4.2 access to fresh water Flashcards
distribution of water
- unequal
- some regions very little, others several meters
- not consistent throughout the year, managed to ensure a continual supply
issues accessing water
poor infrastructure and management
- lack of knowledge and skills, finances, political will
inequalities
- urban and rural areas
- rich and poor
- social groups
distribution of water
climate change
- changing regional precipitation patterns, water availability
- already water stressed areas worsen
- equatorial, more precipitation
- more extreme weather patterns
- melting glaciers, flooding
- seawater contamination surface and aquifers, coastal areas
- more areas water stress
water demand rising due to
- population growth
- higher standard of living
- more meat based diet
- growth of industry, urbanization
water stress definition
- demand exceeds the available supply over a certain time period or quality of water restricts its use
- can develop into water scarcity, even worse
contributing factors to water stress
- exploitation of groundwater and surface waters, contamination from the sea
- pollution of water sources, industrial waste, agricultural run off, sewage
- inefficient use of water, poor irrigation, leakages, poor use by industry and individuals
- climate change altering rainfall patterns
ethiopian grand renaissance dam conflict
- dam in ethiopia on the blue nile, could control water in sudan and uganda and egypt
- egypt threatened military action
- ethiopia agreed not to impact the flow and threaten other regions water supplies
increasing water resources
reservoirs
- natural or artificial lakes to collect and store water
- damming rivers and flooding suitable valleys
- generate hydropower, flood control, fisheries, recreational and aesthetic value
increasing water resources
artificial recharge
- increase amount of water stored in aquifers
- building a ditch above an aquifer to intercept and collect run off, percolates
- water pumped directly from rivers/reservoirs into the aquifer
increasing water resources
rainfall harvesting schemes
- collection of precipitation that falls on roofs of buildings
- stored in tanks, used for domestic purposes, cleaning, gardening
- reduces risk of flooding and soil erosion
- cheap and easy to maintain
potential impacts of building reservoir
- change habitat, terrestrial to aquatic
- relocation of people
- change to the flow of water
- loss of fish and migratory routes
- sedimentation, loss of capacity
increasing water resources
desalination
- producing drinkable freshwater from sea water
- energy intensive, expensive
- reverse osmosis, leave behind salt molecules
water redistribution
transfer schemes
- one river basin to another using pipes or canals
- surplus to deficit, expensive
- adverse effects on donor river, low water levels, disrupt fish, not enough to meet needs of donors
increasing water resources
use of greywater
- water clean enough to be used again, baths, showers, washing machines
- used for toilet flushing and gardening, can’t drink
increasing water resources
reducing demand
increase water efficiency
- agriculture, reduce, drip irrigation
- industry, change processes
- home, water saving flush shower heads, greywater recycling
public awareness campaigns
- showers instead of baths, efficient appliances, fixing leaks, rainwater, meat consumption
economic incentives
- fines for wasting water
- increasing cost of water and meat
- installing water meters
legislation
- require new buildings, low volume flush toilets, greywater
- promote reuse/cycling of water
- repairing and detecting leaks
