Water Wars (AQA A Level Geography)

• The search for a sustainable water supply can lead to conflict between groups
• Conflicts over water can arise when:
  • There are too many users for available supplies
  • There is an unequal allocation of what is available
  • Water is diverted upstream by a neighbouring country
  • Water is contaminated by upstream users
• These conflicts can occur at a variety of scales
  • Small scale or local
  • Medium scale or national
  • Large scale or international
• An example of conflict at a local scale is in Peru’s Ica Valley 
• Asparagus was a delicacy that was only available in late spring, now, it is available all year round
• The Ica valley is in the dry, coastal region of Peru, and is one of the few places in the world, where high-quality asparagus can grow all year round
• With support from the USA and the World Bank, Peru started commercial growing in mid 1990s 
• In 2021 exports of asparagus brought in US$560 million, supports over 10,000 jobs within the industry and provides a much needed boost to the local economy
• But asparagus takes a lot of water to grow and now the Ica’s aquifer is dangerously low
  • 317 million cubic meters of water is needed from the aquifer to grow the exported asparagus
  • Top importers of asparagus are:
    •  USA 790000 tonnes - their water footprint is 93 million m³ (equivalent to 37,2000 Olympic-size pools)
      
    • Netherlands 78000 tonnes
      
    • UK 8000 tonnes
      
• The rate of abstraction for large-scale commercial agricultural purposes is exceeding domestic and industrial use
• Many local people are suffering a lack of accessible water, with commercial farmers diverting aquifer flow to their farms 
  
• Two wells used by 18,000 people have completely dried up
• Agriculture in Peru consumes 50% of all water abstraction, with very little for small scale farming
• Local farmers are reduced to 10 litres per person per day, despite the WHO recommendation of 50 litres a day to remain healthy
  
• However, in other areas, reductions in farming and industry has led to excess groundwater levels, causing increased spring and river flows, leading to:
  • Surface flooding and saturation of agricultural land
  • Flooding of basements and underground tunnels 
  • Increased chemical weathering of building foundations
• These spatial inequalities fuel resentment, conflict and unrest and a World Bank executive investigating water shortage complaints, was shot at by an angry local farmer  

• In California, USA, there are conflicts over water between various stakeholders:
• Environmentalists
• Farmers
• Residents
• Users in the north vs the south
• Native American groups
• Demand for water in California exceeds natural supplies
• Increased demand for water due to population growth and climate change, has intensified the competition for water
• There is also spatial imbalance in the region:
• 75% of the population live in South but
• 75% of the precipitation falls in the North
• The south of the region has experienced several recent sustained droughts
• High pressure systems over the western Pacific ocean block incoming storms
• 80% of water in the region is used as irrigation for agriculture
• The conflict is based around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a critical water hub in California
• The delta serves as a major source of freshwater for agricultural irrigation and drinking water for millions of people
• Environmentalists are concerned over the fate of the delta
• Disputes arise over how much water should be diverted from the delta for agricultural use versus being allocated to maintain the health of the ecosystem and protect endangered species
• There have been further disputes over ‘water rights’
• The longstanding legal rights of Native American Tribes to ground and river water have been disputed
• These conflicts often stem from historical injustices
• The loss of ancestral lands and water resources due to colonisation
• The construction of dams and reservoirs
• California has implemented various measures to address the conflict
• California State Water Project and the Central Valley Project established
• Aims to manage and distribute water across the state
• Implementation of water conservation programs and groundwater management laws
• Promotion of water-efficient practices

• 11 states share the Nile Basin which has led to conflict over its use
• Each country is growing economically and demographically, putting more pressure on water resources
• Various agreements have been put in place to manage supplies

International water conflict around the Nile river basin