EQ3: How does water insecurity occur and why is it becoming such a global issue for the
21st century?
Mismatch between supply and demand:
Growing mismatch between water supply and demand has led to a global pattern of water
stress and water scarcity. Global water use expected to continually rise.
Saudi Arabia, Alegria and Syria are experiencing absolute water scarcity. Countries like
Egypt, Morocco, Kenya are experiencing between 1000 and 500 per day
Even the UK and Spain are experiencing vulnerability.
Increasing populations, improving living standards etc. are creating a rising demand and this
leads to risk of water scarcity.
Rising demand created by:
1. Population growth – more people, more thirst
2. Economic development – this increases demand in almost all sectors e.g., industry
and agriculture
3. Rising living standards - this means more cooking, bathing, cleaning etc. as well as
appliances.
Three main pressures increasing water insecurity:
1. Diminishing supply – due to climate change, deteriorating quality due to pollution
and competing users.
2. Rising demands – due to the population, development and living standards.
3. Competing demands/irrigating farming use – international issues, upstream and
downstream users, and HEP vs irrigation
Aral Sea: countries including Turkmenistan Kazakhstan and Pakistan bordering the
sea have the highest water use per capita in the world with around 99% being used
for irrigated crops. The overall lead to the environmental degradation of the
ecosystem surrounding the Aral Sea.
Physical water scarcity: Occurs when more than 75% of a country or region’s water are
being used. Currently applies to 25% of the world’s population e.g. Middle East and North
Africa
Economic water scarcity: the use of accessible water is limited because of lack of money,
technology, governance etc. Around 1 billion people are living in this with high levels of
poverty such as Africa. Parts of southeast Asia too.
Causes of water insecurity:
Physical causes:
- Climate – precipitation (of water moved and distributed)
- Evaporation and evapotranspiration
- Discharge into sea
- Saltwater encroachment at the coast
Human causes:
21st century?
Mismatch between supply and demand:
Growing mismatch between water supply and demand has led to a global pattern of water
stress and water scarcity. Global water use expected to continually rise.
Saudi Arabia, Alegria and Syria are experiencing absolute water scarcity. Countries like
Egypt, Morocco, Kenya are experiencing between 1000 and 500 per day
Even the UK and Spain are experiencing vulnerability.
Increasing populations, improving living standards etc. are creating a rising demand and this
leads to risk of water scarcity.
Rising demand created by:
1. Population growth – more people, more thirst
2. Economic development – this increases demand in almost all sectors e.g., industry
and agriculture
3. Rising living standards - this means more cooking, bathing, cleaning etc. as well as
appliances.
Three main pressures increasing water insecurity:
1. Diminishing supply – due to climate change, deteriorating quality due to pollution
and competing users.
2. Rising demands – due to the population, development and living standards.
3. Competing demands/irrigating farming use – international issues, upstream and
downstream users, and HEP vs irrigation
Aral Sea: countries including Turkmenistan Kazakhstan and Pakistan bordering the
sea have the highest water use per capita in the world with around 99% being used
for irrigated crops. The overall lead to the environmental degradation of the
ecosystem surrounding the Aral Sea.
Physical water scarcity: Occurs when more than 75% of a country or region’s water are
being used. Currently applies to 25% of the world’s population e.g. Middle East and North
Africa
Economic water scarcity: the use of accessible water is limited because of lack of money,
technology, governance etc. Around 1 billion people are living in this with high levels of
poverty such as Africa. Parts of southeast Asia too.
Causes of water insecurity:
Physical causes:
- Climate – precipitation (of water moved and distributed)
- Evaporation and evapotranspiration
- Discharge into sea
- Saltwater encroachment at the coast
Human causes:
