Water Insecurity: How can water supply can be
increased?
LO: To understand the impacts of water insecurity and how we can increase water supply
Starter: What do these terms
mean? Be ready to answer
Water Insecurity
Water Surplus
Water Stress
Describe the map
showing the
global distribution
of countries at
‘water risk’.
- Distribution =
pattern
- Describe = say what
you see
- High (red), low
(yellow),
- Anomalies?
- Country/continent,
north/south,
equator, seas?
Challenge – List all the consequences of a country with water risk?
Describe the map, showing
the global distribution of
countries at ‘water risk’.
The global distribution of
water risk countries are
highest in northern Africa,
such as Algeria and Egypt,
and the central Asia such as
China, Mongolia, Khazakstan
and India.
Countries at low risk are
northern Asia such as
Russia, Europe and Canada.
Challenge – What are some consequences of a country with water risk?
Less water = Political/economic inequality/war
Less water = Higher energy prices
Less water = Population Migration.
1) Where may this
photo have been
taken?
2) Why is he
drinking this
water?
3) What are the
implications of
him drinking it?
Impact 1: waterborne disease and water pollution
In many countries where water supply infrastructure is limited, there may be
little or no sanitation. There may be open sewers and high levels of pollution in
rivers. Contaminated drinking water can cause outbreaks of life threatening
diseases such as cholera
Impact 2: Food Production
Droughts and water shortages can have a global impact on food
production and supply, such as the US
Describe the trends in
the graph on page 222
(2 marks)
Impact 2: Food Production
Droughts and water shortages can have a global impact on food
production and supply, such as the US
Describe the trends in
the graph on page 222
(2marks)
Overall, there has been an
increase in food supply from
1960 to 2010, however it
does fluxuate
In 1980, 1983 and 1989, the
yields per acre drops when
there is a drought
Impact 3: Water Conflict
In the past, wars were fought over oil – In the future, there may be
wars over water. This is because many water supplies cross national and
political borders, such as the Nile.
How can water supply be increased?
Task: In your books, create a list or mind map with ways in which water
supply can be increased. Include an advantage and disadvantage of
each one
Diverting supplies and using aquifers
In some parts of the world, water supplies can be stored deep underground in
aquifers. An aquifer is a body of porous rock or sediment saturated with groundwater.
Groundwater enters an aquifer as precipitation seeps through the soil. It is a natural
source of water available in most locations around the world and it is easy to purify
but if not sustainably managed you can end up with over-abstraction causing water
insecurity
Dams and reservoirs
Dams control water flow. Rainfall can be collected in Dams and reservoirs
when it is plentiful and then released gradually during drier periods. This
helps to prevent flooding and it can be used to generate electricity.
However they are expensive to construct and maintain. They also may stop
the flow of water further downstream, affecting the environment.
Desalination
Desalination involves removing salt from sea water to produce fresh water.
It can help provide a lot of water for agricultural production and is a
reliable technology. This is very expensive and can have environmental
impacts as the waste salt is thrown back into the sea. It also requires a lot
of energy, adding to the amount of Co2 in the atmosphere
Water transfers
Water transfer schemes aim to redistribute water from one area of
water surplus to an area of water deficit. This creates a more even
balance of supply distribution, however it is expensive to build and
maintain and can negative impacts to wildlife
