4.2 Water access, use and security

These flashcards cover key terms related to water access, use, and security, based on lecture notes about water scarcity, conservation, governance, and related issues.

Water Security

Having access to sufficient amounts of safe drinking water.

Water Scarcity

The limited availability of water to human societies.

Water Footprint

A measure of the volume of freshwater used or polluted in the production of goods and services.

Citizen Science

A method where members of the public collect, report, and analyze data to help scientific research.

Hydropolitics

The politics surrounding the availability and management of water resources, especially in transboundary contexts.

Desalination

The process of removing salt from seawater to obtain fresh water.

Aquifer

A layer of porous rock that holds water, which can be tapped for use.

Dams and Reservoirs

Human-made structures that store water and can provide significant benefits for water supply, agriculture, and hydroelectric power.

Rainwater Harvesting

The collection and storage of rainwater for direct use or for recharging aquifers.

Water Conservation

Strategies and practices aimed at preserving, controlling, and developing water resources and preventing pollution.

Water Stress

A measure of the limitation of water supply based on availability, quality, and accessibility, defined as less than 1,700 cubic meters per year per capita.

Transboundary Water Resources

Water resources such as river basins that are shared by two or more countries.

Physical Water Scarcity

A situation where water is physically unavailable to meet demand.

Economic Water Scarcity

A situation where water is available but not accessible due to lack of infrastructure or investment.

Inequitable Access

Disparity in access to safe drinking water and sanitation, often affecting marginalized communities.

Water Governance

The political and institutional rules and processes that govern water resources management.

Cloud Seeding

A weather modification technique that involves dispersing substances into the atmosphere to encourage rainfall.