water resources Flashcards
water security
Having enough water to meet everyone’s needs (e.g. industry, agriculture, personal health)
water deficit
Supply of water is lower than the demand
water surplus
Supply of water is higher than demand
which areas in the world have a water deficit
Drier areas such as Australia, Africa, The Middle East
Which areas of the world have a water surplus?
-Typically, tropical locations such as the Amazon, Brazil
-Europe and North America
water insecurity
not having enough clean water to meet everyone’s needs
water stress
demand for water exceeds supply during a certain period
How is water security linked to well-being?
• Water helps crop production which secures a source of food and income
• Not having to travel daily for water enables children to go to school
Why is water consumption increasing?
• People are becoming wealthier —> use of appliances like washing machines/dishwashers
• Changes to personal hygiene —> used to share baths but now individual
• Increasing population —> more food
physical factors affecting water availability
climate - rainfall patterns
geology - indicates how much water is stored in rocks underground
economic and social factors affecting water availability
over abstraction - water removed from ground quicker than it can be replaced
pollution
poverty - some places have to share water sources
poor infrastructure - limited pipes to bring water into places
List the impacts of water insecurity
- Waterborne diseases
- Lowering food production
- Reduced industrial output
- Conflict
what are waterborne diseases
Diseases that affect people who drink contaminated water. e.g. cholera
How does water insecurity lead to waterborne diseases?
Drinking from unsafe water supplies —> diseases
How does water insecurity lead to lower food productivity?
Food production requires water
As a result, lower supply increases food prices.
How does water insecurity lead to lower industrial output?
Industry requires large amounts of water to be productive. Many factories around the world close in times of water shortage —> less profits.
How does water insecurity lead to conflict?
• Many people rely on rivers for a supply of water —> share rivers —> 1 country may take more water —> reduce water security of other countries
• Some industries do not regulate their waste which means water pollution can occur —> affects drinking water —> conflict
List 4 strategies that can be used to increase water supply?
- Diverting supplies and increasing storage
- Building dams and reservoirs
- Water transfers
- Desalination
How does diverting supplies and increasing water storage increase water supply?
some water can be diverted or stored underground for times of need
what is a dam?
A barrier built in a river used to control the flow of water at any given time
reservoir?
An artificially made body of water, usually found behind a dam
How do dams and reservoirs increase water supply?
Dams can be closed during times of plentiful water, allowing water to be stored
It can be released during times of deficit
water transfer
Moving water from an area of surplus to an area of deficit through a network of pipes
desalination
Removing salt from sea water
How does desalination increase water supply?
Removing salt from sea water creates freshwater for human use
What are the problems with desalination?
• It is expensive and requires a lot of energy —> LICs may not be able to afford to do this
fact about water
amount of water used by average household in the UK has risen by 70% since 1975
where is kielder dam and where does it supply water to and how much water does it hold
northumberland
supplies water to newcastle sunderland and middlesbrough
200 billion litres of water
positives of kielder dam
reduces water insecurity in the north east
generates electricity through hydroelectric power at the dam
tourism at kielder has created new jobs —> people visit for water sports and beautiful scenery around the lake
negatives of kielder dam
breeding patterns of fish have been disrupted through dam blocking the river
farmland and many habitats were lost when land behind dam flooded
many families had to relocate in order to make room for dam and reservoir
impacts of water pollution
‘10 tonne fatberg’
health issues
food production
effect on wildlife
what is 10 tonne fatberg (impacts of water pollution)
costs £400,000 to resolve blockage
clumps of solidified fat and wet wipes etc
health issues (impacts of water pollution)
diseases such as cholera can be spread —> ill —> can’t go to work
food production (impacts of water pollution)
food production is lowered —> clean water is needed —> polluted waste water has to be purified which is expensive
effect on wildlife (impacts of water pollution)
poisons wildlife —> humans can eat fish and shellfish affected and become very ill
what can we do at home to manage water quality
rain gardens
green roofs
rainwater harvesting
permeable surfaces
how do rain gardens manage water quality
catch rain before it enters drainage system
also a great source of habitat for wildlife and can improve appearance of property
how do green roofs improve water quality
temporary storage for rainfall and minimise run off from roof areas —> stops water pollution —> reduce chances of 10 tonne fatberg
how to use rainwater harvesting to manage water quality
install a water butt to reduce amount of water that enters sewers —> use this water to water garden etc
