Year 4- Revision notes - Geography is easy



GCSE- Revision notes Unit 2- A Watery World (Section B)

1- Water consumption and sources.

The differences between low-income countries (LICs) and high-income countries (HICs) water consumption; domestic, agriculture and industry.

(To know the percentage of water used by agriculture, industry and domestic use in HICs and LICs and the reasons for these differences.

-Water consumption measured by comparing how much water used home (domestically) farming (agriculture) and industry.

- Water consumption varies a great deal between countries at a different level of development.

- In LICs such as African countries, for instance, agriculture uses 85% of all the water, while domestic use accounts for 8% and 7% industry. However, in HICs such as European countries, most water is used in industry (54%) while agriculture uses 33% and domestic use is 13%. USA- 45% industry, 41% agriculture, 14% domestic.

Why should there be differences?

Greater wealth and increasing levels of development are major contributors to increasing water consumption.

DOMESTIC USAGE

-HICs –personal hygiene (bathing and showering), kitchen appliances, gardening(hosepipes),

Washing cars, swimming pools.

-LICs – high % no piped water to houses, rely on women and children walking to water source. (several km away) Pots to carry heavy (20kg)

-Water used sparingly, washing done by hand or in nearby river or lake.

AGRICULTURAL USAGE

- HICs use a much greater amount of water to irrigate their crops.

-The main reason is the type of irrigation methods used. Methods used in HICs such as automated spray use more water than those used in LICs such as hand worked bucket.

INDUSTRIAL USAGE

-Industry in HICs is mostly large scale with factories that use millions of litres of water.

-Industry in LICs is often small scale with business being run from homes or self-built units. These cottage industries will often use very little water.

-Multi-national companies move to LICs so water use greatly increase.

- eg India Coca-Cola 1 million litres /day.

Question Catcher

Describe the amount of water used per person per day around the world. Use data in your answer(Figure 2 page 142)

There are significant differences between water consumption in HICs and LICs. HIC water consumption is very high. On average people use about 600 litres per person and per day in the USA and 300 in Europe whereas people in Sub-Saharan Africa use only 25 litres per day and per person which is half the United Nations recommended amount.

Describe the differences between LICs and HICs in water consumption. ( 4 marks)

Water consumption varies a great deal between countries at a different level of development. In LICs such as African countries, for instance, agriculture uses 85 per cent of all the water, while domestic use accounts for 8 per cent and 7 per cent for industry. However, in HICs such as European countries, most water is used in industry (54 per cent) while agriculture uses 33 per cent and domestic use is 13 per cent.

Greater wealth and increasing levels of development are major contributors to increasing water consumption.

(To understand that demand for water is continually increasing in HICs.

How does greater wealth lead to greater water consumption?

-As a country’s economy becomes stronger, then the wealth of the individual increases and there is more money available for luxuries.

- There has been an incredible growth of labour saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers that use a considerable amount of water.

-There has also been a change in personal hygiene. Before the 1950s it was quite common for there to be a weekly bath night. Now, people have bath or shower several times a week.

- The growth of the leisure and tourism industry has seen huge demands on the use of water. For instance, in countries such as Spain which are very dry in the summer, so much water is used on golf courses and swimming pools that local communities often suffer water shortages.

Question Catcher

Why do HICs use more water than LICs? (6 marks)

HICs use water for a wide range of domestic practices whereas in many LICs a high percentage of people do not have piped water coming to their house. Because of the difficulty in getting water it has to be used very sparingly.

HICs use a much greater amount of water to irrigate their crops. The main reason is the type of irrigation methods used. Methods used in HICs such as automated spray use more water than those used in LICs such as hand worked bucket.

Industry in HICs is mostly large scale with factories that use millions of litres of water. Industry in LICs is often small scale with business being run from homes or self-built units. These cottage industries will often use very little water.

Suggest reasons why water consumption differs between High Income Countries (HICs) and Low Income Countries (LICs). (4)

Max 2 for description. E.g. HIC lifestyle is water abundant e.g.showering, use of water greedy appliances (1).

