eq3 water Flashcards
(27 cards)
what is smart irrigation
- sustainable solution to water management
Smart irrigation is a sustainable technique that provides crops with below the optimum water levels during the growth stage so they become less sensitive to the lack of water. The crops produce the same quality and quantity produce whilst using less water.
Using infrared sensors in a field to measure the crop temperature (to see if they need water). If reaches a certain temp, they turn on automatically.
They also measure daily evapotranspiration rates and post them online so that farmers can adjust irrigation rates.
An example of a way that water is regulated and restricted is through drip-feeding. Through this method, the water goes directly into the soil next to the roots of the crops, preventing waste and loss of water via evaporation.
positive effects of smart irrigation
how much does it reduce irrigation water use by?
- reduces water wastage
- ensures plants receive the correct volume of water
- conserve soil moisture- prevent erosion and improve overall plant health
- reduces irrigation water use by 50%
Negatives of smart irrigation
- high tech solution, hence requires good wifi and costly investment.
- The government gives higher subsides to crop fields rather than grassland fields (this would need to change)
- proper insulation is crucial
- checks for leaks and clogs (maintenance including a technology understanding)
where has smart irrigation been used ? (1)
what % increase has there been in water productivity?
In Australia, the use of smart irrigation for fruit trees has resulted in a 60% increase in water productivity.
An improvement has been seen in fruit quality and also in retaining the yield size by using the smart irrigation technique.
what is recycling water?
- sustainable water management solution
Recycling of grey water: a low-cost option that produces water for agricultural use, but not human consumption
Rainwater harvesting: where people collect the rain falling on the roofs of dwellings and store it in butts for various domestic purposes, such as flushing toilets and watering the garden
positives of rainwater harvesting
- systems will last around 30 years
- will provide clean water for thousands
- suitable for rural communities in LICS as is a bottom-up approach (affordable).
UGANDA
negatives of rainwater harvesting
= not as effective as desalination
- small scaler approach (limited, local impact)
- labour intensive (money cannot sort all issues)
- relies on expertise being passed down through generations
where has water recycling been used?
what is it
Uganda- rainwater harvesting
- average of 80- inches rainfall per ear- hence ideal location- primary source of clean water
10k litre polyethylene tank placed on a cement base with a gutter system.
what are Singapore’s circumstances
Circumstances - few natural water resources, a thriving economy, a high standard of living and a high per capita consumption of water - has made water management a top priority in this tiny state with its nearly 6 million inhabitants. It has adopted a holistic approach to water management based on three key strategies.
what are Singapore’s 3 key strategies
Collect every drop of water: the government has various ways of encouraging citizens to use water prudently. Since 2003, per capita domestic water consumption has fallen from 165 litres per day to 150 litres per day.
Re-use water endlessly: Singapore is at the cutting edge of new technologies to re-use grey water
Desalinate more seawater: two desalination plants now meet 25% of the water demand.
Despite these impressive actions, Singapore has to import water from Malaysia.
how can domestic water consumption be reduced?
displacement bags used to reduce amount of water used to flush the toilet- or using a modern- water- efficient toilet .
Taking showers instead of baths , water-efficient shower heads
water meters- people pay for the exact amount of water they use hence this encourages them to use less - in the uk houses built since 1990 have beeb fitted with water meters
homeowners can use rainwater harvesting and fix leaks to minimise water waste
what did the uk government ban in 2001?
the installation of toilets that use more than 6 litres per flush
how can agricultural water consumption be reduced?
- smart irrigation
- stormwater collected for irrigation
crops watered early in the morning to reduce loss through evapotranspiration and needing more late run the day - genetic modifiction- drought resistant crops e.g maize and wheat- would otherwise require high levels of water and are important foods.
what can grey water be used for?
Can be used to water gardens, flush toilets and irrigate farmlands without being treated first (wastewater from homes and businesses).
why has Singapore tried to become more self sufficient ?
Until 2011, they had a water trade agreement with Malaysia and parts of the agreement still exist until 2061. However, the agreement has become a source of tension between the two countries. Singapore has hence tried to become more self-sufficient regarding water.
What % of Singapore’s water comes from a high tech water recycling plant?
what’s it branded as?
40%- used new techniques, such as UV treatment to create what’s branded as ‘NEWater’
how may gallons of water does Singapore use a day and why is this an issue?
high water demand- over 400 million gallons per day
Issue as have few natural sources of freshwater- hence must rely on other means to meet demand.
What % of its water demands do Singapore’s 5 desalination plants meet?
Around 40%
what are the 3 key hard engineering solutions to water management
1) megadams
2) desalination plants
3) water transfer schemes
case study example of a mega dam
how long and tall is it?
- China’s 3 Gorges dam on the Yangtze River
- world’s largest hydropower station
- greatest source of renewable energy- great achievement instead of coal factories
180m tall
600km in length
20 million cubic metres
negatives of the 3 gorges dam
landslips (consequence of dam) and unstable houses and walls cracking apart in reservoir area
- propaganda cannot solve impacts
High Risk: Over 360 million people live within the water shed of the Yangtze river. If the dam were to break, due to heavy rains, terrorism, poor maintenance, or earthquakes, millions of lives would in severe danger.
Increased Seismic Activity: There has been a rapid increase of landslides in this area due to fact that the water in Three Gorge reservoir fluctuates between 145–175 meters each year which destabilizes the slopes of the Yangtze valleys. Because of the increasing added weight from the reservoir, large amounts of pressure on the ground causes stress on the tectonic plate boundary resulting in many earthquakes. This rapid increase of landslides and earthquakes threatens the dam and has destroyed several homes in the valley.
positives of mega dams
- water can be stored during times of surplus to ensure there’s enough water during times go deficit
- reservoir created- filled during periods of extended rainfall and released during drier periods- ensures a consistent flow of water in the river the entire year
case study example of a water transfer scheme
The South- North water transfer project, china
(humid- arid climate)
aim of the south-north water transfer scheme, china
aims to transfer significant quantities of water from China’s humid south to the arid north.
To redistribute resources and even-out the water availability
