water - resource management geography

• Global areas of water surplus

  North America, Europe and Asia - low population densities and high levels of rainfall
• Global areas of water deficiency

  Northern Africa and the Middle East - low levels of rainfall, high agricultural demands, high population densities
• Reasons for increasing water consumption

  Increase in households having appliances - eg. dishwashers Improvements in personal hygiene

  Economic development - increasing industrial production

  Increasing population - As demand for food increases, pressure is put on agricultural systems to become more intensive
• How does climate affect water availability?

  Varying levels of rainfall and the ability to store fresh water

  High temperatures mean higher rates of evaporation
• How does geology affect water availability?

  Infiltration of water through permeable rock allows formation of groundwater supplies -eg. aquifers
• How does pollution affect water availability?

  Water is no longer safe for consumption - could lead to the spread of water-bourne diseases (leads to water stress)
• How does over abstraction affect water availability?

  If the amount of water being taken is greater then the amount falling as precipitation - leads to water scarcity and reductions in water quality as pollutant concentrations are increased
• How does limited infrastructure affect water availability?

  Water pipes are expensive to install as they need to be buried underground

  Unsealed pipes increase the potential for leaks and pollution

  Some countries may not have water treatment plants, which reduces the water available
• How does poverty affect water availability?

  People may not be able to afford fresh water, so are forced to rely on potentially polluted water

  There may only be shared water supplies in rural communities
• Impacts of water insecurity - waterborne disease and water pollution

  People rely on polluted water sources for irrigation, washing and drinking water

  Waterborne diseases thrive in rivers polluted by open sewers and untreated drinking water

  Reduced productivity when people queue to obtain drinking water from standpipes.
• Impacts of water security - food production

  Reduced water supply and drought means reduced ability to irrigate crops, leading to low productivity and low yields

  This can lead to famine
• Impacts of water security - industrial output

  The development of manufacturing places increasing demands on water supplies

  Water shortage can lead to lowered industrial production and temporary closure of some factories.
• Impacts of water security - potential for conflict where demand exceeds supply


  Water sources -eg. rivers can cross political and national borders and cause conflict
• Strategies to increase water supply - diverting supplies and increasing storage

  Evaporation can rapidly deplete water supplies - some countries divert surface water and pump it underground to be stored in aquifers, and used when availability is low
• Strategies to increase water supply - dams and reservoirs

  Water can be stored in reservoirs during periods of water surplus and released when it is needed - eg. for irrigation

  Dams are also used to generate hydroelectric power

  More water can be stored when there are more/larger reservoirs
• Strategies to increase water supply - water transfer schemes

  Moving water from areas of surplus to areas of water deficit using pipelines or canals
• Strategies to increase water supply - desalination


  Removing salt from seawater to create fresh water

  Very energy-intensive and expensive
• How much did the SNWTP cost?

  $62 billion
• How much water travels via the SNWTP a year?

  12 trillion gallons
• Why was the SNWTP needed?

  Water supply is in the south, demand is in the north

  The north has 2 megacities - Beijing and Tianjin

  High population density, increased demand for domestic water

  Water is needed for irrigation and heavy industry
• Advantages of SNWTP


  Reduces water insecurity in the north and supports economic development

  Food security improves - more water is available for irrigation

  Health benefits from improved water quality - less WB disease
• Disadvantages of SNWTP


  300,000 people have been displaced by its' construction

  Damage to the natural environment

  The region is prone to earthquakes - could cause extensive damage

  Cost a significant amount of money to taxpayers
• Sustainable water supplies - water conservation

  Reducing water usage by installing water meters

  Using more efficient irrigation techniques -eg. drip irrigation

  Reducing leakages caused by broken pipes
• Sustainable water supplies - groundwater management

  Abstracting water from aquifers must be balanced by precipitation or pumping water from rivers and lakes

  Poor management of groundwater can result in rivers drying up, which can have a detrimental impact on ecosystems
• Sustainable water supplies - recycling


  Industrial and domestic wastewater can be treated and used for other purposes -eg. irrigation and industry
• Sustainable water supplies - grey water

  Grey water is wastewater from people's homes that can be recycled and used - eg. when rainfall is captured and then used to flush toilets
• Where is Hitosa?


  Central Ethiopia
• Why did Ethiopia need a local water supply scheme?

  Majority of the population are subsistence farmers

  Collecting water was time-consuming and reduces economic opportunities

  Low annual rainfall and high annual temperatures

  50% of the population had no access to sanitation
• What did the Hitosa water scheme consist of?

  Gravity-fed water supply scheme

  Pipes freshwater 140km from Mount Bada to 100 tap stands in Hitosa
• Advantages of the Hitosa water scheme

  Reliable and safe water is provided to over 65,000 people

  Project is managed by the local community

  Time spent collecting water has significantly decreased and new businesses -eg. cattle fattening established

  The access charge is reinvested into the infrastructure

  There has been no corruption or misuse of funds
• Disadvantages of the Hitosa water scheme

  No education about hygiene around the standpipes

  Tap hygiene is poor and the risk of contracting a disease from standpipes is high

  Agriculture is using an excessive amount of water