Use of water

Today’s lesson

• You are going to be working in exam conditions to answer some questions about water use

• You will then peer assess each other’s work at the start of next lesson.

• You each need the “It’s a world thing” textbook (aka the onion textbook) – p.158-161.

Water use in LEDCSQ1.Why is demand for water in LEDCs increasing?[1] • Rapid population growth and increasing

industrialisationQ2.Why is demand set to rise even further? [1] • Because population growth and industrialisation are

continuing to grow.Q3.By what % has urban demand for water increased

each year since 1990 in China? • 6%Q4.The urban demand for water is competing with

agricultural need. Give 3 knock-on effects that this may cause. [3]

• Urban demands are not currently being met and they are expected to increase, could cause conflict, could cause water shortages, could cause problems with the water balance which can have knock on effects to the ecosystems and invariably humans.

Water use in LEDCs (continued)Q5.What improvements have there been to water

supplies in Shanghai [2]• More and more residences have their own water

supply and sanitation systems rather than sharing with others. They are getting water piped to them rather than having to go and fetch it themselves.

Q6.What knock on effects apart from on agriculture is this extraction having? [1]

• Groundwater abstraction is causing subsidence (this means the ground ‘sinks’ and so can cause damage to property.)

Q7.How has rapid urbanization affected the quality of the water supply? [1]

• The water resources in the area are affected by pollution – all drinking water in Shanghai must be boiled because of this.

Water use in MEDCsQ1. Which category of water usage uses the most water in Las

Vegas? [1]• Residential indoor and outdoor (65% of Las Vegas’ water

use)Q2. Give 3 examples of usage that would fall within the category

stated in the above answer. [3]• Anything that people have at their own homes (e.g.

Showering, washing clothes/dishes, watering gardens, swimming pools, decorative water features etc)

Q3. The water to Las Vegas comes from several sources, state them. [5]

• Colorado River, 82% from Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, new demands from Eastern Nevada

Q4. Being in the middle of a desert can cause problems with water supply, why? [2]

• Little natural supply so has to be sourced from elsewhere – this can cause conflict because there are different groups of people who rely on water (e.g. hotel owners, golf course owners, farmers) and this can cause conflict if there is insufficient supply

Q5. How are some people trying to stop wasting water? [1]• Some hotels now irrigate their land by using recycled water, to

reduce the amount they use.Q6. If water extraction continues on the Colorado river it could have

huge consequences not just for supplying water but also for what vital commodity? [1]

• Hydro power – which is vital for homes, industry, agriculture and tourism.

Q7. The creating of golf courses has at least 2 detrimental effects on water. State them. [2]

• Extracts lots of water so river levels fall and this affects water habitats; felling of trees in the area increases silt loads in the rivers (normally trees bind the soil together so when they are chopped down the soil/debris gets washed into river channels) and consequently reduce water quality.

Q8. Why has the amount of water used in industry in MEDCs decreased? [1]

• People trying to conserve water more, type of industry is different than that of LEDCs – in MEDCs it tends to be light industries or service based industries which place smaller demands on water than industries such as agriculture which take place largely in LEDCs.

Water use in MEDCs (continued)

Grading

• Work out your score - /26• Record this in your book

Score Grade

21-26 A*

18-20 A

15-17 B

13-14 C

10-12 D

8-9 E

7 or under U