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Water Management

Water insecurity is not having enough clean water. It's important to have a reliable, sustainable source of enough good quality water to meet people's needs. The global demand for water is rising due to rising population and economic development. Water availability is affected by many physical and economic/social factors. Water insecurity leads to lots of problems including pollution, disease, reduced food production, reduced industrial output, and conflict. There are large-scale technological solutions to increase water supply (dams, water diversion, water transfer, desalination) as well as sustainable strategies to manage water (conservation, groundwater management, recycling, grey water, sand dams).

It's important to have a reliable, sustainable source of enough good quality water to meet people's needs. Having excess water is known as a water surplus. Places with a water surplus have water security -- they have enough water to meet everyone's needs (e.g. industry, agriculture and personal health). Having too little water is called a water deficit. This can cause water insecurity -- not having enough clean water for everyone (e.g. to drink, water crops or provide energy). Water security depends on factors like the amount of water available (e.g. from rainfall, rivers and groundwater), the number of people using the water, and access to the water -- which can be limited in poverty-stricken areas. When demand for water exceeds supply during a certain period, or when water is not of high enough quality to use, places are said to experience water stress.

Key Terms

Water Surplus — Having excess water. Places with a water surplus have water security.
Water Deficit — Having too little water. This can cause water insecurity.
Water Security — Having enough water to meet everyone's needs (e.g. industry, agriculture and personal health).
Water Insecurity — Not having enough clean water for everyone (e.g. to drink, water crops or provide energy).
Water Stress — When demand for water exceeds supply during a certain period, or when water is not of high enough quality to use.

Case Studies

Exam Tips

  • •Learn the definitions of water surplus, water deficit, water security, water insecurity and water stress -- these are commonly tested.
  • •Know the two main reasons global water demand is rising: rising population and economic development. Be able to give specific details for each.
  • •Remember that irrigation for agriculture uses 70% of the world's freshwater resources and over 50 billion m3 of fresh water is used annually for energy production.
  • •For the China case study, learn specific figures: $62 billion cost, 44.8 billion m3 transferred per year, 345,000 people displaced, 100 million people benefited, 20+ cities supplied.
  • •For Kenya sand dams, know how they work step by step and their advantages (cheap, local materials, low maintenance, can be raised each year).
  • •Be able to explain both physical factors (climate, geology) and economic/social factors (over-abstraction, pollution, limited infrastructure, poverty) that affect water availability.
  • •For sustainable water supply, know specific statistics: 20% of UK water lost to leaks, dual flush saves 4.5 litres per flush, water meters reduce usage by 10-15%, recycled water could increase supply by 27% in some US cities.
  • •98.8% of Dubai's water comes from desalination -- a useful example for exam answers about technological solutions.
  • •Remember the four impacts of water insecurity: pollution/disease, reduced food production, reduced industrial output, and conflict. Know the Afghanistan/Iran Helmand River example.