Water resources

NOV 2014
(Q1):Why are waterlogging and salinity called ‘the twin menaces for farmers’? [2]
• Waterlogging restricts root growth / prevents air pockets in soil
• Salinity poisons the soil / plants cannot tolerate salt

(Q2) Describe the ways in which damage by waterlogging and salinity can be prevented. [6]
• Tubewells to lower water table (fresh water pumped up to flush out salt)
• Surface drains dug (diverts surface water to river / lake)
• Canals lined (prevents seepage)
• Canals closed temporarily
• (Eucalyptus) trees planted (deep roots
absorb water from water table)

1 (a) Study Fig. 1 which shows a map

of Pakistan. Name:
(i) The rivers E, F, and G. [3]
E Indus
F Jhelum
G Ravi

(ii) One of the dams H or J. [1]

H Tarbela
J Mangla

(b) What is meant by

A: a link canal
 Diverts / transfers / moves water from / links barrages / syphons to rivers / canals
 Diverts / transfers / moves water from / links [western] rivers to other [eastern] rivers /canals
 Diverts / transfers / moves water between / links rivers / river and canal
B: a perennial canal
 Supplies water throughout the year
 Supplied from dams / barrages
C: an inundation canal? [3]
 Supplies water in the rainy season
 Taken from rivers / when rivers high / flood

(c) Explain the importance of the Indus Water Treaty to Pakistan. [4]
 Ensures that India does not restrict Pakistan’s water supply / water supply in Pakistan is
maintained
 Ensures an effective / dependable irrigation system in the Indus Plain
 Pakistan has exclusive rights to waters of the rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab
 Maintains agricultural production
 Tarbela and Mangla dams built [to store water]
 Barrages / syphons / link canals built [to distribute water]
 Enabled construction cost of works to be shared with Western countries and India

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2015

(c) (i) Irrigation is required in many parts of Pakistan. Which statement below best describes
‘irrigation’? Tick your answer.

 Adding water to the land to enable farming to take place

(ii) Name one irrigation technique that is used in Pakistan. Describe how this technique works.
You may use a labelled sketch or diagram.
 One mark for named choice. Three marks for how the technique is described and
explained. Can all be from labels on sketch or mixture of labels/text.
 Likely choices: canals, diversion canals, lift irrigation, sailaba, wells, tubewells, karez.

(d) Read the following two statements.

A. “The government should build more large dams and canals to improve access to
irrigation for farmers.”
B. “Farmers should be trained to build small-scale irrigation projects and use the existing
supplies of water more efficiently.”
Which statement do you agree with more? Give reasons for your answer and refer to
places or examples you have studied in Pakistan to support your answer.

Supporting Statement A
 Rainfall can be stored in one area and supply a dry area
 Government has power to get things done
 Expensive to fund/get resources from government
 Can employ companies that will complete job professionally
 Can plan at national scale
 Can gain economies of scale in providing raw materials
 No cost to local people
Supporting Statement B
 Local workforce could build small-scale systems with training
 Can train/develop local skills for future
 Gives responsibility to local people
 Allows local people to provide inputs
 Cheaper if labour is free
 Can respond to local conditions
 Quick to implement

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MAY 2013
(c) Explain the benefits and problems of high rainfall on either farming or road travel.

FARMING
Benefits (res. 2):
 increased water supply/less need for irrigation
 alluvium from floods
 reduces salinity
 better plant growth
 higher yield/income
 benefit to animals
Problems (res. 2):
 flooding
 waterlogging
 water is not absorbed
 soil erosion/gullying
 leaching
 risk of pests/disease
 damage at harvest, e.g. cotton, wheat
 intensity can damage plant
 loss of income (do not credit twice)
ROAD TRAVEL
Benefits (res. 2):
 lays the dust
 water to cool engine
Problems (res. 2):
 flooding blocks roads/restricts access
 washes away surface
 destroys bridges
 danger of lightning
 danger to driving, e.g. slippery [6]

2 (a) Study Fig. 2 which shows the perennial canal system in [Link] the distribution
of the perennial canals.
 mainly on Plains/Indus Plain/by the rivers
 most widespread in Punjab
 only from Indus in Sindh
 mostly NE to SW in Punjab and Upper Sindh
 mostly NW to SE in Lower Sindh
 south/east of highlands
 no canals in SE
area/Balochistan/north/west/mountains
 some in KPK
[4]

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(b) Name three types of irrigation, other than perennial canals, used in Pakistan. Explain briefly
how each type works.
 Allow one mark for a brief description and the second mark for more detail
 inundation canals from rivers + details
 tubewells from groundwater + details
 Karez from foothills + details
 others including ponds, tanks, charsa, shaduf and modern methods, e.g. sprinkler, tanker [6]

