Water - EQ3 - 5.7 Flashcards
There is a growing mismatch between water ………. & ……….
- supply
- demand
Why is there a growing mimatch between water suppy & demand
- rapid population growth in areas wheer supply is limited
- deterioration in water quality
- uneven distribution of supplies,
- this created water scarcity / stress
Define water stress
- when renewable water sources are between 1,000 & 1,700m^3 per capita
What are the symptoms of water stress
- symptoms are widespread:
- frequent & serious restrictions on water use,
- growing tension & conflict between users with greater competition for supplies
- declining standards of reliabilit & service
- harvest failures
- food insecurity
Define water scarcity
- when renewable water sources are low, between 1,000 & 500m^3 per capita
What are the symptoms of water scarcity
- unsatisfied demand
- open tension & conflict between users
- competition
- insufficient flows to the natural environment
Define absolute water scarcity
- renewable water resources are very low, less than 500m^3 per capita
- this situation leads to widespread resrictions on water use & rationing
Define water insecurity
- this occurs when the economic, social & environmental criteria for water security are not, or only partially met
- people do not have enough quality water to sustain livelihoods
Define water security
- the capacity of population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water
What is adequate quantities of acceptable quality fo water demanded for
- sustainable livelihoods
- human wellbeing & socio-economic development
- ensuring protection against water borne pollution & water related disasters
- preserving ecosystems
- All of which must be done in a climate of peace & political stability
Define water supply
- the amount of accessible freshwater, from precipitation, surface & groundwater use
Define water demand
- the amount of water needed by people for consumption or activities like farming & industry
What features make a country more able to balance water supply
- large catchemnt areas
- small populations
- e.g Russia & Canada
Even within large countries, regions may experuence difficluties with….
- transferring water - the process of moving water from one location to another to meet a human need
- e.g China
which countries have the lowest water supplies
- arid & semi-arid countries
- e.g Sudan & Saudi Arabia
which countries have the largest water supplies
- tropical & temperate ones
- e.g Brazil & Ireland
Which sort of countries struggle to find a balance within their water supply
- countries with large, dense or very urbanised populations
- e.g China, Bangladesh, Netherlands
Where & why had demand risen most for water supply (industries)
- Due to population growth, & economic development
Give examples of countries experiencing absolute water scarcity
- Saudi Arbia
- Algeria
- Syria
Give examples of countries experiencing water scarcity
- Kenya
- Morocco
Give examples of countries experiencing water stress
- East Africa
- India
The USA has the ……… demand per person at over …… m^3 per capita
- highest
- 1500
Why is there water insecurity with freshwater reserves
- The growing mismatch relates to the distribution of freshwater resreves availability) & the distribution of demand for the water
- These do not coincide & are inequitable, leading to water insecurity
Fresh water is ……..
finite
What does it mean because freshwater is finite
- it is vital that there are safe & effective methods to utilise water sources well, to reduce the risks of insecurity to the rest of the world
What are 2 phsyical causes of water availability
- salt water encroachment
- climate variability
Where does salt water encroachment most often occur
- coastal areas
What is salt water encroachment
- where saltwaer from the oceans contaminate the freshwater supplies onland & groundwater supplies too
Under natural conditions, why is salt water encroachment a good thing for water availability
- the seaward movement of freshwater reduces salt water encroachment while salt water & groundwater remains fresh
Explain how salt water encroachment can negatively impact water availability/ insecurity from extractivism
- this is because extensive groundwater pumping from freshwater wells lowers the water table
- this allows salt water to move into soils & aquifers
Explain how salt water encroachment can negatively impact water availability/ insecurity from global sea level rise
- thermal expansion allows water move further inland
What leads to increased risks from saltwater encroachment
- global sea level rise & localised extraction leads to increased risks
Where is a country whose water availability is threatened by saltwater encroachment
- Samoa, Pacific Island
Describe how Samoa is under threat from saltwater encroachment
- crop production relies on freshwater supplies
- 35% is drawn from aquifers which are increasingly threatened
Climate variability
