water availability

• What is meant by water security?

  -having access to enough clean water to sustain well-being, good health and economic development.
• What is meant by water insecurity?


  -the situation where a region does not have access to sufficient water supplies.
• Why is water consumption increasing?

  -growth of the world's population means more water is needed

  -economic development results in higher consumption

  -changes in lifestyle and eating habits

  -water is required for increasing energy production
• Give 3 factors that affect water availability:

  -Geology - infiltration of water through permeable rock builds up groundwater supply.

  -Climate - regions with high rainfall have water surplus

  -Over-abstraction - pumping water out of the ground faster than it is replaced by rainfall - causes wells to dry up.
• Give 3 factors that affect water availability:

  -Pollution - increasing amounts of waste and growing use of chemicals in farming.

  -Limited infrastructure - poorer countries lack pumping stations and pipes to transport water.

  -Poverty - poor countries lack mains water.