Global distribution of water
Global water supplies are not evenly distributed. Some places have a A location that has more water than required., whereas others have a A place that has less water than required..
Exploring the issues linked to distribution and access to water in different parts of the world
Global water supply
Different countries have different amounts of water. Generally speaking:
- Countries along the The line around the centre of the Earth, parallel to the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. have enough water. Warm, moist air rises here, which causes high levels of rainfall.
- Countries to the north of the Equator (at a latitude of approximately 30掳) have A lack of available water for everyone.. This is when there isn鈥檛 enough rainfall. Cooler, dry air falls here and so it is very Extremely dry..
- Countries to the south of the Equator (at a latitude of approximately 30掳) experience some A shortage of fresh water.. This is less severe than in the north because countries in the south tend to span greater Imaginary lines around the Earth running parallel to the equator. These are measured in degrees north or south of the equator., eg Australia has both desert and rainforest and so water can be transferred.
- Countries with the highest latitudes (those that are furthest away from the Equator) have enough rainfall to provide plenty of fresh water.
- Exceptions to this rule exist in countries with high The average number of people in a certain area. , eg the UK, or countries where poverty causes When water is too expensive for many people to afford., eg Nigeria.
Reasons for increasing water consumption
Water consumption has been rising globally over time. There are two main reasons for this:
Rising population
Everyone needs water in order to survive. Water makes up at least 60% of a person鈥檚 bodyweight and it is needed for all bodily functions. People also use water for Cleanliness., cooking and cleaning. The population of the world is increasing, but there is only a fixed amount of fresh water available for us to use.
Economic development
As countries develop, their water use increases. People in wealthier nations have water delivered into their homes via pipeline. Modern appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, use a lot of water. Farming as a business., industry and tourism in A country with a gross national income per capita above US $12,735 (according to the World Bank) such as the Netherlands and the UK. (HICs) consume vast quantities of water too. The The amount of water used by a country, both domestically and through imports. of HICs is much higher than Based on the World Bank's income classifications, a LIC has a gross national income (GNI per capita) of $1,045 or lower. (LICs). As more countries develop, the demands on water will increase.
Case study: drought in California
California is a coastal state in western USA. It has A natural region that experiences less than 250 mm of precipitation and has either hot or cold temperatures throughout the year. to the east, but there is usually plenty of rainfall to provide water along the coast.
California has experienced A long period of low rainfall that creates a major shortage of water. since 2011. Irrigated crops use a lot of the freshwater supplies in the region. Rising temperatures, falling rainfall levels and a growing population are also contributing to the problem.
The drought has lowered Where water is stored in rocks beneath the ground. levels. This can cause lots of problems, such as:
- A fall in land levels. - this is a fall in the level of the land, which damages properties.
- Sea water intrusion - this is when sea water flows in to groundwater spaces known as Naturally occurring underground water stores.. People cannot drink sea water as it is salty.
- Fires - vegetation becomes very dry and intense heat, such as lightning strikes, can set it alight easily.
- A community of animals, plants and microorganisms, together with the habitat where they live. damage.
There were no official rules in California to stop property owners from pumping more water out of the ground. Groundwater limits were considered, but these couldn鈥檛 be enforced until 2020. Until then, people were encouraged to use less water.