The earth’s different climate zones determine…
- how much annual precipitation occurs
Climate variability
The rate of ………. & ……… can indicate how much freshwater is available
- evaporation
- transpiration
Climate variability
Climatic events like ….. & …… …….. impact the avaialbility fo freshwater available
- flooding
- droughts
- directly
Climate variability
What can warm water encourage
- the growth of harmful bacteria
Climate variability
What can affect water quality
sedimentation, nurtient enrichment (eutrophication) & thermal pollution can have negative impacts on ecosystems, human health & water system operating costs
Give 2 examples of climate variability affecting water supplies
- UK —> weeter winters, but drier summers
- temperatures are so high that 1/5 of total water evaporates
Define overabstraction
- when more water is taken than is naturally prelenished by groundwater
sExplain how overasbtraction threatens global water availability
- strong income growth & rising living standards has led to sharp, unsustainable increases in water use,
- especially where supplies are scarce & vulnerable, or where distribution & cost is poorly managed
- these changing consumption pattenrs reduces local supplies, causing slatwater intrusion
Give an example of overabstraction threatening water availability
- Beijing’s overexactivist past is causing subsidence
Give an example of overabstraction od lakes & rivers threatening water availability
- overexcraction of water from the Nile by Ethiopia is cereasing the avaialbility of water from Sudan or Egypt
Water Contamination from Agriculture
Over ….. billion people live without sanitation
2.4
Water Contamination from Agriculture
A ……………….. is one of the leading causes of water contamination
lack of sanitation
Water Contamination from Agriculture
how does poor sanitation lead to polluted water by poor agro practises
- argriculture discharges large quantities of agrochemicals, organic matter, drug residues & sediment into water resources
Water Contamination from Agriculture
Nearly all forms of …………… require some input of water as part of their production process
- nearly all forms of energy require some input of water as part of their production process
Water Contamination from Agriculture
What is the knock on effect of human on water ecologicla system vitality
- rising population, food demand & agricultural pollution
- leads to icnreased nitrates from food production leads to eutrophictaion
- animal growth hormones move through animals, & are extreted or decomposed into water systems
Water Contamination from Agriculture
Give an example
- Aral Sea –>150,000 tones of toxic chemicals contaminate the wtaer from cotton farming
Industrial Water Pollution
Every year …….. of waste is discharhed by industry into the water system
- 300-400 megatonnes
Industrial Water Pollution
Explain how this negatively affected water insecurity
- factory waste is discharged into water sources untreated due to lack of regulations & a failure to challenge industries
Give an example of industrial water pollution
- India, Upper Doab Region –> arsenic & magnese found in water –> cancer & bone deformation
How does climate change threaten water insecurity
- enahnced warming has accelerated sea level rise & salt encroachmenr, reducing water quality with bacterial growth in warmer waters
Explain the key presssure on finite resources
-population growth
- water is essential for everyone, but water use increases more rapidly than population
- each person requires 2L of clean drinking water daily to remain in good health
Explain the key presssure on finite resources
-better living standards
- As more countries emerge economically, theri populations gain more wealh so they consumer water more indirectly (food choice)
- & directly (washing machines)
- leading to an increase in per capita consumption domestically
Explain the key presssure on finite resources
-economic development –> …% of global use, one of the fastest growing conumers is ……..
70%
irrigation
How does diminishing supplies heighten water insecurity
- climate change
- deteriorating quality from pollution
- impact of competing users epstream vs downstream
How does competing demands heighten water insecurity
- upstream vs downstream
- HEP vs irrigation
- international issues
What do countries & regions at risk of water scarcity need
- accurate predictions
What is increasing demand for water
- globalisation
- economic development
- urbanisation
The UN predicts that by 2030, …% of the world may experience a …… ……
The UN predicts that by 2030, 40% of the world may experience a water deficit
What are the predicted trends for water demand
- Globally, electricity, manufacturing & domestic expected to accelerate demand
- farming is declining ate but still makes up the largest share
Defien virtual water
- the amount of water used to produce a product or service
- icnluding the water consumed or polluted during production, processing or transport
