Water+and+Change


 * Water and change**

Definitions Water can be used for the following reasons
 * Physical water scarcity
 * Water scarcity is when physical access to water is limited such that water consumption exceeds 60% of the usable water supply. This is when the demand for water exceeds the supply for water
 * Economic water scarcity
 * This is when a population lacks the supply water even though it is available as it is not accessible due to economic reasons. This may be due to lack of the necessary monetary needs to utilize an adequate source of water.
 * Water stress
 * This when the per capita water supply is less than 1700 cubic meters or when the demand for water exceeds supply at a given period of time.
 * Or when the demand for water exceeds the supply for a given period leading to water shortage.
 * Safe drinking water
 * This is the same potable drinking water
 * This is water that is free of impurities, pollutants and bacteria, and is thus safe to drink
 * Water footprint
 * This is the volume of fresh water an individual uses directly and in the production f the goods and services that the person consumes.
 * There are two kinds of water footprints
 * Internal water footprints
 * This is the volume of water used from domestic water resources.
 * External water footprint
 * This is the volume of water used in other countries to produce goods and services which are imported and consumed by the population of the country.
 * ‘Grey’ water
 * This is water that has already been used for another purpose that can be used again
 * Aquifer
 * This is permeable rock which has the ability to hold water and permit its passage
 * Ground Water
 * Ground water is water found below the surface which is not combined chemically with any minerals present.
 * Water table- the top of the water saturated part of the permeable rock. During periods of very heavy rainfall, the water table may extend into the soil and possibly reach the surface of the ground.
 * Industrial purposes
 * Water can be used for the cooling of machines
 * Brewery
 * Garment or textile production
 * Abattoir or meat production
 * Domestic purposes
 * Washing
 * Cooking
 * Cleaning
 * Watering plants
 * Bathing
 * Drinking
 * Flushing toilets
 * Agricultural Purposes
 * Irrigation
 * Watering livestock
 * Artificial ponds
 * Dipping animals
 * Navigation
 * Boats and jet skis
 * Canoes etc
 * Submarines
 * Energy
 * Hydroelectric Dams
 * Attract tourists
 * Lake attractions
 * Water parks
 * Waterfall tours
 * Commercial purposes
 * Washing cars
 * Road construction
 * Construction of houses
 * Commercial sale


 * Factors affecting access to safe drinking water**

Physical factors
 * The rate of evapotranspiration
 * Seasonal distribution of precipitation
 * The physical ability of the area to store water
 * If the area is made up of impermeable rocks, or highlands then the physical ability of the area to store water will be low. However, if the area is made of permeable rocks or flatlands with clay soils or loamy soil, then it will have a high ability to absorb water.
 * The amount of precipitation
 * This is the amount of rainfall, hail or snow.
 * If the amount of precipitation is high, this will increase the amount of water available for consumption in the area.
 * The ease of access to ground water supplies
 * If access to ground water supplies is easy, then there will be more water available for consumption.

Human factors
 * The wealth of the nation
 * The ability of the nation to construct and maintain water infrastructure’
 * The distribution of the population between rural and urban areas
 * People in urban areas are more likely to have safe drinking water that those in rural areas
 * This is due to concentration of investment
 * Socioeconomic differences in urban areas
 * People living in affluent neighbourhoods are more likely to have access to clean drinking water than their neighbours is poorer areas
 * The degree of contamination of urban water supplies by industry and lack of sanitation
 * The degree of contamination of rural water supplies by fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides
 * Civil war and international conflict


 * The environmental and human factors affecting water scarcity**

Causes of water shortage Problems caused by water shortages
 * Overpopulation in urban areas
 * Areas with high populations tend to demand a higher water supply; hence the government must invest in providing water infrastructure to avoid water shortage.
 * Increase in domestic demand for water
 * If the demand for water increases as a result of an improvement in the standard of living or the level of affluence then it is likely that a water shortage will occur due the demand placed on the water supply.
 * The level of pollution
 * If the level of pollution is high then there will be a shortage of clean, drinkable water
 * Political factors
 * If the government places a priority in the provision of safe drinking water to its citizens then there will be fewer water shortages
 * International conflicts over access to international water resources
 * If a water body flows through multiple countries then it is more likely that the countries furthest downstream will experience water shortages due to the establishment of dams upstream
 * Climate change
 * Global warming and its associated higher temperatures means that water bodies in arid areas will evaporate more easily which reduces the amount of water available for consumption
 * Global warming could reduce the amount of rainfall, hence the amount of water available in wells, aquifers, rivers etc.
 * Disease outbreak due to poor sanitation which leads to the pollution of water bodies
 * Low industrial production and economic stagnation
 * Over reliance on foreign water supply
 * Reduction in agricultural productivity
 * Water refugees
 * Loss of biodiversity
 * International conflicts

Solutions to water shortages
 * There must be a concerted effort by the government to provide potable drinking water in all communities
 * International and bilateral agreements between countries that share common water resources in order to make enough water available to each country.
 * NGOs and private companies should provide assistance to drinking water and sanitation sectors of countries
 * There must be equitable distribution of water resources in a country