Water Lesson 13: Water Conflicts

Question 1

Between 1948-2008 how many international ‘events’ were there?

Answer 1

2000

Question 2

% of these events which led to conflict?
% which led to serious war?

Answer 2

25% conflict
1.5% war

Question 3

Fraction of these conflicts which were over water availability?

Answer 3

2/3

Question 4

What was often the cause of conflict?

Answer 4

Upstream users had diverted or planned to divert water in a river basin at the expense of lower basin users

Question 5

What is nimbyism?

Answer 5

‘Not in my back yard’

Question 6

Example of conflict within a country

Answer 6

Building of a dam and water reservoir in Kielder, Northumberland, where there was concern over the flooding of a farming valley and villages

Question 7

Biggest example of conflict within a country?

Answer 7

Tanzania

Question 8

Location of conflict within Tanzania?

Answer 8

Great Ruaha river basin

Question 9

Economic importance of Ruaha basin?

Answer 9

Water for rice growth
Generation of HEP
Ramsar wetland and wildlife tourism

Question 10

What has happened to the Ruaha basin?

Answer 10

Ceased flowing in the dry season because water level in the wetland in the upper course drop below a critical level causing issues for lower course users

Question 11

Concerns over Ruaha basin ceasing flow?

Answer 11

-National power shortages - less HEP
-Desiccation of the National Park with wetland diminishing
-Increased competition for water causing disputes as supplies turned off

Question 12

Example of trans-national water conflict?

Answer 12

River Nile

Question 13

Catchment of Nile basin?

Answer 13

3.3 million km2

Question 14

Fraction of Africa the Nile drains for?

Answer 14

1/10th

Question 15

In which country does the River Nile start in?

Answer 15

Uganda

Question 16

How much water is carried in the Blue Nile?

Answer 16

85%

Question 17

What % of Ethiopia’s population live along the Nile?

Answer 17

95%

Question 18

In which months of the year does the River Nile flood in Egypt, leaving flood plains well-watered and fertilised?

Answer 18

August and September

Question 19

What’s the difference between Ethiopia and Egypt and Sudan in terms of the weather?

Answer 19

More rainfall due to the coast

Question 20

What was the name of the dam that opened in 1902?

Answer 20

Aswan Low Dam

Question 21

In what year was the Nile Water Agreement signed?

Answer 21

1929

Question 22

In 1959, another agreement was written, giving Egypt and Sudan rights to what % of the river’s flow?

Answer 22

66% and 22% respectively

Question 23

What % of Egypt’s freshwater comes from the Nile?

Answer 23

97%

Question 24

What has happened to the annual water supply per capita in Egypt since 1970?

Answer 24

Halved

Question 25

Since 2004, Ethiopia’s GDP has grown by how much?

Answer 25

10%

Question 26

What has this growth been fuelled by?

Answer 26

Infrastructure investment

Question 27

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will house how large of a hydroelectric power facility?

Answer 27

8th largest in the world

Question 28

How much electricity will it produce once finished?

Answer 28

16,000 GWh/y

Question 29

How does the dam benefit Ethiopia?

Answer 29

Provide jobs, provide energy to rural areas, make farming more productive

Question 30

According to the World Bank, how much money could Ethiopia earn per year as an energy exporter?

Answer 30

$1 billion

Question 31

The filling of the dam’s reservoir could have an impact on what downstream?

Answer 31

Less water for drinking, agriculture and generating electricity

Question 32

What have Ethiopia installed around the dam to prepare for potential conflict?

Answer 32

Anti-aircraft batteries (an emplacement for guns designed to specifically target aircraft)