Water

Demand for water resources is rising globally but supply can be insecure, which may lead to conflict.

Areas of surplus (security) and deficit (insecurity):

• global patterns of water surplus and deficit
• reasons for increasing water consumption: economic development, rising population
• factors affecting water availability: climate, geology, pollution of supply, over-abstraction, limited infrastructure, poverty.

Impacts of water insecurity – waterborne disease and water pollution, food production, industrial output, potential for conflict where demand exceeds supply.

Different strategies can be used to increase water supply.

Overview of strategies to increase water supply:

• diverting supplies and increasing storage, dams and reservoirs, water transfers and desalination
• an example of a large scale water transfer scheme to show how its development has both advantages and disadvantages.

Moving towards a sustainable resource future:

• water conservation, groundwater management, recycling, ‘grey’ water