water

• factor affecting water supply: climate

  amount of rain, rates of evapotranspiration and changes in climate affects the water available
• factor affecting water supply: geology

  affects where aquifers and groundwater are located and how much water is stored
• factor affecting water supply: rivers

  where they flow affects the availability of water
• factor affecting water supply: Infrastructure

  pipes and canals used to transfer water, water treatment works and pumping stations are all expensive and many LICs lack infrastructure particularly in rural areas due to the cost. Even in HICs and NEEs remote and rural areas may not have the infrastructure needed to supply water
• factor affecting water supply: poverty

  lack of money means that people cannot afford a clean water supply or bottled water
• what is water surplus the result of?

  high supply and low demand

  e.g. canada, north usa, russia
• what is water deficit the result of?

  low supply and high demand

  e.g. australia, Middle East, india
• when does water stress happen?

  when the supply of water is below 1700m3 per person a year
• when does water scarcity happen?

  when the supply is below 1000m3 per person a year
• why is water consumption increasing?

  • population growth
  • each person requires about 2 litres of clean drinking water a day to remain in good health
  • water needed for sanitation and cooking
  • increased water use for industry, agriculture and energy production
• why is water consumption increasing?

  • economic development
  • more items that use water such as toilets, showers, dishwashers
  • factories use large quanitites of water
  • intensive agriculture are people eat more
  • irrigation systems use large quantities of water
  • demand for drinking and sanitation increases after moving to urban areas
• how does water insecurity impact health?

  spread of waterborne diseases

  fall in income as people are unable to work due to illness
• how does water insecurity impact agriculture?

  irrigation will have to be reduced leading to:

  • reduction in yields
  • crop failure
  • food shortages
  • food price increases
• how does water insecurity impact industry?

  decrease in production

  loss of income for businesses/countries
• where is Jamalpur?

  north of Bangladesh and near border of india
• why was jamalpur developed?

  farmers struggle to make a living and produce enough food
• summarise the scheme of jamalpur

  small local fish are introduced to the paddy fish.

  • mutualistic relationship
  • small fish are hidden from predators among rice plants
  • fish eat insects and pests to help to circulate oxygen in water around the rice plants
• advantages of jamalpur?

  increases rice production by 10%

  minimal impact on environment

  local people get joba

  training is passed on

  no large investment for machinery
• disadvantages of jamalpur?

  not suitable for all environment

  small scale - gloval food shortages wont be solved
• advantages of water diversion and storage?

  water can be diverted and stored underground to reduce evaporation

  • can be stored longer underground than surface
• advantages of dams and resevoirs?

  controls water flow - stores water during times of surplus in resevoir

  reduces flooding downstream

  hydroelectric power can be produced
• disadvantages of dams and resevoirs?


  expensive

  people living in area to be flooded for reservoir to be relocated

  impact on wildlife and habitats
• advantage of desalination?

  extracts salt from seawater to make drinkable and used for irrigation
• disadvantages of desalination?

  expensive

  salt waste can damage marine ecoystems

  lots of energy used
• • Sustainable water supplies:
  • Do not cause harm to the natural environment
  • Benefit local communities
  • Reduce waste
  • Can be used globally
• Water Conservation

  • Involves reducing waste and using water less
  • Reduce leaks: globally 45 million m3 of water is lost per day through broken pipes/leaks
  • Education: inform people why water conservation is important encourage people to use/waste less 
  • Water meters: people pay for the water they use and so tend to waste less
  • Water efficient appliances:  low flush toilets and water efficient washing machines, dishwashers all use less water
  • Reduce pollution: pollution means that water cannot be used 
  • Efficient irrigation: drip irrigation reduces the amount of water lost through evaporation