Whereas in an LIC there could be a shortage of water (1). It could be unequally distributed (1),

therefore people may have limited access (1).

How does greater wealth lead to increasing water consumption? (6)

As a country’s economy becomes stronger, then the wealth of the individual increases and there is more money available for luxuries. There has been an incredible growth of labour saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers that use a considerable amount of water. There has also been a change in personal hygiene. Before the 1950s it was quite common for there to be a weekly bath night. Now, people have bath or shower several times a week. The growth of the leisure and tourism industry has seen huge demands on the use of water. For instance, in countries such as Spain which are very dry in the summer, so much water is used on golf courses and swimming pools that local communities often suffer water shortages.

Photograph K shows an irrigation system in a field (sprinklers). Such systems are unusual in LICs.

Give two reasons why such systems are unusual in LICs. (2)

They are expensive to install (1), most agriculture is still subsistence (1), they are quite wasteful of water(1), often water is a scarce resource (1).

On a local scale, we obtain our water from reservoirs, aquifers and rivers.

(To study the availability of water on a local scale through the use of examples.

Where does the water we use come from?

Aquifers: A porous rock formation that allows water to move in and then hold water in tiny holes, such as a layer of chalk. The aquifer must occur above a layer that prevents the water seeping away, such as clay. The highest level of water in an aquifer is known as the water table.

(Learn to draw the diagram below and annotate it with the information above.

[pic]

Reservoirs-artificial lake of water held behind a dam to store water for irrigation, drinking, recreation, power or other use.

Best location river valley in upland area with steep sided slopes, act as natural walls.

-Rock underneath impermeable so water not leak away.

Two main types:

a) Direct supply reservoirs store water and supply straight to water treatment works.

b) River regulating reservoirs store water during rainy periods and topped up during dry spells. Release extra water into river so can be taken out further downstream for treatment and supply.

Some reservoirs entirely underground eg Thames Water mainly underground built by Victorians 1800s.

How water from a reservoir ends up in your home. Learn:

1-Meaning of key terms: abstraction, clarification, filter, disinfection and distribution.

2- The labels on the graph. Link them to the meaning of the terms

Question catcher: Draw an annotated sketch map to describe a water transfer scheme that you have studied. (6)

Kielder Water Water Transfer Scheme, UK

Water surplus and deficit on a world scale, related to global rainfall patterns.

(To understand the global pattern of rainfall and the relationship between this and water surpluses/ deficit areas.

Why do water supplies vary?

Some places in the world have a surplus of water and some have a deficit.

Reasons for these differences:

- Variation of the amount of water received. For instance, some places such as Cyprus and Egypt receive less water than the UK or the Amazon Rainforest.

- Some areas such as Cyprus and Egypt have very high evapotranspiration rates (evaporation from water on the surface and transpiration from plants) as temperature is high and water is lost.

- Access to water varies according to economic factors. In many LICs a high percentage of people do not have piped water coming to their houses.

Water supply problems.

Water supply problems in HICs, including availability, quality, spatial and seasonal variability, and loss through broken pipes.

(To understand the problems associated with water supply in HICs. To understand the imbalance of rainfall and population between north and south in the UK, and the seasonal imbalance in rainfall on the Spanish Costas.

What are the problems associated with water supply in HICs?

1-Rainfall and population imbalance in the UK

• Population and rainfall unevenly distributed.

• One-third of the UK’s population lives in south-east England but it is also the driest part of the UK with average annual rainfall of less than 800mm.

2- Leakage

• In London, more than half of the water mains are more than 100 years old.

• The ageing pipes do not seem to affect the quality of water, but the problem is that they leak.

• Thirty per cent of the water supply is lost through leaks and cracks.

3- Seasonal rain imbalance

• Problem with the seasonal supply of water in many of the Mediterranean holiday areas, such as the Costa del Sol in Spain.

• They receive most of the rainfall in the winter months and very little in the summer months.

