Water Scarcity (Physical & Economic, Droughts)

Question 1

What are the factors affecting access to safe drinking water?

Answer 1

1. Water availability
2. Water infrastructure
3. Cost of water

Question 2

What is water stress?

Answer 2

When per capita water supply is less than 1700 cubic meters per year, an area suffers from from water stress

Question 3

What is economic water scarcity?

Answer 3

When a population does not have the necessary monetary means to utilize an adequate source of water

Question 4

What is physical water scarcity?

Answer 4

When a physical access to water is limited

Question 5

What is a drought?

Answer 5

A prolonged period of time of months & years where supply of water falls below demand

Question 6

What are the 3 types of drought?

Answer 6

1. Meteorological
2. Agricultural
3. Hydrological

Question 7

What causes droughts?

Answer 7

1. High pressure systems
2. Shifting ITCZ
3. Rain shadows
4. Continentality
5. Global warming
6. Population growth
7. El Niño

Question 8

What are some social impacts of droughts?

Answer 8

• decrease in land price
• crop loss
• water supply issues

Question 9

What are some economic impacts of droughts?

Answer 9

• unemployment

Question 10

What are some environmental impacts of droughts?

Answer 10

• trees have adapted
• many organisms cannot adapt
• damage to habitats

Question 11

What are some solutions for droughts?

Answer 11

• bunds (small rock wall) -> encourages infiltration
• SG15 (12 main goals)
• UNESCO, programmes