Water

How is water significant for our wellbeing?

The average person in the UK uses 150 litres of water per day at home. However, only 4% of this is for drinking.

Domestic use accounts for 21.7% of water use in the UK with 2.9% for agriculture and industry is at 75%.

Describe the global supply of freshwater.

Limited and unequally distributed.

What is the global average water footprint compared to the USAs and Bangladesh’s?

Global - 1240

USA - 2483

Bangladesh - 896

What is economic water scarcity?

When countries have water but not the money to access it.

How do chemicals such as pesticides contribute to water pollution?

They run off from farming land into rivers, polluting water and potentially killing aquatic organisms.

How does hot water contribute to water pollution?

Hot water is used for cooling processes in industry, such as power stations may be pumped into rivers.

How does oil contribute to water pollution?

Pollution such as oil from boats and ships can often end up in rivers and coastal waters.

What can increased water temperatures lead to?

Can lead to the death of wildlife and disrupt habitats.

What effect does the increased use of fertilisers have on wildlife?

Increased fertilisers can increase nutrients in the water, speeding up the growth of algae and leading to eutrophication. This means that there may not be sufficient oxygen in the water so other wildlife will also die.

The increased algae may also block the sunlight to other plants.

What effect does microbacteria have on wildlife?

The microbacteria, like the ones found in sewage can cause the spread of infectious diseases in aquatic life, animals and humans.

How can legislation improve water quality?

The UK and EU have strict laws which ensure that factories and farms are limited in the amount and type of discharge they put into rivers.

Water companies which provide our drinking water and sewage systems have very clear regulations and penalties.

How can education campaigns improve water quality?

These inform the public about the damage caused by putting inappropriate items into the sewage systems, such as baby wipes. They advise how to dispose of them correctly.

How can waste water treatment improve water quality?

Local water treatment plants remove suspended solids such as silt and soil to produce clean waste for human consumption.

How can pollution traps improve water quality?

When new roads and motorways are built close to rivers and watercourses, pollution traps such as reed beds are often installed to ‘catch’ pollution.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of legislation?

Advantages:

Low costs

Guides and penalties act as a detterance

Disadvantages:

May ignore guidelines

Government rarely carry out fines

Small companies have less rules

What are the advantages and disadvantages of education campaigns?

Advantages:

Low costs

Teaching younger generations makes it more likely to change attitudes in the long run

Disadvantages:

Easy to forget over time

Individual choice - will they care?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of waste water treatments?

Advantages:

Can be done locally

Provides jobs

Disadvantages:

Long and expensive process

Could cause illness if it goes wrong

What are the advantages and disadvantages of pollution traps?

Advantages:

Catches pollution before it gets to rivers and water courses

Natural methods

Don't disturb ecosystems

Disadvantages:

Doesnt ‘catch’ every pollution

If heavy rain, pollutants can be ‘washed out’ into river

How has the demand for water changed over time?

Water use in the UK has increased significantly over time. The amount of water use has increased by 70% since 1985. Almost 50% of the water is done domestically.

Name the reasons for increased water demand

Increase in wealth leading to an increase inuse of appliances like dishwashers and washing machines.

More food is now grown in greenhouses to meet the demand for out of season foods which requires watering throughout the year.

Increase in industrial production and its demand for water.

What is water surplus?

When the amount of water exceeds the demand. This typically occurs in areas with high rainfall and low water demand.

What is water deficit?

When the amount of water isn't enough to fulfil the demand - typically in areas of high population density and low rainfall.

What are water transfer schemes?

When water is transferred from an area of water surplus to water deficit. This is usually done by constructing systems of canals or pipes.

Name some opportunities of water transfer schemes.

Jobs will be created as part of the construction of dams, aqueducts and pipelines.

Reservoirs offer new habitats for plants and animals.

Name some disadvantages of water transfer schemes.

Increased carbon emissions linked to pumping water over long distances - meaning they have a large carbon footprint.

Political tensions as strong controversy over the topic.