• Unfortunately, it is in the summer months when they require the greatest amount of water for the tourists and for irrigation to produce crops.

4- Variability

• Time of deficit in the amount of rainfall.

• For instance, in the UK, in 2005 and 2006 there were long periods where the rainfall was below average( reservoir levels dropping and water restrictions.

• By contrast, 2007 saw a long wet period in the summer( replenishment of reservoirs and aquifers

Question Catcher

Describe two problems of water supply in high-income countries. (4)

Leakages (1), lots of water is lost because of old/bad pipes. Pollution (1), some water supplies are affected by toxic groundwater/mining waste/nitrates (1). Shortages (1), arid areas mean water tables/rivers are overused (1). Costs (1), water is getting expensive in some areas (1). 1 mark for valid problem, 1 mark for extension, times 2.

There is an imbalance between water supply and population in Great Britain. Explain why. (4)

Greater populations in south east (1) Therefore higher demand (1)Least populated areas are where highest amount of rain falls(1)

Therefore lower demand and a water surplus (1) (2x2) or (3x1)Reserve 1 mark for explanation.

Outline the problems associated with a seasonal imbalance of rainfall in HICs. (4)

Problems will probably be related to tourist area of the Costas, but accept any problems.

Allow marks for causes of problem. Places like the Costa del Sol in Spain receive most of

their rainfall in the winter months and very little in the summer months. (1) In the six months, May to October, Malaga receives only 70 millimetres compared with 385 millimetres in the other six months. (1) Unfortunately it is in the summer months when they require the greatest amount of water for the influx of tourists (1) who want full swimming pools (1) and well watered golf courses. (1) They also need food which means crops need to be heavily irrigated. (1)

Outline how a seasonal imbalance in rainfall can cause water supply problems in High Income Countries (HICs). You may use an example in your answer. (4)

In the summer months when they require the greatest amount of water for the influx of tourists (1) Examples of what tourists demand to 2 marks swimming pools, golf courses.

They also need food which means crops need to be heavily irrigated.(1) Possible need to import water (1) into areas (e.g. Costas) where high annual temperatures and

evaporation rates (1) to supply the tourists drinking needs.

Water supply problems in LICs, including lack of available ‘clean’ piped water, water-borne disease and water pollution.

(To understand the problems associated with water supply in LICs. To understand the problems with the availability of clean, piped water, water-borne disease, and water pollution.

What are the problems associated with water supply IN LICs?

Fact file p151

- High proportion of the population don’t have access to clean piped water(

Range of diseases

Learn the first 6 bullet points page 151

Water-related diseases

• Dysentery- an infection disease of the large intestine.

• Malaria- caused by a parasite which is transmitted via bites of infected mosquitoes.

• Bilharzia- caused by parasitic worms which get into the blood system.

• Trachoma- caused by parasites in contaminated water

Pollution of water courses through resource exploitation

Impact of water contamination due to resource exploitation

• Mining and oil exploitation contaminates water sources( high levels of toxins

( Increased risk of cancer, abortion, dermatitis (inflammation of the skin ) and fungal infection (an inflammatory condition caused by a fungus).

• Toxic contents of the waste pits( leeched into rivers (moving through the soil)

← Rainforest contaminated

← Rivers carry toxins downstream to Peru.

← People depend on this contaminated water for drinking and cooking

← childhood leukemia rates four times higher in this area than in other parts of Ecuador

A Legacy of Harm

Occidental Petroleum in Achuar Territory Oil drilling for more than 30 years

Water contaminated by hydrocarbons and heavy metals, like lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic.

← Serious physical and mental health problems including cancer and genetic deformations.

← High level of cadmium in the blood of more than 98 per cent of the Achuar population and lead in children’s blood

← destruction of the ecosystem

Question Catcher

Outline the dangers of contaminated water on the local populations. (4)

Contaminated water is responsible for a range of health problems such as dysentery, an infectious disease of the large intestine which symptoms include diarrhoea. Malaria is caused by a parasite which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. If not treated malaria can become life-threatening. Bilharzia is caused by parasitic worms which get into the blood system and can cause kidney failure.

