Water Availability and Demand
Global Patterns of Water Availability and Demand
- Water is unevenly distributed around the globe
- There are significant areas of water surplus and water deficit
- 450 million people in LICs suffer from severe water shortages
- 1.2 billion live in areas of water scarcity
- Physical water scarcity occurs where demand for water outstrips supply, often due to arid climate and low rainfall
- Economic water scarcity is where water is available but people can’t afford it or the infrastructure is inadequate
Global pattern of water scarcity
- The availability of water is affected by both physical and human factors
- Physical factors influencing rainfall patterns include
- Latitude
- Wind direction
- Proximity to coasts
- Physical factors influencing rainfall patterns include
- Human factors impact the ability of communities to collect and distribute clean water adequately
- Collection and distribution infrastructure such as wells, reservoirs, treatment plants, canals and pipelines
- Overuse of water
- Population growth increases demand and puts pressure on water systems
- There is a discrepancy between rural and urban areas, especially in LICs
- 82% of those who lack access to clean water live in rural areas
- The greatest demand for water comes from HICs, especially in arid regions
- UAE and North America have the highest per capita water usage globally
- Water used for irrigation of crops
- As well as for domestic appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines
- Also extracted for recreational use, e.g. swimming pools and golf courses
- Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest per capita usage
- Unreliable rainfall supply in some regions, e.g. the Sahel
- Poor water infrastructure in areas where natural supply is high, e.g. equatorial belt of central Africa
Exam Tip
Water availability and demand has never been more of an issue than it is now. In any exam question on the global patterns, be sure to explain how water is becoming a more critical resource in certain parts of the world due to climate change