Water Management (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Briley Habib
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Communities & Water Management
According to the World Bank, there are nearly 2 billion people who do not have access to clean water
Increasing numbers of people are gaining access to clean water
Between 1990 and 2008, half of the people who gained access to clean water lived in India and China
To increase access to clean water, sustainable management is needed
There are various approaches to water management
Approaches to water management
Method | How it works |
|---|---|
Water saving | Reduce bath water usage Turn off taps when not in use and promptly fix dripping taps Dishwashers and washing machines should only be operated when full Use taps with push-down mechanisms that automatically turn off after a short time |
Customer pricing | In many places, people pay for water and in some places, water is subsidized Water can be wasted in areas where it may be subsidized Domestic water can be charged through the use of meters In the UK, a regulating authority exists to allow competition between water providers so that water monopolies do not exist |
Water purification | Removes harmful chemicals, suspended solids and gases Water is disinfected so that it can be used for human consumption Processes like light filtration and sand filters can distil the infected water The most common type of disinfectant is chlorine, which has been used since 1854 in London |
Zoning | Protecting areas from development to allow the safeguarding of water quality Reduces the risk of subsidence due to over-abstraction Organisations such as the European Union have set up directives and legislation to control water pollution levels |
Rainwater harvesting | Water harvesting captures water In Bermuda, the people collect their water through the rain as there are no rivers on the island Constructing dams across stream waters Using gravel-filled reservoirs to store water |
New technologies | Nanotechnology infiltration Membrane Chemistry Seawater desalinisation Biomimicry Smart monitoring Precision irrigation systems Highly mobile water treatment |
Water management in Somalia
Somalia is a low-income country in Africa
The average income is around US$2 a day
Only 52 percent of the population have access to a basic water supply
According to UNICEF:
Approximately 28% of the population defecate in open spaces
Over the last 3 years, more than 900 people have died from cholera
Collecting water is often the responsibility of women and girls
Many women and girls have faced sexual abuse at water-collecting points
For Somalians who do not live along the Jubba or Shebelle rivers water is provided through groundwater
The main sources of groundwater supplies in Somalia are shallow wells, springs and boreholes
Boreholes are a significant supply of water
Most have a water supply throughout the year
Boreholes range from 90-250 metres, but in some locations are as deep as 450 metres
The majority of shallow wells in Somalia are less than 20 metres deep, and water availability varies from one area to another
Somalia is known for its poor water quality due to the salinity of the water
Many shallow wells suffer from contamination due to animal waste
Somalia experiences river floods and flash flooding
Improvements in water management
Somalia Water And Land Information Management (SWALIM) was established to improve water quality and access
The organisation works with the UN WASH programme and the Somalian government; it has completed:
A hydrological survey of selected areas in Somaliland was completed
Helped to assess how to provide more efficient and sustainable groundwater supplies
Prepared a GIS Database of groundwater supplies
Identified areas for future groundwater supplies
Provided education for people living along the Juba and Shabelle rivers, where flooding can occur
Somalia relies on international aid to support its water management
USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance provided solar technology, which enabled renewable energy for boreholes in villages such as Adaroosh in northern Somaliland
Solar energy can reduce or eliminate the costs of extracting and pumping water
Borama town has around 20 households living in the village and a limited water supply
The town had to rely on diesel-powered generators for the extraction and pumping of water, which was costly to run
UNICEF worked with the government and other aid agencies to provide solar power to increase water sustainability for the village
Water management in Peru
Peru is a Middle country, according to the World Bank (2023)
Nearly 4% of the world’s freshwater resources can be found in Peru
The majority of Peru’s water reserves can be found in the Amazon Rainforest but fewer than 5% of Peruvians live there
Lima is the capital of Peru and the second-largest desert city
In Greater Lima, 1.5 million residents lack access to running water and use expensive water delivery trucks
In Mantaro Basin, Lake Titicaca and Lake Junín, the mining industry has contaminated some water supplies
The Ica Valley, is a popular area for agriculture
Water has been diverted to this industry and locals have faced shortages
Farming in the Ica Valley extracts 90% of groundwater supplies for products like asparagus, which means residents only receive a few hours of water per week
The government implemented a 2015-2035 National Water Plan:
Plans to increase crop area under mechanised irrigation from 2% to 24%
Install water meters in homes
In upstream watersheds, implement reforestation to avoid sedimentation in reservoirs
Double the use of treated urban wastewater for irrigation
In the Moyobamba region, a pilot programme of payment for environmental services has been implemented and the money collected is used for reforestation programmes
The plan states that desalinisation should be a last resort because of the cost involved with regard to technology, transport and management of the tanks
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