5.8 There Are Consequences & Risks Accosiated With Water Insecurity Flashcards
The price of water
Would expect colleration between income and price paid, but it’s more complex….
Price determined by
PHYSICAL COSTS OF OBTAINING SUPPLY - if water had to be piped for long distances or treated
QUALITY / AVALIABILITY OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, eg. Piped water to homes, people in slums rely on tankers, stand pipes, and bottled water
Costs from informal vendors can be up to 100x more than standard taps.
DEGREE OF DEMAND FOR WATER - if water is scarce, prices rise to manage demand
WHO CONTROLS WATER SUPPLY?
In many developing countries water is free but not high quality,
usually > urbanised > privatised > people have to pay.
The Privistisation of Water Supplies
Although it’s a vital human need that a realistic price should be paid, accessible, it is difficult as installation of infrastructure, maintenance, disposal, and treatment is expensive.
Late 20th century, decision makers promoted neo-liberal views in favour of the privatisation of public utilities.
Assumed it promotes conservation, improve efficiency, and water quality. Consumers charged for price of treatment and maintenance .
1970s to 80s, World Bank and IMF created SAPs for developing countries, loan money for conditions ie privatisation, existing systems ineffective, corruption, and failed to provide citizens with commodities.
Importance of Water - Agricutlure
Pressure on agriculture and water supplies > China > huge rise in dairy consumption and meats.
Rain fed agriculture > entirely depends on rainwater and utilisation of ‘Green Water’, i.e., focused on rainwater harvesting.
1/5 th of land depends on irrigation from dams, groundwater, surface water, and canals.
1960s industrial irrigation projects coincided with ‘Green Revolution’ and increased water demands.
Importance of Water - Industrial and Energy Use
Industrial water supplies (quantity&quality) must be reliable to support investment and economic activity.
Increased demand from development may have impacts on water quality in areas, especially TNCs, and the shift taking advantage of LAX environmental legleslations.
Ie following shift, China and India have experienced contamination of rivers and groundwater.
However, considerable process on TNCs reducing usage, recycling, and controlling waste effluents.
Energy production intensive, i.e., HEP or cooling of nuclear power stations, although source almost unchanged. However, other operations ie fracking can contaminate fresh water sources.
Area of concern - developments in biofuels - crops used for bioethanol are very thirsty, up to 10 000l for 1l.
Importance of Water - Human Wellbeing
Access to water supplies is critical for domestic purposes, water management, and sanitation services can reduce poverty and sustain economic growth, better health, and less health costs.
2.4 bn lack access to adequate sanitation.
Lack of sanitation, fundamental source of water borne disease ie dissentary/cholera, higher morbidity rates, fewer people able to work, have to stay at home, and care for people.
Spectacular developments by NGOs ie Gates Foundation for Malaria, but issues still remain.
‘The next war will be fought over water, not politics’ former UN Secretary General
When demand overtakes supply, the stakeholders will wish to all use the same diminished supplies. International conflict over inequalities in water access or allocation. Pressure points and tensions.
240 transboundary aquifers worldwide, 263 International rivers.
2/3 of water conflicts in the last century over avaliability, i.e., downstream and upstream
Hydropolitics - Water and Geopolitics
Upstream countries usually claim ownership/ territorial sovereignty ‘their water’
Downstream usually claim territorial Integrity ie right to receive their water, like in the past
Hydropolitics and the Sharing of Water
Berlin Rules (2004), concepts, i.e., equitable use, should be applied over drainage basin
Criteria usually fall under
Natural factors include rainfall
Social and economic factors
Downstream impacts
Dependency, i.e., alternative sources
Prior use past/future use
Efficiency avoiding mismanagement
In reality, it is unfair, and the country with most political/economic/military power gets more
