Water - CS

• example of mega dam

  three Georges dam - Yangtze River
• why was the three Georges dam built

  -enables water surplus to build up and be diverted to northern china via the south-north water transfer project
• benefits of the three gorges dam

  • keeps floods in the Yangtze under control
  • generates HEP - essential for china's economic growth
  • helps water stress in northern china (Beijing)
• problems with the three gorges dam

  • 1.3 million displaced
  • decomposing vegetation in reservoir produces methane
  • water quality in reservoir is low due to pollutants from industry, sewage and farms upstream
  • false dichotomy between generating HEP and creating a water surplus in a reservoir
• what water transfer scheme transfers water from the river Yangtze to Beijing

  south north water transfer project
• why does water need to be transferred to bejing

  because 35% off chinas population and energy needed for economic growth

  but inly 7% of water
• statistic to show Bejing as economically important

  2nd largest GDP of all cities in china
• problems with the south-north water transfer project

  • large numbers relocated (345,000)
  • risk of deficit in southern china is drain too much there
  • eastern route is industrial which risks pollution
• benefits of the south-north water transfer project

  • economic development and reduced water stress in Bejing
  • limits the abstraction of groundwater
• what is an example of using desalination plants to manage water supply

  Israel desalination plants
• outline the desalination project in Israel

  -5 water plants opened which take water directly from the Mediterranean Sea

  -aims to supply 70% of domestic water supplies by 2020
• was desalination in Israel successful

  yes
• what % of Israels waters supplied by desalination plants

  70%
• issues with desalination plants

  -uses LOTS of energy as each plant requires its own power station

  -produces large amounts of salt/brine which harms ecosystems
• benefits of desalination in Israel

  produces up to 600 tonnes o water per hour
• state some sustainable water management techniques used in Isreal

  -recycling

  -smart irrigation

  -rainwater harvesting

  -virtual water
• explain smart irrigation


  • drip systems allow water to plants roots to reduce wastage and evaporation
• explain recycling water in Israel

  sewage water is recycled for agricultural water
• how many of Israel's crops are produced by recycling water

  65%
• explain the concept of virtual water

  importing crops from water rich areas which require large amounts of water to grow
• explain why sustainable management was needed in Singapore

  -Malaysia typically supplied 80% of their water, but in 2010 this volume halved

  -they have very little natural water sources
• explain how Singapore has managed its water supply sustainably

  -subsidies protect the poorest from expensive water

  -leakages been cut to 5% (UKs is 20)

  -education has caused consumption to drop
• what % have Singapores water leakages been cut to, compared to the UK

  5% vs UK 20%
• what technological fix do Singapore use to manage water

  desalination
• how many desalination plants in Singapore and what % of water does this supply

  2 plants supply 25% of their water
• what is an example of a large river basin that is managed

  Colorado river
• what % of the USA is drained by the Colorado river

  7%
• how many states does the Colorado river supply water to

  8 states
• what reasons have caused the old water agreements of the Colorado river to become outdated

  -population growth

  -economic development

  -decreased rainfall
• why is integrated drainage basin management needed for the Colorado river

  because it supplied water to 8 states, so a very large river
• example to show issue with water management int he Colorado river

  states in the lower basin take 50%, so the upper basin falls short by 10%
• explain an updated agreement of water management of the Colorado

  (2007)

  -7 US states divide up the shortages, and the amount available determines the supply to each state
• what is a case study to demonstrate transboundary water conflict

  Murray darling basin, Australia
• where is the Murray darling basin


  australia
• outline the importance of the Murray darling basin

  -supplies 75% of the nations water

  -supplies 85% of the nations irrigation water
• what are the challenges of the Murray darling basin

  -complex regime as it runs through multiple different climates, so some areas have surplus and some deficits due to variations in rainfall

  -different players/ stakeholders

  -growing population/ wealthy population demands lots of water
• explain how the climates change in the Murray darling basin

  -rainforests in tropical climates in Queensland and semi arid deserts in south Australia
• name some players of the Murray darling basin

  -agriculture

  -domestic/ urban use
• what uses most of the water from the Murray darling basin

  agriculture / irrigation
• how many people is the Murray darling basin home to

  more than 2 million people