(c) Explain how a perennial supply of water can damage farmland.

 too much water/waterlogging
 watertable rises
 evaporates
 causes salinity/salts accumulate on surface/surface crust
[4]

(d) Study Fig. 3 which shows the main users of water in the
[Link] two conflicting users of water supplies in the
Punjab shown on Fig. 3. Explain briefly why each user thinks
that they should have more water.
 2 conflicting users (one mark), e.g. farmer, industrialist,
home-owner, power industry
 Reasons for wanting more water (two marks each)
 e.g. farmer wants it for higher yields – more food for growing population, income for himself,
 irrigation, example of high usage, e.g. rice and sugarcane.
 e.g. industrialist wants it for bigger/better output – increase trade, exports, income for
himself, example of high usage, e.g. drinks, chemicals.
 e.g. home owner wants it for domestic use – better hygiene, food preparation, healthy living,
example of high usage, e.g. washing, drinking. [5]

(e) To what extent is it possible to increase water supply in Pakistan?

Possibilities (res. 2)
 Indus river system + details
 rainfall in mountains
 melt water from mountains
 groundwater
 flat land for canals
 cleaning dirty water/desalination
 reduce losses, e.g. more storage, less leakage, ration usage (max. 2)
 control misuse, e.g. by education
Problems (res. 2)
 not enough river water
 not enough rain
 loss by leakage, siltation
 Indus Water Treaty restricts water in reservoirs/rivers
 evaporation in hot climate
 pollution
 demands always increasing
 some places remote (e.g. Baluchistan)
 lack of funds/government will [6]

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 Nov 2013
1 (a) Study Photograph A.
Name the irrigation system shown in the photograph and explain briefly how it works [4]

 Name Tubewell
How it works
 Tube to groundwater/aquifer
 Water pumped up
 By tractor/(diesel) motor/generator
 Water flows into pond/reservoir/tank
 Distributed to fields by canals/pipes/sprinklers

(b) On the map name the two dams shown, and

the rivers on which they are situated. [4]
 X Tarbela, Indus
 Y Mangla, Jhelum

(c) (i) With reference to water supply and relief (topography) explain why it might be possible to
build more HEP (hydel) power stations in areas such as that shown in Photograph C (Insert). [4]
 Water supply
 High rainfall, melting glaciers, melting
snow, low temperatures/evaporation,
continuous
 supply from rivers/rain (max 2)
 Relief (topography)
 Deep valleys, narrow valleys, steep
slopes/steep-sided valleys, waterfalls,
high altitude
 (max 2)

(ii) Give three reasons why it is difficult to

develop more HEP (hydel) power stations
in Pakistan. [3]
 (Climate change so) less rainfall
 (Climate change so) higher temperatures and more evaporation/glaciers smaller
 Liable to siltation in reservoirs
 High cost
 No investment/government support/changing government policies
 Opposition from tribal areas (in mountains)/security issues
 Lack of skilled labour/expertise
 Opposition to loss of land (for reservoir)
 Dispute over share of water (between provinces)

(d) To what extent is it possible to increase the electricity supply to rural areas? [6]
Possibilities
 Extend national grid
 Increase (national) power generation/nuclear power
 More/good potential for renewable schemes, wind, solar, HEP (max 2)
 (allow dev to further max 2 for details)
 More small-scale power generation schemes
 E.g. biogas using animal/plant waste/molasses (dev)

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Problems
 High cost of technology/fuel/maintenance
 Theft
 Damage/energy loss…
 …Due to long transmission lines/siltation in reservoirs for HEP
 Distance from grid stations/remoteness of some rural areas
 Tribal opposition
 Insufficient power generation…
 …So urban needs met first
 Lack of government support/loans/investment/policies
 Difficult construction in rugged/mountainous terrain
 Lack of named skilled personnel, e.g. engineers

Nov 2012

3 (a) Study Fig. 4.

(i) Name the irrigation system shown in Fig. 4 [1]
 Karez

(ii) Name an area of Pakistan where it is used. [1]

 Balochistan
 Kech Valley / Turbat /Miri / Sharak

(iii) Explain how this system provides water for

agriculture in this area. [4]
 rain falls in mountains
 drains to the foothills / sinks into ground /
groundwater /
 travels in tunnels / underground canals
 reaches surface / oases
 tunnels need maintenance
 owned by groups of farmers

(iv) Name a fruit crop grown in this area. [1]

 dates / apricot / apple / grapes / peaches / melons

(b) Study Fig. 5 showing the results of a survey in 2008.