Case study: Occidental Petroleum in Achuar Territory, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador

With the aid of a named example, outline the problems resource exploitation can cause to water supply in LICs.(6)

Many of the indigenous tribes in the Amazon region, such as the Achuar people in Ecuador, have suffered from water contamination due to mining operations and oil exploitation. The Achuar people declare that the Occidental Petroleum company contaminated their territory during more than 30 years of drilling and seriously damaged their health. The water in rivers contains high concentration of hydrocarbons and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. Since there are no other options for obtaining water, local people depend on these contaminated sources for drinking water and are slowly poisoning themselves. A survey has found high level of cadmium in the blood of more than 98 per cent of the Achuar population and lead in children’s blood which exceeded the maximum safe amount. High levels of heavy metals can cause serious physical and mental health problems, including cancer such as childhood leukemia.

Explain two water supply problems in Low Income Countries. (4)

Need to collect water several times per day (1)Water related diseases (1)Pollution of water courses/lack of clean water supply (1)

1 mark for statement of water supply problem, 2nd mark for development. 2 + 2

(iii) Outline how a lack of clean water can lead to increased water-borne diseases such as cholera. (3)

Point mark

Problems of access to clean water developed as a reason or what makes the water dangerous with diseases in it. Forced to drink dirty water (1) can’t afford to build pipes(1) increased contraction of cholera (1)

Management of water usage and resources page 154

(In HICs, in domestic, industrial and agricultural contexts.

How is water usage managed in HICs?

1- Explain how a house can be made more water efficient. (4)

Learn Figure 22 page 154. You must describe at least two non-efficient ways and the two efficient ways.

2- How is industry managing the conservation of water? (6). You must include named examples in your answer.

Industry has come to realise that it needs to use water more sensibly.

CASE STUDY : WALKERS CRISPS LEICESTER, UK

-Reduced water use by 50%. Saved 700 million litres water/year.

-Achieved by:

1) Installed 30 water meters at production plants- see where using most water.

2) Implemented engineering solutions eg recycling programme to use water else where

3) Re-educated staff on use of water in sanitation facilities. ‘leak busters’ ‘Water champions’

Result: Water consumption fell at both sites- Bursom- 17.67 litres to 9.24 litres per kg potatoes processed, and at Leycroft 13.65 litres to 6.38 litres.

CASE STUDY: Cadbury Trebor Bassett in Birmingham, UK

-Installed £2 million waste water treatment plant.

-Water from production process reused in other areas eg cooling tower

-Result is a reduction of water demand of 15% saving £10,000 per year (17 million litres)

3- Explain how water can be used more efficiently in agriculture. (4)

-Attempt to use water more efficiently.

-For crop irrigation optimal water efficiency means minimising losses from evaporation or run-off.

-FLOOD IRRIGATION – most common but uneven distribution.

-OVERHEAD SPRINKLER IRRIGATION- more equal and controlled distribution but very dry condition losses from evaporation before reach ground.

-DRIP IRRIGATION- most efficient but most expensive and least used. (straight to plant roots)

-As changing system is expensive many farmers concentrate on maximising the efficiency of existing system eg: Loosening compact soil, creating FURROWS to prevent run-off, using sensors to water when crops need it.

Question Catcher

Explain how HICs manage their usage of water in industry and agriculture. (4)

Max 2 for description. Must refer to industry and agriculture for max. Credit developed points.

Allow 1 mark for specific detail. Can refer to any relevant method in industry e.g. Tap restrictors/push taps/shower regulators/pushbutton showers/water metering.

Agriculture – optimising crop irrigation, sprinkler systems, drip irrigation, creation of furrows to limit run off.

(How is water usage being managed in LICs? Page 157

including appropriate technology for water supply in small communities.

← Range of schemes to use local water supplies.

