Define water security.
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Define water security.
Water security is achieving and managing sufficient water of high enough quality to meet current and future needs sustainably.
True or False?
Most freshwater is easily accessible surface water.
False.
Only 0.9% of freshwater is easily accessible surface water.
What percentage of water in the global hydrological cycle is freshwater?
Only 2.5% of the water in the global hydrological cycle is freshwater.
What is an aquifer?
An aquifer is a constrained layer of saturated rock that is deeper than the water table and has impermeable rock on top and bottom.
Define desalination.
Desalination is the process of removing salt from seawater to make it drinkable.
What are the three main components of water demand?
The three main components of water demand are agricultural use, industrial use and domestic use.
True or False?
Global water demand decreased in the 20th century.
False.
Global water demand increased by more than 700% in the 20th century.
What percentage of global water consumption is used for agriculture today?
Today, agriculture accounts for 70% of global water consumption.
Define water stress.
Water stress occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use.
What is economic water scarcity?
Economic water scarcity is where water is available but people can't afford it or the infrastructure is inadequate.
True or False?
In the UK, most water is used for agriculture.
False.
In the UK, 75% of water is used in industry, 22% for domestic use, and only 3% for agriculture.
How many countries faced extremely high levels of water stress in 2014?
In 2014, 36 countries faced extremely high levels of water stress.
True or False?
Higher temperatures lead to lower rates of evapotranspiration.
False.
Higher temperatures mean greater rates of evapotranspiration and a potential drought.
What type of rock makes good aquifers?
Rocks with high porosity or permeability, such as chalk, limestone, sandstone, and gravel, make good aquifers.
Define over-abstraction.
Over-abstraction occurs when the rate of extraction of water from an aquifer is greater than the recharge rate.
What is an artesian aquifer?
An artesian aquifer is one where water rises to the surface under pressure when accessed by a well.
True or False?
Impermeable soils and bedrock in a basin support more overland flow.
True.
Impermeable soils and bedrock in a basin support more overland flow and lead to a denser tributary network.
How does a steep relief in a drainage basin affect water flow?
Steep relief generates faster flow and less time for water to infiltrate.
What effect does vegetation have on water in a drainage basin?
Vegetation can intercept rainfall, impede surface flow, and absorb water through root systems, affecting the amount of collectable water stored on the surface.
True or False?
The larger the drainage basin, the smaller the catchment area for inputs.
False.
The larger the basin, the larger the catchment area for inputs into the system via precipitation.
How does an undulating relief affect water storage in a drainage basin?
An undulating relief is more likely to generate natural lake storage than a very mountainous land or very flat relief.
What does it mean to have a dense network of tributaries?
A dense network of tributaries refers to a large number of smaller streams feeding into the main river channel.
True or False?
Reservoirs are a small-scale method of water storage.
False.
Reservoirs are a large-scale method of water storage.
What is rooftop rainwater harvesting?
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is a small-scale method where rain falling on the roofs of buildings is captured and stored in filtering tanks under gardens.
Define water diversion.
Water diversion involves transferring captured water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit.
What are the three methods of transferring water between drainage basins?
Three methods of transferring water between drainage basins are river diversions, aqueducts and pipelines.
True or False?
Desalination is a cheap method of increasing water supply.
False.
Desalination plants are expensive to build and maintain.
What are the two main methods of desalination?
The two main methods of desalination are distillation and reverse osmosis.
Explain the process of reverse osmosis desalination.
Reverse osmosis is a desalination method where seawater is filtered at high pressure through small tubes that syphon off drinkable water.
Explain the distillation method of desalination.
Distillation is the traditional method of desalination.
Seawater is heated and boiled.
Steam is produced and condensed.
Salt is left behind in the boiler.
What is a water footprint?
Water footprints are the total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services consumed by an individual or community.
True or False?
Dual-flush toilets are an industrial strategy for managing water consumption.
False.
Dual-flush toilets are a domestic strategy for managing water consumption.
What is fertigation?
Fertigation is the injection of fertilisers and other water-soluble nutrients into an irrigation system.
Define micro-spraying irrigation.
Micro-spraying irrigation is a method where micro-sprayers consume less water than standard sprinklers.
What is the virtual water trade?
The virtual water trade refers to the hidden flow of water in food or other commodities that is traded from one place to another.
What is greywater?
Greywater is waste water from bathrooms (but not toilets), kitchens, and laundries that can be captured and made available for non-drinking purposes.
Define groundwater recharging.
Groundwater recharging is the process of replenishing aquifers, either naturally or artificially.
True or False?
Recycled water can only be used for irrigation.
False.
Recycled water can be used for various purposes, including irrigation, fire suppression, dust control, and potentially drinking water.
What percentage of the water that Thames Water supplies is lost through leaks?
Approximately, 24% of the water supplied by Thames Water is lost through leakage.
Define the sustainable use of water.
Sustainable use of water involves abstracting it from a source no faster than it is replenished and avoiding contaminating or compromising the quality of water available to others.
What are four reasons conflicts over water can arise?
Conflicts over water can arise when:
There are too many users for the 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.
True or False?
Water conflicts only occur on an international scale.
False.
Water conflicts can occur at local, national, and international scales.
What crop has caused water conflict in Peru's Ica Valley?
Asparagus production has caused water conflict in Peru's Ica Valley.
Define water rights.
Water rights are the legal rights to use water from a water source.
True or False?
California has an even distribution of water resources.
False.
California has an uneven distribution of water resources.
75% of California's population lives in the south .
However, 75% of the precipitation falls in the north.
What is the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta?
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a critical water hub in California that serves as a major source of freshwater for agricultural irrigation and drinking water for millions of people.
How many countries share the Nile Basin?
There are 11 countries that share the Nile Basin.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Eritrea, Tanzania, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo
What is the Nile Basin Initiative?
The Nile Basin Initiative is a partnership among the Nile riparian countries that seeks to develop the river in a cooperative manner, share substantial socioeconomic benefits, and promote regional peace and security.
True or False?
Egypt has always supported dam projects in upstream Nile countries.
False.
Egypt has historically opposed dam projects in upstream Nile countries that could reduce its water supply.
Define transboundary waters.
Transboundary waters are water resources that cross between or are shared by countries, such as rivers, lakes, or aquifers.