Human Pressure on Water Resources (DP IB Geography)

Revision Note

Impact of Population & Economic Growth on Water Quality

  • The growth of the world population increases the demand for water

  • Population growth is unevenly distributed and so the need for increased water supply is also uneven 

  • Urban areas experiencing a rapid increase in population usually experience the most water stress

  • The quantity of water currently being used for all purposes is over 3700 cubic kilometres per year

  • The growth of population leads to a greater demand for water for all uses:

    • Agriculture

    • Domestic

    • Industrial

Pie chart of global water use: agricultural 70% (green), industrial 22% (brown), domestic 8% (blue). Box at the top labeled "World".
Demand for water
  • Agriculture is the largest user of water:

    • Consumes over two-thirds of water drawn from rivers and lakes

    • Water for crop irrigation has increased by 70% since 1960

  • Industry uses 22% of available water

  • The domestic sector uses 8%

  • These all impact on water quality and availability

  • Many rivers have become polluted, which makes them unusable for human needs

INSERT IMAGE

Sources of water pollution

  • Rivers which are contaminated by industrial waste can cause algae blooms

    • This makes the water unsafe to be used by humans

    • The toxins produced by the algae can kill wild animals and livestock

  • Many fish deaths are occurring because of the increase in temperatures in rivers

  • Overuse of aquifers can result in reduced water supply

  • There are many examples of water quality issues around the world

    • China’s rapid economic growth has meant that over 70% of the country’s rivers cannot be used for human consumption

    • Lead poisoning in Flint, USA, because of industrial pollutants in the river waters 

Aral Sea

  • The Aral Sea is an endorheic lake which is located in Asia

  • The lake is transboundary because half lies in Uzbekistan and half in Kazakhstan 

  • Rivers enter the lake from Amu Darya and Syr Darga

  • In 1997, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlighted the Aral Sea as a case study for what happens when lakes are misused 

  • In 1960, the lake was the world’s 4th largest inland water body

Use of water 

  • Large-scale irrigation systems were introduced in the 1930s

  • Between 1960 and 1980, the area was known for the cotton industry 

    • This required increased irrigation from the Amu Darya and Syr Darga rivers

  • The population increased from 14.1 million in 1960 to 47 million in 2008

  • According to UNESCO, there are now 51 million people living in the Aral Sea basin

  • By September 2011, the lake had separated into four parts and had shrunk in area by 85% and volume by 92%

Impacts on the economy

  • The fishing industry, which used to employ 40,000, collapsed

  • Camel farming decreased because the grass that camels ate was too salty due to the wind blowing salt from the drying up lake

  • Factories in the area which used the lake to transport their goods could no longer use the lake as a trade route, causing rising unemployment 

Impacts on humans

  • According to scientists, the Aral Sea could dry up in the next 20 years, which would affect drinking water supplies

  • Due to highly toxic winds, there has been an increase in respiratory illnesses caused by dust from fertilizers being spread by wind

The Great Artesian Basin 

  • The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is situated in central Australia

  • One of the world’s largest groundwater systems, which supports a variety of ecosystems and springs

  • The basin is nearly 1.7 million square kilometres

  • There has been little sustainable management of the basin 

    • Leading to much wastage of water through evaporation and seepage

  • Water wastage damages the environment through land and water salinization

  • Agriculture has dominated groundwater extraction

  • Water extraction for mining and oil projects has been increasing

  • The Olympic Dam mining project has been extracting groundwater since 1983

Impacts on humans

  • More than 180,000 people rely on the groundwater from the basin

  • Over 120 towns are supported through the basin including both homes and businesses

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been using the basin for over 60,000 years

  • In August 2018, the Australian government announced The Improving Great Artesian Basin Drought Resilience program worth up to $26.7 million

Last updated:

You've read 0 of your 10 free revision notes

Unlock more, it's free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Briley Habib

Author: Briley Habib

Expertise: Geography Content Creator

Briley is an experienced Head of Geography. With more than 16 years of teaching experience, Briley was awarded a PGCE from the University of Lancaster and has a degree in European Studies and Human Geography. Briley has worked in a range of schools around the world and has experience of teaching at all levels. Briley is a member of the Geographical Association’s special interest group on diversity and inclusion. She has also written articles for the Teaching Geography Journal, a book chapter on Place-Based Education and a report on Decolonising IB Geography.

Bridgette Barrett

Author: Bridgette Barrett

Expertise: Geography Lead

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.