← Money comes from charity organisations such as waterAid

In LIC’s, the key to water use management is the application of appropriate technology to supply small communities. Technology is appropriate if the local community is able to use it relatively easily and without much cost. If water pumps need expensive spare parts or are difficult to maintain, then the local community may not find them appropriate.

Use of local aquifers:

1- Hand-dug wells

- most common method of getting water in LICs.

- usually 1.2 in diameter to allow sufficient digging space.

- depths vary. From shallow wells at 5m to deep wells over 20m,, but all are deep enough to reach the water table during the dry season.

- lined with concrete to prevent pollution and make them more stable.

2- Rainwater harvesting

Rainwater is generally collected from cleaned roofs, where it runs down a gutter into a storage tank.

3- Gravity-fed schemes

-In hilly areas, water can be piped down from higher water sources through gravity-fed schemes.

- Spring or stream dammed at its source before piped down to storage tanks in villages

- Distribution pipes then feed protected tapstands allowing people to draw water close to their homes.

-Still needs careful maintenance to keep the water clean

4- Tubewells and boreholes

- Tubewells: small diameter holes drilled by hand-power.

- Can be built quickly and cheaply, require less maintenance than hand-dug wells.

- When harder rocks and water table very low, boreholes are cut by engine powered drills and water id pumped to the surface using diesel or electric engines.

- Diesel or electric pumps needed are expensive to maintain

5- Recycling In Bangalore (India)

- Plans to supply 600 million litres of recycled water for drinking purposes.

- In many Indian cities it has now become compulsory for new housing developments to use recycled water.

- Sewage treated to make it drinkable:

- For instance, Kolkota has used the service of Unitech Water Technologies Ltd to recycle sewage water into drinking water.

- Project: Factory to treat 425 million litres of sewage from Karamangola valley to make about 400 million litres of recycled water which will be pumped into the Hessarghatta reservoir.

Question Catcher

Explain how Low Income Countries (LICs) use appropriate technology to provide water for small communities. (4)

Max 2 without explanation. Examples include methods or reference to places where appropriate technology being used. Max 1 list of methods

Can relate to boreholes, water pumps Other schemes include: gravity fed schemes,

rainwater harvesting, hand dug wells, water recycling, and education.

Appropriate technology can be used in LICs to manage water supply. What is meant by appropriate technology? (2)

Technology which manages water for local people

(1) and is built and maintained by local people (1). Reference to sustainability (1) Reference to low cost (1) Explain how appropriate technology has been used to manage the water supply in LICs. Use examples in your answer. (4)

The management of water resources.

(Use a case study to show how water transfers can cause conflicts between countries

Question catcher: Choose a water transfer scheme you have studied. Explain how the water transfer scheme has caused conflicts between areas.(6)

1- Water conflict between countries in the Middle East: The Tigris-Euphrates River System

Reasons for the GAP

The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is a massive $32 billion project to harness the power and potential of the upper reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and to irrigate the fertile plains that lie between them. When completed, 21 dams and 17 hydroelectric power plants will produce approximately 22 per cent of Turkey’s projected electricity requirements.

Reasons for the conflict

Both rivers have their source in Turkey and then flow through Syria and Iraq. Turkey argues that GAP is beneficial to Syria and Iraq, as the low of the rivers is now more constant. However, tensions between these three countries are linked to the following potential impacts:

1- Decrease of volume of waters flowing into Syria and Iraq

After GAP, the waters of the Euphrates will decrease from 30 billion m³ a year at the Syrian border to 16 billion m³ a year and at the Iraqi border from 16 billion m³ a year to 5 billion m³ a year.

Syria has created the Tabaqah Dam used for irrigating cotton and is in the process of constructing another dam. Therefore, Iraq is in constant fear that Syria and Turkey will use up most of the water before it reaches Iraq.

2- Decrease of water quality

Some of the water used in Turkey will find its way back into rivers. However, the water quality will decrease as the used water will carry greater quantities of salt and chemicals caused by fertilisers and pesticides.

