Water Supply

Question 1

What is a PlayPump and how does it work?

Answer 1

n rural Africa, clean water is a luxury. Most people don’t have plumbing in their homes. Instead, they often must walk long distances to wells and haul heavy containers of water back.
* PlayPumps international is a South African NGO (Charity) who provide PlayPumps for communities in need.
* A PlayPump is a water pump that pumps water from underground aquifers. To construct a PlayPump a borehole needs to be drilled down to an underground aquifer.
* As the merry-go-round spins, it pumps clean water up from deep underground and stores it in a huge tank. People are welcome to come and help themselves to the water.
* So far, more than 800 PlayPumps are operating in schools and communities in four African countries, providing water for almost two million people
* The PlayPump can pump up to 370 gallons (1,400 litres) of clean water an hour.

Question 2

The Colorado River System, USA

Answer 2

• 14 major dams and reservoirs e.g. the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
• Hundreds of smaller dams.
• A network of aqueducts and canals that
  supply water to farmers, ranchers and cities e.g. the All American Canal in south- western California carries water from the Colorado River to 9 Cities and the Imperial Valley which produces $1 billion worth of crops per year.

Question 3

Why the water management scheme was needed in USA

Answer 3

• electricity (from hydroelectric plants at major dams)
• water for more than 25 million people in 7 states
• water used to produce about 15% of the nation’s produce and livestock
• multi-billion recreation industry of
  – whitewater rafting
  – boating
  – fishing
  – camping
  – hiking
• enjoyed by 15 million people a year.

Question 4

The impact that the management of USA has on the environment

Answer 4

Environmental:
* Because of so many withdrawals, the river rarely makes it to the Gulf of California.
* The reduced flow of the river at the mouth has led to a loss of habitats for birds (such as the egret) and fish (such as the totoaba)

Question 5

Explain the impact that the management Colorado river system has on people

Answer 5

People:

Positives:
* The huge reservoirs that have been created e.g. Lake Mead behind the Hoover dam provide excellent opportunities for leisure activities e.g. boating.
* Renewable energy is provided for people and industry at HEP plants.
* It allows water to be provided for 25 million people in 7 states.
* Economic benefits for areas like Las Vegas – water provision has led to the growth of the leisure and tourism industry.

Negatives:
* Water use has become unsustainable as there are too many competing users. This has led to conflict.
* Economic impacts for Mexico as not enough water available to support farming.
* Loss of settlements as a result of dam creation e.g. Glen Canyon Dam