon dioxide and temperature controlled. The crops are grown in shallow trays were they are drip fed water and nutrients (no soil).
c > very energy intensive

58
Q

What is recycling of grey water?

A

This involves the recycling of city waster water for agricultural usage, it is low cost.

59
Q

What rainwater harvesting?

A

Involves people collecting rain water falling on their roofs, storing it in butts for various domestic purposes (watering the garden). This cut consumption in Uzbekistan by 30% in agricultural use.

60
Q

What are examples of water conservation in agriculture?

A
  • GM crops are genetically modified crops that are being bred making them intolerant to drought, salty and disease.
  • rainwater harvesting (This cut consumption in Uzbekistan by 30% in agricultural use)
  • Grey water recycling
  • hydroponics
61
Q

What’s an example of water conservation in Industry?

A

Coca-coal have committed to cleaning all their waste water from 2010 and recycling it as grey water in their plants for cleaning.

62
Q

What is an example of domestic water conservation?

A

Dongtan, China have two water systems going into the houses. One is for grey water and other for clean water.

63
Q

What is water restoration?

A

This involves the restoration to damaged lakes, rivers and wetland allowing them to play their full and proper part in the hydrological cycles. Locally involves restoring meanders, replanting vegetation.

64
Q

What is integration water resource management?

A

It is a processes that promotes the coordination development and management of water, whilst achieving close cooperation between basin users and players and maximising economic, social and environmental welfare.

65
Q

what does the IWRN ensure?

A
  • the environmental quality of the rivers and catchments
  • that water is used with maximum efficiency
  • an equitable distribution of water among users
66
Q

What is the downfall with IWRN?

A

It is very practicable at the community level but the larger basin and the more complex it becomes especially if transnational basin in involved.

67
Q

What are the main water international agreements?

A
  • The Helsinki rules (‘equitable use and equitable shares concept’)
  • Berlin rules
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNENCE) Water convention. (Joint management, conservation of share fresh water ecosystems.
  • UN Water Course Convection (guiltiness foe the protection of transboundary rivers)
  • the EU Water Framework Directive (members have to ensure status of their water bodies)
68
Q

What is involved with the Helsinki Rules?

A

Agreement that international treaties must include concepts such as ‘equitable use’ and ‘equitable shares’ applying to the whole drainage basin.
- natural factors
- social and economic needs
- downstream impacts
- dependancy
- prior use
- efficiency

69
Q

What role do NGOs play in water management?

A

They play a vital role in a neutral monitoring of potential conflict situations.

70
Q

What are the downfall of Water-sharing treaties and frameworks?

A
  • most of the agreement show gaps in coverage of issues
  • lack appropriate enforcement and monitoring mechanisms
  • only apply to 40% of the world river (e.g. Amazon outside any framework)
71
Q

What is water-sharing treaties and frameworks

A

These are International treaties and frameworks signed between sharers of a river or basin, that decide water distribution amicably.
e.g. India and Pakistan that share the Indus

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