Lesson 13 - Water supply and economic development Flashcards
Give three examples of industries that require a large amount of water use?
- Agriculture
- Energy
- Sport
Give examples of emerging countries where industrial water use in growing?
- China
- India
Give some advantages of fish farming?
- It has provided employment
- It has provided vital food supplies, especially for South East Asian markets
Give one disadvantage of fish farming?
Fish farming is not well regulated in nations such as Thailand and it has led to the degradation of ecosystems such as coastal mangroves.
Why does rain-fed agriculture use less water?
In rain-fed agriculture, fields and grazing lands are entirely dependant on rainwater. Farmers focus on storing water (rainwater harvesting) to conserve supplies.
What percentage of the world’s land is under full irrigation?
Around 20% of the world’s land is under full irrigation.
Why are dietary changes in nations such as China increasing the strain on water supplies?
- There has been a huge rise in the consumption of dairy products and meat in China
- It may take around 2975 litres of water to produce 1 kilogram of rice, it takes nearly six times as much water to produce 1 kilogram of beef
What percentage of all fresh water withdrawal worldwide is for energy production and industry?
Just over 20%
What has been the impact of rapid industrialisation in China on water sources?
Water sources such as rivers and groundwater have been contaminated and the quality of the water has been negatively impacted.
Why is the increased use of biofuel likely to place further strain on global water supplies?
The crops grown to produce bioethanol and biodiesel require a lot of water; up to 10,000 litres of water is required to produce 1 litre of bioethanol and 20,000 litres for one litre of biodiesel.
