3.2- Consequences of water insecurity

What is physical scarcity

• more than 75% if country’s blue water flows are being used

• thus applies to 25% of worlds population- Middle East, North Africa

What is Economic scarcity

• when blue water sources are limited by lack of technology, governance

• 1 billion are restricted from accessing blue water due to poverty such as in Africa

Causes of water scarcity

• lack of precipitation

• lack of investment, management of water to meet demand

Why prices of water varies globally

• governments used to provide water as a service, charging at cost price

• but due to urban growth, IMF restrict government spending money of services like water- water now run by private sectors- government don’t gave to pay for water anymore

• caused water prices to increase- In Bolivia water supplied privatised and prices rose 20% over average income

Importance of water for industry- economic development

• demand for water used in industry will rise by 400% in 2050

• having high quality water supply is vital for industrial productivity 

• without it, production lines may have to stop- causes economic impacts

Importance of water for energy supply- economic development 

• most of energy generation needs water in some form

• energy demands are increasing globally as electrify access and standards of living increase

Importance of water for agriculture- economic development 

• 20% of land is irrigated- pumped from aquifers

• this causes underground depletion of water- unsustainable

• need to produce 60% more food by 2050- not sustainble as volume of water used now by agriculture is too much

Importance of water for human well-being- domestic use

• water piloted by lack of sanction causes diseases

• clean water is vital for cooking, cleaning

• poverty strongly links to lack of access to clean water 

Water conflicts

• as water demand and water shortages increases- potential for conflict rises

• conflict occur due to economic development- some counties take more water out of river than others

• can be trans boundary conflict- e.g. the Nile

The Nile

• Water demand around Nile increases due to increased population, agriculture- global warming & water pollution decreases availability

• 1929- Nile water agreement made Egypt and Susan have right to Nile, other countries affected as couldn’t use it

• Egypt depends 90% on it’s water- has military power in other countries to prevent countries interfering with Nile

• Tensions rose- Nile river basin initiate launches to ensure fair use of Nile between countries

Dams on Nile- problem

• The Ethiopian Damn is largest hydropower dam in Africa- Egypt and Sudan weren’t happy

• Built at top of Nile- reducing water downstream to Egypt by 1/3

• Reduces agricultural land by 72%- causes economic losses