(Case study of one water management scheme, explaining the reasons for the scheme and the positive and negative effects of the scheme on people and the environment.

Effects of a water management scheme: The Three Gorges Water Management Scheme, China.

Question catcher: Choose a water management scheme you have studied. Explain the effects of the scheme. (6)

The Three Gorges dam is located on the Yangtze river. Largest hydroelectric power station in the world.

Reasons for the scheme:

■ to produce clean electricity

■ to control flooding

■ to improve shipping along the Yangtze.

Negative effects of the dam:

1- Resettlement:

Around 1.4 million people have had to move because their villages and towns have been lost beneath the dam. The displaced people have had to move to new settlements.

2- Landslides

Landslides caused by the huge weight of water behind the dam and fluctuations in the water level. The reservoir has already collapsed in 91 places and a total 36km have caved in.

3- Environment

- Dam contributed to the extinction of the Yangtze river dolphin

- Yangtze surgeon negatively affected.

- High level of pollution currently in the river due to more than 1 billion tonnes of wastewater released annually into the river. Water quality deteriorating as the dammed river is less able to disperse pollutants effectively.

- Incidence of algae bloom (due to increased amount of fertilisers in the water) has risen steadily since the reservoir was completed in 2006.

Positive effects (benefits)

1- Economic growth

- New navigable waterway( mass transit of raw materials to the area allowing massive economic growth. + reduced transport costs( attractive location for industry. + new railway, highway and airport will open up the region for industrial development.

2- Flood control

Flood control capacity sufficient to control the greatest flood experienced in the past 100 years. It will protect 1,500,000 hectares of farmland and the lives and property of 15 million people

3- Power generation

Amount of energy produced by the hydroelectric turbines = 18 nuclear power stations

4- Navigation

-Allowed container shipping from Shanghai to Chongqing, the biggest city of south-east China.

- Improved and cheaper river transport

- Improved navigation in the drier season when water levels used to be low.

5- Tourism

- More than 800,000 tourists visited the Three Gorges Dam area in 2007.

- Cruising along the river is very popular and many tourist sites are being developed along with thousand of jobs.

- Ex-farmers are now being used in the tourist industry , for example by dragging small boats by rope along the Shennong stream, to allow the tourists access to beautiful scenery,

*(d) Choose a water management scheme you have studied. Explain the effects of the scheme. (6)

Suggest the problems caused by creating reservoirs. (3)

Answer to concentrate on original creation of the reservoir. Flooding of the surrounding environment (1) Destruction of habitats (1) Loss of land (1)

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To extract water from an aquifer a hole is drilled down to below the water table and pressure will cause the water to flow up the pipe to the surface.

Use a named country to explain why the extraction of water from aquifers can lead to problems. (6) Learn Mexico City

-Mexico City built on Aquifer.

-20m pop so aquifer drained quicker than can be replenished.

-Areas of city sinking. Pavements, roads cracked, walls buckled.

- City stopped pumping water in city centre, now from periphery wells.

-This has slowed sinking to about 2cm a year.

Pipes

Disposal of solid waste such as soil particles.

Answer the following question. Your answer must be based on the labels and annotations from Figure 14.

Explain how water from a reservoir ends up in your home. (6)

It releases water into the North Tyne river.

Holds 200 billion litres.

The main conurbations served by the reservoir are Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside.

In this way, water treatment works can all be supplied with water from Kileder.

Huge pumps take water from the Tyne at Riding Mill and transfer it through a tunnel to the River Derwent, then to the River Wear and then to the River Tees.

Annotations to learn in sequence

Title: Kielder Water Water Transfer Scheme, UK

1. Holds 200 billion litres

2. It releases water into the North Tyne river.

3. Huge pumps take water from the Tyne at Riding Mill and transfer it through a tunnel to the River Derwent, then to the River Wear and then to the River Tees.

4. In this way, water treatment works can all be supplied with water from Kileder.

5. The main conurbations served by the reservoir are Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside.

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