managing water supply

Water transfers

Hard engineering- Diverting water from one drainage basin to another

Benefits: deals with water deficits and surpluses

Drawbacks: only possible in countries with surpluses and a water sharing agreement

India/ China North/south transfer project

Desalinisation

Hard engineering- removing minerals to make clean drinking water

Benefits: reliable source of freshwater

Drawbacks: very expensive and energy intensive

Saudi Arabia - 50% of drinking water is desalinated

Mega dams

Hard engineering- used to regulate flow, create a reserve in case of drought or produce HEP

Can cause transboundary conflicts

GERD, three gorges

Restoration of water supplies

Sustainable scheme- restoring lakes and rivers

Benefits: moe water for agricultural use

Drawbacks: not a long term solution

Saudi arabia

Water conservation

Smart irrigation- automated spray technology

Rainwater harvesting- collecting rainwater

Reduces water use and water waste

Difficult to get the unlicensed and businesses on board

Israel, UK

Integrated drainage basin management

Threatening the rive basin holistically and considering all players

Promotes coordinated management of water sources

Difficult to coordinate stakeholders to work successfully

Colorado river

International water sharing treaties and frameworks

Promote fair sustainable management of water resources.

Relies on voluntary participation

UNECE, Helsinki rules, UE WFD