The Water
Cycle and
Water
Insecurity
Enquiry Question 3: How does water insecurity occur and why
is it becoming such as global issue for the 21st century?
5.7 There are physical causes and human causes of water insecurity.
,It is this growing mismatch between water supply and demand that is creating an increasing
amount of water insecurity in the world. The amount of freshwater in the hydrological cycle
is finite. It is estimated that currently 60% of the world's accessible water is being used up.
In theory, this leaves plenty more for future use.
But there is a mismatch where water is available and where there is demand - 66% of the
world's population lives in areas receiving only 25% of the world's annual rainfall. There is a
widening water availability gap as a result of rising water demand and dwindling water
supplies. The reason for this diminishing water supplies is mainly the over abstraction of
groundwater sources for irrigation.
The widening water availability gap means that the world is becoming divided between
'have not's' (largely developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa) and the 'haves'
(largely developed counties in temperate latitudes).
Water Resources Per Capita
Highest (m3/year) Lowest (m3/year)
Greenland (ice) 10,768,857 UK 2,465
India (seasonal monsoon
Guyana (rainforest) 316,689 1,880
and high population)
Canada (low population
94,353 Denmark 1,128
against size)
Rwanda (LDC - can't
Australia (low population) 25,708 extract, clean, store and 683
transport)
Mongolia 13,739 Yemen (desert) 223
Greece 6,998 Maldives 103
Mexico 4,624 Kuwait (desert) 10
Factors Responsible for the Global Mismatch of Supply and Demand
Supply Demand
Rainfall levels and groundwater
Population level/growth
Distribution network (pipelines)
Industry and agriculture demand
efficiency/leakage
Conservation measures/efficient use of
River flows including trans-boundary (eg:
water (eg: collection of rainwater)
Nile)
Price
Water source quality
, Rising Water Demand
Overall
consumption is increasing, from 600 to 5,200
Demand has increased more significantly in Asia, from 450 to 3,100
Demand has remained flat in Australia and Oceania, about 100
Reasons for Rising Water Demand
Increased population
Increased demand for agriculture
Increased demand from industry
Increased usage in homes (dishwashers)
Increased biofuels watering crops
5.8 There are consequences and risks associated with water insecurity
Water insecurity means not having access to sufficient, safe, clean water. The world's
poorest countries are the most water insecure, and are also classified as water scarce.
Cycle and
Water
Insecurity
Enquiry Question 3: How does water insecurity occur and why
is it becoming such as global issue for the 21st century?
5.7 There are physical causes and human causes of water insecurity.
,It is this growing mismatch between water supply and demand that is creating an increasing
amount of water insecurity in the world. The amount of freshwater in the hydrological cycle
is finite. It is estimated that currently 60% of the world's accessible water is being used up.
In theory, this leaves plenty more for future use.
But there is a mismatch where water is available and where there is demand - 66% of the
world's population lives in areas receiving only 25% of the world's annual rainfall. There is a
widening water availability gap as a result of rising water demand and dwindling water
supplies. The reason for this diminishing water supplies is mainly the over abstraction of
groundwater sources for irrigation.
The widening water availability gap means that the world is becoming divided between
'have not's' (largely developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa) and the 'haves'
(largely developed counties in temperate latitudes).
Water Resources Per Capita
Highest (m3/year) Lowest (m3/year)
Greenland (ice) 10,768,857 UK 2,465
India (seasonal monsoon
Guyana (rainforest) 316,689 1,880
and high population)
Canada (low population
94,353 Denmark 1,128
against size)
Rwanda (LDC - can't
Australia (low population) 25,708 extract, clean, store and 683
transport)
Mongolia 13,739 Yemen (desert) 223
Greece 6,998 Maldives 103
Mexico 4,624 Kuwait (desert) 10
Factors Responsible for the Global Mismatch of Supply and Demand
Supply Demand
Rainfall levels and groundwater
Population level/growth
Distribution network (pipelines)
Industry and agriculture demand
efficiency/leakage
Conservation measures/efficient use of
River flows including trans-boundary (eg:
water (eg: collection of rainwater)
Nile)
Price
Water source quality
, Rising Water Demand
Overall
consumption is increasing, from 600 to 5,200
Demand has increased more significantly in Asia, from 450 to 3,100
Demand has remained flat in Australia and Oceania, about 100
Reasons for Rising Water Demand
Increased population
Increased demand for agriculture
Increased demand from industry
Increased usage in homes (dishwashers)
Increased biofuels watering crops
5.8 There are consequences and risks associated with water insecurity
Water insecurity means not having access to sufficient, safe, clean water. The world's
poorest countries are the most water insecure, and are also classified as water scarce.
