Water

Question 1

What is water security?

Answer 1

Having reliable & sustainable source of enough good quality water to meet everyone’s needs

Question 2

What is a water deficit?

Answer 2

When there’s not enough water to meet people’s needs

Question 3

What is a water surplus?

Answer 3

Having more water than needed

Question 4

Name 3 things water security depends on

Answer 4

1. Amount of water available
2. Number of people who need it
3. Ability to access water

Question 5

What is water insecurity?

Answer 5

Not enough clear water to keep everyone healthy, or enable them to make a living

Question 6

What is water stress?

Answer 6

• When demand for water exceeds supply during a certain period
• Or when water us not of high enough quality to use

Question 7

Name 2 reasons why water demand is rising

Answer 7

• Economic development
• Rising population

Question 8

Explain why water demand is rising due to rising population + give stat

Answer 8

Each person needs water & need more food

Irrigation for agriculture uses 70% of world’s freshwater resources

Question 9

Name 3 reasons why water demand is rising due to economic development

Answer 9

1. Industrialisation
2. Energy Production
3. Rising living standards

Question 10

Explain why water demand is rising due to industrialisation

Answer 10

• Countries become more developed = produce more goods
  
  • Manufacturing uses a lot of water

Question 11

Explain why water demand is rising due to energy production

Answer 11

15% of water used to produce energy

Question 12

Explain why water demand is rising due to rising living standards

Answer 12

• As countries develop = wealth increases = higher standard of living
  
  • Increases water use = more appliances

Question 13

Name 2 physical factors that affect water availability

Answer 13

• Climate
• Geology

Question 14

Explain how climate affects water availability

Answer 14

• Rely on rainfall = feeds lakes and rivers = water supply
• Hot = water lost due to evaporation

Question 15

Explain how geology affects water availability

Answer 15

• Rain falls on impermeable rock = flows into rivers and lakes
  
  • Easy to get water from
• Rain falls on permeable rock = flows through them & forms underground water stores (aquifers)
  
  • Harder to get to but useful in dry places

Question 16

Name 4 economic and social factors that affect water availability

Answer 16

• Over-abstraction
• Pollution of water sources
• Limited infrastructure
• Poverty

Question 17

What is over-abstraction?

Answer 17

More water being used than replaced

Question 18

Name 3 things over-abstraction is caused by

Answer 18

• Improvements in sanitation and person hygiene
• Population growth & economic development
• High demand from businesses
  
  • e.g. tourism & recreation (golf courses) = water stress

Question 19

How does the pollution of water sources affect the water availability?

Answer 19

Reduces amount of clean water available

Question 20

Where is pollution of water sources a problem? (2x)

Answer 20

• Human & animal waste hazard for people who share water sources & have no access to sanitation
• Problem in rapidly industrialising countries
  
  • Where industrial waste dumped into river with treatment

Question 21

Explain how limited infrastructure affects water availability

Answer 21

Rapid urbanisation = water pipes & sewers can’t be built quickly enough to supply population and prevent sewage from contaminating supply

Question 22

Explain how poverty affects water availability

Answer 22

1. Water providers charge fee for supplying water to homes
2. People too poor = find other sources of water = not safe to drink

Question 23

Name 4 impacts of water insecurity

Answer 23

1. Food production
2. Pollution and disease
3. Industrial output
4. Conflict

Question 24

Explain how water insecurity affects food production

Answer 24

• Irrigation for agriculture uses lot of water
• = shortage = less food = starvation

Question 25

Explain how water insecurity affects conflict

Answer 25

• When areas of water insecurity share same water supply, water shortage = conflict
• e.g. if 1 country take water from river = reduce water security of countries downstream

Question 26

Explain how water insecurity causes pollution and disease

Answer 26

1. Supplies of drinking water = polluted by sewage, industrial chemicals or nitrogen from fertilisers
2. Diseases (e.g. cholera and typhoid) caused by micro-organism passed on through water containing untreated sewage
3. People forced to drink polluted water = death or disease

Question 27

Explain how water insecurity affects industrial output

Answer 27

1. Manufacturing industries use lot of water
2. Can’t produce as much during water shortages
3. Reduce people’s wages & affects economy

Question 28

Name 3 ways of increasing water supplies

Answer 28

1. Water Transfer
2. Dams and Reservoirs
3. Desalination

Question 29

What are water diversion schemes?

Answer 29

Transfer water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit

Question 30

Name 2 ways a water deficit can be created

Answer 30

Seasonal variations or unpredictable rainfall

Question 31

What is a water transfer?

Answer 31

Large-scale engineering projects = move water from river that has surplus water to river that has shortage

Question 32

How can water be transferred in water transfer?

Answer 32

Canals & pipes

Question 33

How can you improve water flow in water transfers?

Answer 33

Original river channel can be dredged (depended)