(i) What percentage of land is cultivated? [1]
 37/ 38

(ii) What percentage of land is waste? [1]

 13 / 14/ 15
(iii) Explain how soils are damaged by waterlogging and
salinity. [4]
 Caused by too much irrigation water / misuse of water
by illiterate farmers
 Seeps from canals
 Water table rises / soil becomes too wet / puddles of
water
 Water rises upwards carrying salts
 Evaporates causing salinity
 hard crust forms / salt patches
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  salt poisons crops / crops die
 Roots cannot breathe in waterlogged soil

(iv) Explain three reasons, other than by waterlogging and salinity, why over half the
land was not cultivated when the survey was made. [6]
 Pasture - grazing
 Fallow – to allow soil to rest
 Low rainfall / away from canals / desert –infertile, plants cannot grow, no soil
 Mountains – steep slopes / lack of soil (accept rugged)
 Forest – need for
 Rivers – may flood
 Residential / housing - for large population
 Industry – factories need large space
 Commercial – eg. city centres
 Mineral extraction – plus waste
 Pollution – crops die
 Roads, railways, airports – for communication
 Damage – eg. deforestation, pollution
 Wasted by landlords
 Very cold
(1 mark for reason, 1 mark for explanation)

May 2011

1 (a) Study Photograph A of a Persian Wheel.

(i) With reference to the photograph, explain how this machine is used for water supply. [3]
 Worked by animal or man power
 Using wooden shaft / pole / log
 Turns horizontal wheel / a wheel rotates
 Which is attached to vertical wheel
 With buckets / cups to raise water
 Water goes into trough / pipe / channel
(ii) What are the advantages and disadvantages of replacing
this Persian Wheel with a tubewell. [4]
Advantages of tubewell (res. 1)
 More efficient / faster / does not need to rest
 For larger area / more water / goes deeper
 Regular supply / can be used at any time of year /
continuous
 Less labour required
 Cleaner water
 Reduces waterlogging and salinity
Disadvantages of tubewell (res.1)
 Expensive / cannot be used by poor farmers
 Needs fuel /electricity / diesel etc.
 Reduces groundwater / lowers water table (as a disadvantage)
 Also accept the opposite response e.g. Persian Wheel is cheaper.

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(b) Study Fig. 1 which shows canal water supply in Pakistan.
(i) In which year was the water supply highest? [1]
 1999

(ii) How much higher was this than the supply in 2002? [1]
 31 (million acre feet)

(c) Why is there not enough water supply from canals to

meet the needs of all users? [4]
 Shortage of rainfall
 Evaporation
 Less river water / restrictions by India / more dams on
rivers
 Problem of tail-enders / canal system does not reach all
those who need it
 Siltation in reservoirs / canals
 Seepage / leakage from canals
 Wastage by users / some use more than they need
 Water pollution
 High demand / variety of uses
 Theft of water
 Population increase
 Lack of investment

(d) Explain why waterlogging and salinity of soils causes problems to farmers. [6]
 Reduces cultivable area / makes land un-usable
 Reduces yield / damages crops
 Reduces income / profit
 Expensive to reclaim land / treat soil
 Reasons why this occurs
 Water table rises / water collects on the surface / water on roots
 Evaporation (caused by hot climate)
 Fertilisers add to salts in water
 Salts left behind / form a hard crust on surface
 Soil becomes infertile / toxic
 Farmers use too much water / poor farming methods
 Perennial water supply / available all year

(e) Water pollution is a major problem in urban areas.

With reference to examples, explain some of the causes of this pollution, and why it is
a major problem to the people who rely on this water supply. [6]

Causes (res. 1)
 Explanation of Human waste e.g. because no sanitation / untreated sewage
 Industrial waste e.g. dumping in rivers
 Litter / plastic/paper e.g. because no organised collection
 Oil spills e.g. from washing of tanks / ship breaking
 Agricultural runoff e.g. because of use of chemicals / fertilisers and
 insecticides

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Problems (res. 1)
 Not for drinking / poisonous / contaminates groundwater
 Cost of treatment
 Causes disease
– risk of cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea , hepatitis, dysentery etc.
 Not for food processing (e.g. fish canning)
 Smells
 Reduces fish catch / kills fish
 Can damage machinery
 Blocks ditches / canals / causes flooding
 risk of malaria from stagnant water

2059/02/M/J/22

(d) Water is a valuable resource for development, yet Pakistan faces acute water shortages.
2600–5300 litres of water per day are needed to grow enough food for one person compared
with 50 litres of water being needed per person per day for domestic use.

