Resource Management and The China Water Transfer Scheme
Water Management
Energy Management
Food Management
South - North Water Project (China)
The average person consumes between 2,000 and 2,500 calories per day (Depends on age, gender, height and level of activity)
Eating too few calories causes weight loss and a lack of energy, meaning not enough energy to work, meaning lack of income, leading to poverty
Water makes up about 2/3 of a person's body
The average person should drink between 1.6 and 2 litres of water a day (Depends on air temperature and activity)
Important for cleaning and industry
Used for heating, electricity, lighting, cooking and transport
Electricity is secondary energy, primary being fossil fuels and renewable energy sources
Energy affects both food supplies and industry, such as mining and growing biofuels
Food Insecurity
When a person does not have enough food to sustain themselves and provide nutrients
HICs import food and subsidise farming to make food more affordable, meaning there is a food surplus, meaning there is plenty of food to go around
LICs may not be able to afford the import of food or farming, meaning there is a food deficit
Water Insecurity
Higher rainfall leads to more water. Having too much rainfall can lead to flooding and water surplus
Lower amounts of rainfall and higher temperatures can lead to droughts and water deficit
The higher the population, the more water is needed to sustain it
Energy Insecurity
HICs and NEEs tend to consume a lot of energy due to a high population and industry, meaning they may go over the limit of what energy they are provided with, leading to an energy deficit
LICs consume less energy than HICs and NEEs, so there is a lower chance of using more energy than is provided and there may be an energy surplus
A $71 billion project that will transfer 44.8 billion m3 of water from the south to the north of China every year
Construction began in 2002. The central and eastern routes were completed in 2013 and 2014. Western route is due to be complete in 2050
Will transfer water along 3 routes from areas of surplus
China supports 20% of the world's population but only has 7% of its water supply
Water shortages in China cost an estimated $39 billion each year
Wealthy people often have water storage tanks
Water rationing is increasingly used to manage water supplies in urban areas
Disadvantages
Advantages
Provides clean water for people in the cities of Beijing and Tianjin
Allows industry to continue to develop and bring wealth to the country
Provides water to irrigate farmland so crops can be grown
Prevents over-abstraction in the north, helping to stop land subsidence
Large areas have been flooded destroying natural habitats, damaging ecosystems
Raising the dam of the Danjiangkou Reservoir flooded productive farmland and forced 345,000 people to move
The government have kept its cost low and are subsidising it, so there is no need for people of industry to change their wasteful water ways
Water stress in the south will increase (30 million local people won't have enough drinking water)
Poor Quality Water Causes (UK)
Agricultural runoff (Chemicals from pesticides, insecticides, nitrates and phosphates)(55% of UK rivers less han good status for phosphorus in 2016)
Historical waste (Old mine workings, old industrial sites, hazardous heavy metals)
Runoff from roads and motorways (Salt, oil, anti-freeze and heavy metals)
Sewage waste (Leaks)
Dificulties With Clean-up (UK)
Costly
Large scale
Population growth (Agricultural intensification)
Climate change
Emerging chemicals (Nanoparticles/Microplastics)
Water appliances (Taps, washing, laundry, dishwashing) (1/4 of water lost due to leaks)
Impacts of Water Deficit
Crop failure (Ethiopia)
Diseases spread (Typhoid and dysentery)(Sahal - Chad, Sudan)
Industrial output declines (China)
Malnutrition and hunger (Haiti)
Conflict and war
Less money and incme for people and country
$62 billion
44.8 billion cubic meters of water per year
3,000 km (20,000 miles)
Deacreasing disease spread
over 1/3 of country will have access to clean water
UK Importation
The UK climate is unsuitable for the production of some foods e.g. cocoa, bananas, spices
People have travelled more and wish to recreate the food they have eaten on holiday + Cookery programmes are popular in the UK and encourage cooking with a range of ingredients (Demand for exotics)
People’s incomes have increased and so exotic fruits, vegetables, spices and coffee have become more popular
Concern about the environmental impact and the use of chemicals so organic food is more popular
Transportation and refrigeration have improved making long distance transport easier
Demand for food out of season e.g strawberries in winter
Food can be produced cheaper abroad
Primary industry has declined in the UK