Access to Fresh Water Issues (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)): Revision Note

Access to Fresh Water

Access to fresh water around the world

• Access to an adequate supply of freshwater varies widely across the globe due to a number of factors:

   1. Geographic location

• Some regions naturally contain abundant freshwater resources due to factors such as proximity to large rivers, lakes, or high rainfall

• Others, like arid and semi-arid regions, naturally have limited water availability

   2. Climate

• Areas with high levels of precipitation, such as tropical rainforests or coastal regions, generally have better access to freshwater compared to arid or desert regions with low rainfall

   3. Topography

• Mountainous regions often have better access to freshwater due to higher precipitation rates and the presence of glaciers and snowpack that act as natural reservoirs

• Conversely, flat or low-lying areas may face challenges in water availability

   4. Population density

• Regions with higher population densities tend to experience greater pressure on water resources

• Increased water demand for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes can strain available supplies, leading to water scarcity

   5. Water management and infrastructure

• The presence of well-developed water management systems, including reservoirs, dams, canals, and pipelines, can enhance water availability and distribution

• Conversely, inadequate infrastructure can limit access to freshwater, especially in rural or underdeveloped areas

   6. Economic development

• Wealthier nations often have greater financial resources to invest in water infrastructure and management, which can result in better access to freshwater

• In contrast, poorer countries may lack the means to develop and maintain robust water systems

   7. Political stability and governance

• Political stability and effective governance play a vital role in water management and equitable distribution

• Regions with political instability or weak governance may struggle to provide access to an adequate supply of freshwater for their populations

• It's important to note that these factors are interconnected and can influence each other

• The combination of multiple factors often contributes to the wide variation in access to an adequate supply of freshwater across the globe

Problems Facing Fresh Water Access

• Access to freshwater is essential for human survival, agriculture, industrial activities, and maintaining healthy ecosystems

• However, numerous challenges and problems threaten the availability and accessibility of freshwater resources worldwide

• The key problems facing freshwater access include:

  • The impacts of climate change

  • Increasing population, irrigation and industrialisation

  • Contamination

  • Unsustainable abstraction

NASA, derivative work by Zafiroblue05 at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Satellite images of the Aral Sea in Central Asia between 1989 and 2009 show a dramatic loss of water due to unsustainable abstraction

   1. Climate change

• Climate change can disrupt rainfall patterns, leading to increased variability and unpredictability in precipitation

• This can result in more frequent and severe droughts and floods, impacting the availability of freshwater resources

• Rising temperatures can accelerate evaporation rates, further reducing water availability in already water-stressed regions

• Melting glaciers and reduced snowpack in mountainous areas can affect the timing and magnitude of water flow in rivers, potentially leading to water scarcity during dry seasons

• Sea-level rise can lead to saltwater intrusion in coastal areas, contaminating freshwater sources and making them unsuitable for human consumption and agriculture

   2. Access to fresh water in developing countries

• The increasing global population, along with expanding agricultural practices and industrial activities, puts significant pressure on freshwater resources

• As the population grows, so does the demand for food production, which often requires extensive irrigation

• This further strains water supplies as large amounts of water are diverted for agricultural purposes

• Industrialisation demands substantial water resources for manufacturing processes, energy production, and cooling purposes

• The growth of industrial sectors intensifies competition for freshwater, particularly in water-stressed regions

   3. Contamination

• Freshwater supplies can become contaminated due to various human activities, including industrial discharges, agricultural runoff containing fertilisers and pesticides, and improper waste disposal

• Pollution from industrial chemicals, heavy metals, and sewage can render water sources unsafe for consumption and harm ecosystems

• Contamination of freshwater bodies, such as lakes and rivers, can make water treatment more challenging and costly, reducing the availability of clean and safe drinking water

   4. Unsustainable abstraction

• Unsustainable abstraction refers to the excessive withdrawal of water from freshwater sources without allowing sufficient time for replenishment

• Over-extraction of groundwater through wells and boreholes can lead to declining water tables, depletion of aquifers, and land subsidence

• In some regions, surface water bodies, such as rivers and lakes, are over-allocated for abstraction, leading to reduced flows and ecological degradation

• Lack of proper regulation and monitoring of water abstraction practices can exacerbate water scarcity issues, particularly in areas with high water demand

• These interconnected challenges create a complex web of issues that require comprehensive and integrated approaches to ensure sustainable access to freshwater for present and future generations