Question 1: What is 'water scarcity'?

Answer: Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demand for water use within a region.

Question 2: Define 'aquifer'.

Answer: An aquifer is an underground layer of permeable rock or sediment that holds groundwater.

Question 3: What does 'water stress' mean?

Answer: Water stress occurs when water demand exceeds supply in a region, leading to shortages.

Question 4: Name one major source of freshwater for human use.

Answer: Rivers, lakes, or groundwater.

Question 5: Explain 'desalination'.

Answer: Desalination is the process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to produce freshwater.

Question 1: Which country experienced a severe water crisis in 2018 due to prolonged drought and overuse of resources?

Answer: Cape Town, South Africa

Question 2: Name the main urban area in the UK that relies on the River Thames for its water supply.

Answer: London

Question 3: What is the primary purpose of water treatment plants?

Answer: To make water safe for human consumption

Question 4: Identify one factor that influences the availability of groundwater in a region.

Answer: Permeability of rocks or sediment

Question 5: Describe one method used to increase water supply in arid regions.

Answer: Desalination of seawater

Question 1: Based on the Cape Town water crisis, list two factors that contributed to the severity of the shortage.

Answer: Prolonged drought, high water demand, low rainfall, and inadequate infrastructure.

Question 2: Describe one strategy implemented by Cape Town to reduce water consumption.

Answer: Restrictions on water use, public awareness campaigns, and water rationing.

Question 3: Explain how the UK's water management strategies, such as water metering and leakage reduction, help address supply issues.

Answer: UK strategies like water metering encourage consumers to conserve water, while reducing leakage minimizes waste. These measures help balance supply and demand, especially in urban areas like London, and mitigate the effects of population growth and climate variability.

Question 4: Assess the effectiveness of desalination as a solution to water scarcity in arid countries like Saudi Arabia.

Answer: Desalination provides a reliable alternative water source, reducing dependence on limited freshwater supplies. However, it is energy-intensive and expensive, which can limit its sustainability. Environmental concerns related to brine disposal also pose challenges. Overall, it is a valuable but costly part of a broader water management strategy.

Question 1: Analyse the causes of water stress in the UK.

Answer: Water stress in the UK is caused by factors such as uneven distribution of rainfall, increased demand due to population growth, climate change leading to droughts, and aging infrastructure that results in high leakage rates. Urban areas like London are particularly affected due to high consumption levels.

Question 2: Explain why Cape Town experienced a 'Day Zero' water crisis in 2018.

Answer: Cape Town faced 'Day Zero' due to a combination of prolonged drought, reduced rainfall, over-reliance on limited water sources, rapid population growth, and insufficient infrastructure for water storage and distribution. These factors led to critically low reservoir levels, prompting severe water restrictions.

Question 1: To what extent are desalination plants a sustainable solution to water scarcity in Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia?

Answer: Desalination plants provide a crucial source of freshwater in arid regions, reducing dependence on limited natural sources. However, their high energy consumption and environmental impacts, such as brine disposal, raise sustainability concerns. While they are effective in addressing immediate shortages, long-term sustainability requires integration with conservation, renewable energy use, and improved water efficiency measures. Therefore, desalination is a valuable but not wholly sustainable standalone solution.

Question 2: Evaluate the success of water management strategies in the UK in reducing water stress.

Answer: UK strategies like water metering, leak reduction, and public awareness campaigns have been effective in reducing per capita water consumption and minimizing wastage. These measures have helped balance supply and demand, especially in urban areas like London. However, challenges remain due to climate change and population growth, which may increase future demand. Overall, these strategies have been successful but require ongoing adaptation and investment to ensure long-term sustainability.