water management in the UK Flashcards
(16 cards)
what areas of the UK have a water surplus?
the North and west
what does water surplus mean?
areas with greater supply than demand
what areas of the UK have a water deficit?
the south east and midlands
what does water deficit mean?
areas with greater demand than supply
how much has the average household water usage gone up by?
50%
what is a reason for the increase in household water usage? and what are some examples?
new appliances that require more water e.g. dishwashers and washing machines.
what effect does the population increase have on the water demand in the UK?
it means that more parts of the UK will enter a water deficit.
what are some reasons that more parts of the UK will be put into water deficit due to population increase?
because more houses will need to be built which will require more water used.
what effect does polluted/poor quality water have on sources/companies?
it puts a lot of pressure on them.
overall, is the UK’s river quality improving of getting worse?
it is improving.
what are some problems what affect water quality?
- eutrophication
- pollutants washed into water sources through runoff
- chemical and oil spills from factories
what percent of water in the south comes from groundwater sources?
80%
why have lots of groundwater sources closed?
due to expensive treatments to keep the water safe.
what strategies have been introduced to help manage water quality?
- improved drainage systems
- imposing regulations on any fertilisers and pesticides.
how can water transfer schemes help maintain supplies?
moving water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit.
what are some issues of water transfer?
- dams and aqueducts are expensive to build
- it can have an affect on wildlife
- possible political issues
