Definitions
Define Soil Moisture
The amount of water found in the soil.
How much of the Earth is covered in water?
~71%
What is saltwater intrusion?
The movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers.
How does mismanagement of irrigation affect water security?
Water supplies can run low or dry up, potentially causing perpetual, human-driven drought conditions.
How beneficial of a strategy are aquifers and artesian wells?
Provides safe and clean drinking water.
Define Contamination
The action of making or being made impure by pollution.
How much of Earth's water is saltwater?
97.5%
How do human's pollute groundwater?
Storing toxic materials on/in the Earth’s surface.
Landfills, septic tanks, storm water drains and injection wells.
How does competing demand for water supplies affect water security?
Changes availability of freshwater, economic impacts, and impact on water rights and ownership.
How beneficial of a strategy is rainwater catchment for managing water security?
Increases water availability for individuals.
Define Artesian Well
Underground water that is under pressure. When punctured by a well or borehole the water will rise to the surface.
What water store holds most of Earth's saltwater?
Oceans.
How does climate change affect water security?
May increase or decrease water availability of regions, making it less predictable.
How does urban vs rural water access affect water security?
Urban usually has better access to clean water.
Rural usually relies on groundwater or rainwater with little to no treatment.
How does reducing poverty help manage water security?
Increases water availability and security for populations that normally have poor water security.
Define Natural Disaster
An event such as flooding, earthquake or hurricane, that causes great damage or loss of life.
What water stores hold most of the Earth's surface freshwater?
Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands.
How does the over-abstraction of groundwater from population growth affect water security?
Water table drops, making access to groundwater more difficult and expensive.
How does international competition for water affect water security?
A source country can deny access to water to other countries.
Some rivers act like international boundaries that can be owned by all countries equally.
How does international agreements and water-related aid help manage water security?
Countries and populations can gain access to the water they need for food, goods, sanitation, and healthcare.
Define Water Security
The ability to access sufficient quantities of clean water to maintain adequate standards of food and manufacturing of goods, adequate sanitation and sustainable health care.
How is water availability changing in the sub-surface?
Recharge and discharge of water.
Name three causes of water insecurity.
Climate change, natural disasters, pollution, population growth, competing demands for water supplies, international competition for water, inequality of water availability, urban vs rural water access, mismanagement of irrigation, mismanagement of sanitation.
What are two impacts of water insecurity?
Over-abstraction of water sources, agriculture, contaminated water illnesses and poverty.
What are three strategies of water extraction?
Piped supply, aquifers and artesian wells, boreholes, gravity-fed schemes, reservoirs and dams, improved irrigation, and rainwater catchment.