water resource management

• what are science parks?

  an area of land, often located near university sites, where high tech industries are located
• changes in lifestyle and eating habits have increased the average use of water per head
• global demand for food is expected to increase by 70% by 2050
• as urbanisation increases more water is needed for drinking, sanitation and drainage.
• what is over-abstraction?

  pumping water out of the ground faster than it is replaced by rainfall
• water insecurity can cause social, economic and environmental problems
• in countries where water supply infrastructure is limited there may be little or no sanitation
• what are dams and reservoirs?

  dams control water flow in rivers by storing water in reservoirs
• what is desalination?

  it involves removing salt from seawater to produce fresh water. this is a very expensive process and it is only used if there is a shortage of water.
• what are the disadvantages of deslination?

  environmental impacts on ecosystems when salt waste is dumped back into the sea. the vast amount of energy required, adding carbon emissions. The high cost of transporting the desalinated water to inland areas.