water resource management

• What are the three essential global resources mentioned in the study material?


  Food, water, and energy
• Why is water important for human life?


  It is essential for humans to survive and drink clean water daily
• How much water is required to produce a car?


  76,000 litres
• How much water is required to produce a barrel of beer?

  6,000 litres
• What is the role of water in food production?


  Water is used to keep crops well irrigated
• How much water is required to produce 1 kg of beef?

  15,500 litres
• How much water is required to produce 1 kg of chocolate?

  24,000 litres
• What does water surplus mean?


  The supply of water exceeds the demand for water
• What is water deficit?


  The supply of water is less than the demand for water
• What is water stress?


  There is enough water to meet demand, but not enough clean, good quality water available
• How does the level of development relate to water stress?

  Newly industrialized countries often have the highest levels of water stress
• Which countries are examples of newly industrialized countries with high water stress?

  India, Saudi Arabia, and Iran
• What is water security?


  Having a clean, reliable source of water that meets demand throughout the year
• What can lead to water insecurity?

  Contaminated water sources, inability to purify water, and variable water volume due to drought
• What is the threshold for water stress in terms of clean water availability?

  1700 m³ per person per year
• What are some impacts of water insecurity?


  Water-borne diseases, food shortages, and conflict over water supplies
• What are examples of water-borne diseases?


  Cholera and Typhoid
• What can cause crop failures?


  Droughts and water shortages
• What conflict is associated with the Nile River?


  The conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia over water supplies
• What happened in Bolivia in 2000 regarding water supplies?


  Violent protests occurred due to a private company taking control of water supplies
• What are the strategies to increase water supplies in the world?

  • Underground storage
  • Dams and reservoirs
  • Water transfer schemes
  • Desalination
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of underground storage?


  Advantages:

  • Reduces water loss due to evaporation
  • Works for infrequent rainfall

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Expensive to construct and run
  • Potential environmental problems

  
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of dams and reservoirs?

  Advantages:

  • Control river flow and reduce flooding risk
  • Generate electricity through hydroelectric power

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Flooding of villages and towns
  • Water loss through evaporation

  
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of water transfer schemes?


  Advantages:

  • Supplies large urban cities
  • Profitable for countries with surplus water

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Very expensive to construct
  • Risk of leakages

  
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of desalination?


  Advantages:

  • Increases volume of freshwater available
  • New research for small-scale filters

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Requires energy, adding cost
  • Waste brine can be hazardous

  
• What are the characteristics of sustainable water supply strategies?


  • Reduce water insecurity
  • Improve health and economic development
  • Suitable for smaller towns and villages
  • Focus on water conservation

  
• What new material is being used to make small scale desalination filters for households?


  Graphene
• What is a disadvantage of desalination?


  It requires energy, which adds cost to cleaning water
• Why is the waste brine from desalination considered hazardous?


  Because it is very concentrated when pumped back into the sea
• What are the main strategies to increase the supply of water for areas of high demand?

  • Desalination
  • Groundwater management
  • Recycling
  • Water conservation
• Why are large concrete constructions used in water supply strategies problematic?


  They release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and disrupt habitats
• What is one benefit of groundwater management?


  It reduces the risk of water being consumed and not replaced naturally
• What is a disadvantage of groundwater management laws?


  Some people ignore laws and continue to extract water illegally
• How does recycling water benefit industries?


  It saves many gallons of fresh water that can be used for drinking
• What is a disadvantage of using sewage in agriculture?


  Some industries don’t feel obliged to be sustainable
• What climate does the UK have that affects its water supply?

  Rainy maritime climate
• What is a major factor contributing to water stress in the UK?


  The growing population and water-intensive appliances
• How does population density affect water demand in a region?

  A low population density results in lower water demand per area
• Why do some regions in the UK experience high water stress despite having a rainy climate?


  Because rainfall is not evenly distributed across the UK
• What percentage of the UK’s water supply is wasted through leaks and wastage?

  21%