Sustainable Water

Question 1

How is global demand going to increase by 2030?

Answer 1

Demand estimated to increase by 56%

Question 2

How rapidly is world population growing?

Answer 2

Additional 3 billion people by 2035

Question 3

What % of water in world is fresh

Answer 3

Only 2.5%

Question 4

Physical factor pros

Answer 4

Melting of inland glaciers will increase water supply in short term but will cease in long term
High relief provides opportunities for storage

Question 5

Physical factor limits

Answer 5

Increase evapotranspiration and evapouration rates
Decline of bodies of water
Increased frequency of El Nino events
Bolivia - Chacaltaya glacier retreated 90% since 1947

Question 6

Murray Darling facts

Answer 6

40% of AUS agricultural production
80% of basin agriculture
75% of basin receives less than 600mm rainfall a year
Ground becoming increasingly saline which makes crop production impossible

Question 7

Economic factors reducing water supply

Answer 7

Urbanisation reduces infiltration and groundwater replenishment - El Alto - More concentrated water demand
‘Export of water’ - Australian wine
Industrialisation increases water use

Question 8

Effects of Chinese development on water supply

Answer 8

Growing demand for water feld by rapidly growting economy, 7.7% growth in 2013
Per capita water availability 1/3 of world average
Yangtze -
23.4 billion tonnes of industrial waste dumped each year
1500 tonnes of agricultural chemicals
4.6 tonnes of arsenic flow - algae
25% of world container traffic

Question 9

Methods of managing supply

Answer 9

Dam construction
Water Transfer schemes
Groundwater replenishment
Desalinisation
Sewage recycling

Question 10

Dam construction - eg Kouga dam, Port Elizabeth

Answer 10

Pros
Dams contribute to 15% of irrigation supplies in world
Power - 19% of world’s electricity from HEP
Employment - Hydropower creates (in)/directly 1.4 million jobs worldwide
Flood control
Cons
480 million people displaced
Destruction of ecosystems
Political tensions

Question 11

Water transfer - South to North Transfer project

Answer 11

Pros
Allows transfer of water in abundant areas to scarce areas
Cons
Not useful in areas of water shortage
Pollution
Hugely expensive - $100 Billion, could cause prices to rise

Question 12

Groundwater replenishment - Supplies boreholes in Enfield and Tottenham

Answer 12

Pros
Relatively cheap
Not subject to evapourational losses
Useful in countries with unreliable rainfall

Question 13

Desalinisation - Saudi Arabia

Answer 13

Pros
Takes advantage of 97% of world water
Does not consume fresh water supplies
Can be used alongside solar power, Eg 2013 Al Khafji 30,000m3 a day
Cons
Very expensive as technology new
Requires a lot of energy
Can damage ecosystems when salt put back into water

Question 14

NEWater Singapore

Answer 14

Recycles sewage and provides 30% of Singapore supply

Question 15

Managing Agricultural Demand - Responsible for 70% of consumption

Answer 15

NGOS - WaterAid helped farming communities be more water efficient
GM Crops
Advanced farming techniques
Use of grey water to irrigate crops
Drip Irrigation - Reduces crop demand by up to 50% (expensive)

Question 16

Managing Industrial demand - 20% of global consumption

Answer 16

Coca- cola - Consumes 283 billion litres worldwide per year
Water Auditing/Metering - Walkers - 30 Metres in factories reduced demand by 50% in 10 years
Grey water recycling
Staff education
Push taps/spray taps

Question 17

Managing Domestic demand

Answer 17

Smart Water meters - 19 million users in UK
Rainwater harvesting - rainbutts
Showering - 60 litres saved
Hosepipe bans
Grey water
Low flush toilets - 1999 legislatioin in UK, reduced use by 35%
Anglia water water efficiency plan 2014 - Aims to reduce leaks