Water resource management Flashcards
Why is there an uneven distribution of water?
-Rainfall
-Heat
Why are there differences in water security?
-Level of development e.g affordability, lack of technology
-Population density
-Climate
3 sectors of water consumption
Agriculture, industry, domestic
Water surplus def?
When the usable water supply exceeds the demand
Water deficit def?
When more water is lost by transpiration and evaporation than is received as rainfall
Water stress def?
When there isn’t enough water to meet people’s needs
3 reasons why water stress is increasing?
Population growth, climate change, development
Fresh water def?
Water that contains a very low concentration of dissolved solids e.g salt
Physical water security def?
Areas where fresh water usually occurs in low quantities such as dry and arid regions
Economic water security def?
Areas that lack the power to invest in water sources and meet local demand
Evapotranspiration def?
Movement of water from the ground to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration
3 reasons there has been an increased global demand for water
-Increased need for food, irrigation
-More household appliances, dishwasher
-Increased sports, golf ranges
Where is the supply and demand highest in the UK?
Supply is highest in the North and West
Demand is highest in the South and East
How does seasonal imbalances affect the UK’s water supply
-More rainfall in the winter but more demand in the summer
-Dry winters can cause low storage levels
How does ageing infrastructure affect the UK’s water supply?
-Many pipes are old and vulnerable to leaks
-Billions of litres of water are lost through leaks each year
3 key reasons for water supply problems in emerging/developing countries
-Access to unsafe water
-Polluted water sources
-Low annual rainfall
Key impact of unsafe water in an area and statistic?
-Causes diseases which can affect children’s education and adult’s work
-Nearly 10% of world’s population doesn’t have access to clean drinking water
Key impact of polluted water in an area and statistic?
-Causes diseases such as cholera due to being polluted by fertilisers and pesticides from agriculture
-Around 2 billion people don’t have access to sewage treating systems
Key impact of low annual rainfall in an area and statistic?
-Causes drought
-Less crops are grown in the Sahel region due to frequent droughts reduces income
