3.3 Water resources and management

water footprint

the amount of water used to make an item of food or a product such as clothing

water security

when a society has enough water to ensure that everyone has clean water, sanitation, good health and enough to grow food and make items

over abstraction

When water is abstracted at a faster rate than it is recharged, leading to a store of water decreasing in size.

water stress

where there is a shortage of water which creates risk for individuals, farmers or industries

water scarcity

the lack of sufficient water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region

why does water supply vary

the total amount of water varies from one country to another, i.e American families use more than African families

some countries have higher rainfall and have major rivers

which country has highest water consumption and why

asia as they have a large population so more demand and are growing in wealth

which sector has the highest withdrawal and consumption of water

agriculture due to irrigation, livestock and growing more crops around world

which sector had lowest withdrawn and consumption of water

reservoirs as water is stored for power and recycled

reservoirs are also not put everywhere

what is the overall pattern in water consumption and withdrawal

increased rapidly

embedded water

the amount of water used to grow or make products we buy in factories

what social reasons have changed water supply and demand

new industries being made

increasing food demand

world pop grown

more people living in desert areas

more homes with gardens

hydroelectric power use

more food grown

livestock

standard of living increased

warmer temps

livestock farming increased

what is the link between consumerism, pop increase and economic growth with growing demand in water

pop increase=more people wanting products=water footprint increase

consumerism=more products bought=more water usage

pop increase=more people=more jobs=econ grows=water footprint inc

Econ growth=from inc in consumerism=more to spend on food + sell

water insecurity in LIC impacts

less food grown, less income

less school, limits future jobs

more likely to drink dirty water, disease

health issues, carrying water

gendered jobs

what causes water insecurity

over use for irrigation

climate change affecting supply

pop growth

over abstraction

different geology affects supply hug pressure weather systems

human impacts of water insecurity

conflict between countries

rivers too polluted

death

disease

gender impact on water collection

over abstraction

when the amount of water taken from aquifers and groundwater is greater than the amount of water falling as rain.

Colorado River HIC

flows through number of states in USA i.e south through Arizona and Utah

reasons for over abstraction in Colorado river

drought

low rainfall

tourism

urbanisation

What is one impact of over abstraction on agriculture?

Less crops are being grown, which leads to less food.

How does over abstraction affect the economy of the USA?

The USA relies on rivers to grow cotton, so if cotton is not grown, their economy decreases.

How are Mexican fishermen affected by over abstraction of Colorado river?

Mexican fishermen are struggling as the mouth of the river is dried up.

what human activities lead to drier local weather

overgrazing=soil can’t store water=no vegetation

deforestation=no interception=water hits soil=isnt absorbed but soil

irrigation

Which countries intersect at Lake Chad? LIC

Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria

What are the main causes for the reduction of Lake Chad's surface area?

-Droughts and diversion of water from sources like the Chari River

What causes large fluctuations in Lake Chad's area?

Seasonal rainfall

reasons for over abstraction in lake chad

-dams

-irrigation

-evaporation

how has lake chads shrinking lake affected people and environment

people rely on water=not safe anymore as cause cholera

soils suffered from salinisation= soil infertility=no crops

wetland around ecosystems surrounding lake dried out=bird dec, fish dec=lower income for fishermen

poverty increased, inc migration to cities=extremist groups more likely

water transfer scheme

when a country has a water surplus in one area and a shortage in another

what are different ways to transfer water

canals or pipes

reservoirs

why does china need a transfer scheme

drier areas are to north of China and humid areas to south

water demand is increasing

huge pop

desert in N area

a lot of water available in south

why is the south to north management project controversial

thousands of people will be forced off their land if project goes forward

fish will be depleted

very expensive

plans to build dams which damage environment

Han river will be polluted from Yangtze river

BUT provides solution to water shortage

and aims to channel lots of water=reduce struggle in north

River nile- transboundary conflict

longest river in world

flows through 11 countries