Dynamic Planet - Water World - 4

Water World

What is the impact of insufficient water supply on humans? E.g. the Sahel, North Africa Why are there water shortages?
Unreliable rainfall The Sahel region receives very low rainfall Surface runoff M ch of the rain it receives is lost thro gh s rface r noff, when it co!es in torrential down"o rs. Wealth Many of the co ntries in Sahel are #E$%&s so cannot afford to "i"e water to "laces that need it. Population growth The "o" lation is going " very fast so there are !ore "eo"le de!anding water. Climate change 's !a(ing rainfall less relia)le in the area

What are the effects of the water shortages?

Droughts %a ses rivers to dry ". This can affect far!ing and food s ""ly and therefore lead to famine. Desertification With less water and grass for ani!als, land is overgra*ed. This can lead to "lants dieing, soil erosion and the area )eco!ing a dessert.

What are the effects of global warming on semi arid areas E.g. the Sahel, North Africa Effects of the environ!ent
+reci"itation in the se!i-arid Sahel region co ld fall )y ,-.. This wo ld effect "lant life. The ris( of flooding and coastal erosion wo ld increase. As glo)al war!ing increases fragile ha)itats !ay not s rvive and )etween ,--1-. of s"ecies in Africa co ld face e2tinction.

Effects on h !ans
$ e to changes in "reci"itation /less, altho gh with heavier ) rsts0 will red ce cro" "rod ction and red ce food s ""lies. 'ncreases in te!"erat re co ld see the increase of diseases li(e Malaria. 3a!ine and !aln trition will increase.

$ e to de)t in !any co ntries in Africa, they have cho""ed down forests to grow !ore cro"s to sell. $ro ghts will ca se 4desertification&, changing fertile land into desert.

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How do humans cause water pollution?

Agricultural: 3ertilisers are washed into rivers. This can ca se river "lants to grow 5 ic(ly, which ta(es " all the o2ygen in the river. This can (ill fish in the river. Domestic: Sewage can )e washed into rivers. This "oll tes the water and (ills !any organis!s. ransport: Salt and !aterials can )e washed into rivers fro! roads. This can har! the fish and "lant life. !ndustrial: +ower stations can wash che!icals into the river. This will affect the water 5 ality and !a(e it very dangero s to h !ans and ani!als.

How do humans interfere with water supplies?

Deforestation /cho""ing down trees0: This can red ce interce"tion and can lead to increased s rface r noff and flooding Urbanisation /the growth of cities0: This leads to a red ction in infiltration. 't also has i!"er!ea)le s rfaces, s ch as roads and car "ar(s, so s rface r noff increases and floods can occ r. "#er abstraction of ground water: The water ta)le can fall and this can ca se gro nd s )sidence. Cloud seeding: This increases "reci"itation )y hel"ing clo ds to for!. Altho gh can red ce rainfall in other areas.

$anaging water supplies: pro(ect)

he Aswan Dam% &gypt 'a large scale

The Aswan da! was a large scale "ro6ect $a!s are sed to reg late the flow of rivers.

Advantages
Water can )e sed to irrigate far!land all year ro nd. More land can )e irrigated. With water always availa)le two or three cro"s can )e grown each year. These can )e sold for a "rofit to !a(e Egy"t richer. The da! "rod ces electricity for villages, cities and factories. 7illages are safer fro! flooding as the level of the water can )e controlled. There are !ore factories, !ore to ris! and !ore fishing. This !eans there are !ore 6o)s.

$isadvantages.
8,, --- "eo"le were forced to leave their ho!es )eca se the villages they lived in were "er!anently flooded when the da! was ) ilt. 3ar!land has also )een "er!anently flooded, incl ding the land of the traditional she"herds. No !ore silt /soil0 is de"osited so the far!land )eco!es less fertile. 3ertilisers have to )e added to the soil. These are e2"ensive. 3ertiliser is washed into the 9iver Nile ca sing "oll tion. Water snails ca se a disease called :ilhar*ia. 3lood waters s ally wash the snails o t to sea ) t now the da! has )een ) ilt there are !ore snails and so !ore disease which can (ill "eo"le.

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$anaging water supplies: WaterAid% *hana 'a small scale pro(ect)

WaterAid is an +*" Non ;overn!ental <rganisation /%harity0 N;<&s se appropriate technology. These are sche!es to !eet the needs of local "eo"le and the environ!ent in which they live. Many "eo"le in r ral ;hana are forced to drin( ! ddy dirty water. Ani!als drin( fro! the sa!e water. =o can catch diseases fro! the water li(e g inea wor! /which can grow " to > feet long0. Water Aid has installed water " !"s in !any villages which "rovide "eo"le with safe, clean water. +eo"le in the villages are ed cated )y N;<&s li(e Water Aid on )asic hygiene. This is sto""ing the s"read of g inea wor! disease. Many !ore girls can go to school now as they are no longer need to collect water fro! great distances.

This is a sustainable a""roach as it has "ositive i!"acts on the "eo"le&s lives? it also ses afforda)le !aterials which can )e so rced locally.