Evaluate the extent to which the use of water in agriculture in Pakistan can be made more
sustainable. Give reasons to support your judgement and refer to examples you have
studied. You should consider different points of view in your answer.

Content Guide
water use in agriculture can become more sustainable:
water losses from leaking pipes/unlined canals can be repaired/reduced/preventing waterlogging and
salinity
water saving devices/sprinklers/drip irrigation can be implemented to reduce water wastage
install water meters so that farmers are aware of their usage
clear dams/dykes to reduce waterlogging and salinity
use of seeds/high-yielding varieties that require less water/drought resistant varieties
education/training of farmers about water use and conservation
restrictions imposed on farmers to constrain water usage
modernisation of irrigation equipment Etc.

water use in agriculture cannot become more sustainable:

some farmers will not be able to afford water meters or other water saving devices/installing tubewells
requires huge investment
some farmers use inefficient farming practices cause waterlogging and salinity
some farmers are resistant to using modern techniques as they prefer their traditional practices
growing population requires more food which means more water will be used to grow crops
groundwater supplies are being used at a rate faster than they can be replenished
there are too many problems with irrigation systems it would be impossible to fix them all, leakage from
canals reduces water availability Etc

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Summer 2023

Levels marking
No valid response 0

Level 1 1–2
Simple point referring to one view (1)
Simple points referring to any view (2)

Level 2 3–4
Developed point referring to one view only (3)
Developed points referring to both views or developed point and a relevant example (4)

Level 3 5–6
Developed points referring to both views with evaluation or relevant example (5)
Developed points referring to both views with evaluation and relevant example (6)

Content Guide

Agree with view A because:


untreated sewage/industrial effluent makes water unusable
dumping of waste in rivers is not strictly regulated
regular flooding causes fresh water supply to be contaminated
removing pollution from water is expensive and reduces the money
available for water provision infrastructure
etc.

Disagree with view A because:


water pollution can be easily solved/prevented by imposing laws and
fines on industries/companies who pollute the water
there are more serious threats to Pakistan’s water supply such as climate
change e.g. increased risk of drought/flooding
a bigger threat is from neighbouring countries limiting the water supply
from the headwaters
etc.

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Agree with view B because:

rising temperatures increase evaporation from reservoirs so more of them

are needed
global warming is melting glaciers in the mountains, more dams are
needed to store water in reservoirs
Pakistan needs more water storage capacity to hold heavy rainfall e.g. in
monsoon season, so water can be utilised
more reservoirs could alleviate future drought conditions if available
supply was stored
more small dams across the country could aid in crop irrigation
it would be very expensive to build more dams/money is needed for other
sectors.
etc.

Disagree with view B because:

there are enough dams already, those under construction need to be

completed
existing dams are not all in the places where need is greatest therefore
they have limited use
silting of reservoirs causes lower capacity making them less worthwhile
water conservation is a better solution than building more dams
conflicts over how water is used is a bigger threat
etc.
Examples: could include named dam/pollutant/settlement/river etc. but not named diseases

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Summer 2023

Q2 (c) (i) What is hydel power? Tick (3) one box below.

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Hydel power stations can be found in mountainous areas of Pakistan.
Describe how electricity can be generated from hydel power. [4]

(the force of) fast flowing water is used/water goes through

penstock/sluice for faster flow
water spins/turns/drives the turbine
a shaft goes into a generator
the shaft spins rapidly (inside a magnetic field in the generator)
the generator produces electricity
the electric current is regulated by a transformer/electricity goes through a
transformer
electricity is sent through transmission/power lines (at the required
voltage to where it is needed)

Note: Credit can be given for points made on an annotated diagram. 4 @ 1 mark

Winter 2023

(b) (i) Barrages have been built on many rivers. Name two barrages in Pakistan.

Balloki / Chashma / Ghazi Brotha / Guddu / Islam / Jinnah / Kotri / Khanki / Marala / Mohammadwala /
Panjnad / Qadirabad / Rasul / Sinhnai / Sulemanki / Sukkur / Trimmu / Taunsa [2]

(ii) Suggest how barrages can be useful to farmers. [3]

can be built on low/flat land/plains/near to farming areas

• regulate/control the flow of water in a river/keep river levels stable
• provide a reliable/constant supply of water
• help to prevent/control flooding
• gates are opened to let water into the river
• gates are closed to hold water back
• help with irrigation/in watering crops/direct water for irrigation/water can be diverted to perennial
canals/provide water for livestock

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