Water Security and Management Flashcards
What is water security?
The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water
Two areas affected by physical water scarcity?
Saudi Arabia and North Africa
Define physical water scarcity
Insufficient water to meet demand
Define economic water scarcity
Water resources are available but there is not sufficient capital to access the water in order to meet demand
Two areas with economic water scarcity?
Sub Saharan Africa and Kenya
How much do the UN estimate water demand will go up by
55%
Why are woman and girls disproportionately affected by water scarcity?
Woman and girls are expected to collect water, in Africa, 40 billion working hours are lost a year due to water collection. increasing access to clean water can free up hundreds of hours annually per person that can be devoted to school or work
What are the causes of water insecurity? (6)
- over abstraction
- climate change
- salt water intrusion
- contamination from agriculture
- increased demand
- contamination from industry
By how much is the worlds population growing annually?
80 million
How much more food will need to be produced annually to meet population growth?
60% more
How much of the worlds fresh water in used in agriculture?
70%
How has rising incomes and improved living standards changed demand for water?
It has led to a sharp increase in demand due to changing consumption patterns such as eating more meat, building larger homes, increased use of cars, appliances and energy consuming devices
Why is water in San German, Puerto Rico undrinkable
industrial pollution
An example of somewhere where industrial pollution has rendered water undrinkable
San German, Puerto Rico
What will be the result of warmer climates on water supply?
There will be more evapotranspiration and hence less effective precipitation
What is over abstraction?
When too much water is removed from the groundwater so that supplies permanently diminish
What percentage of the worlds aquifers are over exploited?
20%
What can over abstraction lead to which further increases water insecurity?
increased risk of saltwater intrusion into coastal groundwater supplies
What can cause water to be contaminated as a result of agriculture?
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides can seep into groundwater supplies
What has the expansion of commercial agriculture led to?
Increase in nitrate and phosphate fertilizers, causing eutrophication of freshwater ecosystems as well as health risks
What has exacerbated salt water intrusion?
melting ice and glaciers
What increases the risk of salt water intrusion?
Global sea level rise and localized abstraction of groundwater
What will the GAP project involve the building of?
17 hydroelectric power plants and 21 dams across the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
How much extra land will Turkey be able to farm as a result of the Southeastern Anatolia Project?
1.7 million
How much of Turkeys electricity demand will be met by the Southeastern Anatolia Project?
22%
What is Turkey exercising in the the Southeastern Anatolia Project?
What they believe is their territorial sovereignty as the rivers are within their borders
What will dry out as a result of the Southeastern Anatolia Project?
The Mesopotamian Marshes in Iraq
What do the UN estimate with regards to the Tigris and Euphrates?
That by 2040 they will no longer reach the Persian Gulf
What did Iraq do in 1974 to protect its water supply?
Placed troops on the Syrian border and threatened to destroy the Al Thawra dam on the Euphrates
What is Israel hoping to achieve with its desalinization project?
to provide 70% of its domestic water supplies by 2020
What are the environmental issues with Israel’s desalinisation project?
- each plant requires its own power station which adds to CO2 emissions
- produces vast amounts of salt/brine, containing anti scaling agents which harm ecosystems
how much water does Israels delsainisation project produce?
600 tonnes per hour
Key facts of the South-North Water Transfer Project in China? (3)
- Bejing region has 35% of population but only 7% of the water
- Three routes will take water from Yangtze to Northern China
- it will cost US$70 billion and will be complete by 2050
Negative effects of the South-North Water Transfer Project in China?
- 345,000 people will have to relocate
- risks draining too much from Southern China
- Eastern route more at risk from pollution
What are the positives of the South-North Water Transfer Project in China?
It will reduce water shortage in Bejing and reduce abstraction of groundwater
What was the aim of Albuquerque New Mexico’s water conservation scheme?
To reduce consumption by 30%
By how much has Albuquerque NM reduced there water consumption by since 2001?
33%
How did Albuquerque NM reduced water consumption by 33% since 2001?
- Budget if $1 million on education and publicity
- Tariffs so the more you use the more you pay
- Free water use assessment
- Water regulations
What does NLARS stand for?
North London Artificial Recharge Scheme
How much extra water can NLARS supply per day?
180 million litres a day
Summary of the Berlin rules? (9)
- Public involvement
- Coordimated use
- Intergrated management
- Sustainable
- Minimise environmental harm
- Cooperation
- Equitable ulitisation(fair share)
- Avoid transboundary harm
- Equiltable participation
What are the Berlin rules?
Rules outlining international law relating to freshwater resources
What is intermediate technology?
Uses cheap and locally avadible resources to meet people’s needs
Explain the situation in Kitale, Kenya
Schools faced closure due to lack of sanatation. It costs £50 spent to build biolatrines and keep 3000 kids in school
