Water futures

Water conservation involves reducing the demand for water, rather than trying to increase water supplies. This is important in a world where water supply is finite. Water conservation can be on three main levels; domestic, agricultural, industrial.

Conservation

Domestic

Note some of the water saving tips here. Use the headings 'In the home', 'In the garden' and 'Water harvesting'

Agricultural

Use the wikipedia entry to note some tactics for saving water in an agricultural context.

Industrial

Coca-Cola have a number of examples of water conservation on a commercial level. Read their policy and note some examples of the things they have done.

Coca-Cola Sustainability Reports - Water Stewardship

Desalination

 

In California - Guardian article

In Singapore

 

Water transportation

 

Spragg bags

 

Reforestation

 

Green Wall of China

Three Gorges Dam

Use the following websites to help you with the research project on the Three Gorges Project.

'What the dam builders didn't want you to know'

Wikipedia article
International Rivers Network - Three Gorges Project
Official Three Gorges Project site

BBC video clip
Discovery video
BBC environmental issues
Michael Palin

 

Water transfer schemes

One solution to water shortages is to transfer water form one basin to another. Rivers can be diverted or canals built. All water transfers carry political and environmental risk

Two contrasting examples:

1. The Snowy Mountains Scheme (p52-53)

Also see the Snowy River wikipedia entry
Australian Government site

2. The South-North Transfer project (p63)

Good video story

BBC news story
More news reports
Guardian article
Guardian article II

Detail from water-technology.net

Middle East water conflict

Middle East tension over water - video
Inside story - Middle East water shortage

Prep to be done for Thursday 15/1/14

Read other sources on moodle
Complete the case study sheet on the water conflicts in the Middle East.

Essay:

Using the example of the Middle East, show how disputes over water can create tension between countries? (15)

General water shortage videos:
BBC news - global water shortage
Water wars - Spain BBC

Risks of water insecurity - Aral Sea

Sea of islands’ – 1500 islands once dotted the sea

Once the 4th largest inland sea (68000 km2)

Soviet irrigation schemes diverted water from the lakes which fed the lake in 1950s

Declining since 1960s

By 2007 lake had declined to 10% original size

Shrinking sea

Video 1

BBC article

BBC video

Back from the brink - video

Make notes or answer the following questions on the Aral Sea:

1. Why was it exploited?
2. Which stakeholders thought it was a good idea to exploit – for each say briefly why?
3. Which stakeholders are against the exploitation why?
4. What are the human welfare impacts of the exploitation of the Aral Sea?
5. What are the economic impacts of the Aral Sea exploitation?

Human impact on water supply

Humans have potentially serious impacts on water supply.

Water crisis in India
China water pollution
China water pollution II

Water poverty index data

Water issues in China

China is suffering from many environmental problems - including water stress. Use this map to complete the sheet detailing some of these issues.

 

Check your text book p39-40

The China Water Risk website is very good. This info-graphic is superb.

Check this article for some excellent information.

Complete the 15 mark question on the map sheet.

Product water footprint link

Country water footprint link

Water conservation

Water conservation involves reducing the demand for water, rather than trying to increase water supplies. This is important in a world where water supply is finite. Water conservation can be on three main levels; domestic, agricultural, industrial.

Domestic

Note some of the water saving tips here. Use the headings 'In the home', 'In the garden' and 'Water harvesting'

Agricultural

Use the wikipedia entry to note some tactics for saving water in an agricultural context.

Industrial

Coca-Cola have a number of examples of water conservation on a commercial level. Read their policy and note some examples of the things they have done.

Coca-Cola Sustainability Reports - Water Stewardship

Water transfers

One solution to water shortages is to transfer water form one basin to another. Rivers can be diverted or canals built. All water transfers carry political and environmental risk

Two contrasting examples:

1. The Snowy Mountains Scheme (p52-53)

Also see the Snowy River wikipedia entry

2. The South-North Transfer project (p63)

Good video story

BBC news story
More news reports
Guardian article
Guardian article II

Detail from water-technology.net

Middle East water conflict

Middle East tension over water - video
Inside story - Middle East water shortage
BBC news - global water shortage
Water wars - Spain BBC

Water issues in China

China is suffering from many environmental problems - including water stress. Use this map to complete the sheet detailing some of these issues.

Use this to help you with this task:

Create a detailed MS PowerPoint presentation on the factors which have created water stress in China

Check your text book p39-40

The China Water Risk website is very good. This info-graphic is superb.

Check this article for some excellent information.

Brewing at sea...

Brewing at sea to save water and energy.
From the Times

Human impact of world water supply security

Guardian article

Water conservation

Water conservation involves reducing the demand for water, rather than trying to increae water supplies. This is important in a world where water supply is finite. Water conservation can be on three main levels; domestic, agricultural, industrial.

Domestic

Note each of the water saving tips here. Create a table with the headings 'Tip', 'Water saving' and 'Why do this' and add the information for 'in the kitchen', 'in the bathroom', 'in the garden' and 'others'.

Agricultural

Use the wikipedia entry to note some tactics for saving water in an agricultural context.

Industrial

Pernod Ricard (the major wine and spirits producer) are an example of water conservation on a commercial level. Read their policy and note some examples of the things they have done.

Water transfers

One solution to water shortages is to transfer water form one basin to another. Rivers can be diverted or canals built. All water transfers carry political and environmental risk

Two contrasting examples:

1. The Snowy Mountains Scheme (p52-53)

Also see the Snowy River wikipedia entry

2. The South-North Transfer project (p63)

Good video story

BBC news story

Detail from water-technology.net

Middle East water conflict

An old, but still relevant BBC article and one focusing on the problem in Israel.

Use these articles, the handout and your textbook (p47-48) to complete the work set.

Prep to be done for Wednesday 18/11/09

Complete the case study sheet on the water conflicts in the Middle East.

Using the example of the Middle East, show how disputes over water can create tension between countries? (15)

China's top water issues

China is suffering from many environmental problems - including water stress. Use this map to complete the sheet detailing some of these issues.

Use this to help you with the Prep question:

Examine the factors which have created water stress in India and China (15)

9/11/09

Check your text book p39-40, the Geo Factsheets you were given on 'Pollution in China' for the Development Gap topic, and the other handouts distributed.

Web resources include the BBC source and here, these news stories, an article in Fortune magazine and long article from the New Yorker which includes detail on the problem in India.

Basic Google and wikipedia searches will also produce results.

Should we sell off our lochs?

Title of an article from the Sunday Times. Good for the AS Unit 3 Topic 'Water Conflicts'.

Water conflicts

Picked up an old copy of The Economist and found this article. Great starting point. This was the leading article.