Chapter 13

How much water do we have?Only 30% of the earth is water and most of them are found in oceans and seas.2.8% of the earths water is fresh water.75% of the fresh water is stored as ice bergs and glaciers.21.4% of the fresh water is groundwater. 3.6% of the fresh water is found in rivers and lakes = 0.1% of the earths total amount of water.

What causes the water supply to change?

Climate changes Deforestation Poor farming practices Increase in PollutionIncrease in Agriculture activitiesIndustrial and Commercial

Climate changesThe disturbance of the hydrologic cycle has led to an increase of prolonged droughts and famine all around the world.Ice are melting and the sea level has began to rise.Ice sheets melting

Deforestation Canopy of the forest and vegetation areas slows down the surface runoff of the rain.When trees are cut down, the water flows into the river quickly, increasing the amount of sediments flowing into the river, contaminating the clean water, decreasing water supply.Increase in pollutionFarmers who farm near rivers use pesticides and chemicals to kill weeds and pests. Rain comes and wash them into the river, polluting the water. Water pollution

Poor farming practices

Monoculture = one single crop planted over and over againIt reduces soil fertility and hence causes soil leaching and severe soil erosionFarmers rearing excessive herds of cattle= overgrazingThis occurs especially on marginal land that is exposed to severe soil erosion.Water ways are blocked due to sedimentary, causing flooding. Chemicals fertilisers pollute the water and decrease water supply.

Increase in Agriculture ActivitiesAs the worlds population increases, the demand of food increases and so do the demand of water needed to water the crops and other purposes.Industrial and commercialIndustrial activities require a large amount of water and rapid industrial growth will need a lot of water. (e.g.9.5l of water is needed to refine 1l of gasoline.

Why water is a scarce resource2.8% of the earths water is fresh waterClimate changesIncrease in the no. of prolonged droughtsUneven distribution of rainfallPlaces with low annual precipitation are likely to suffer from drought DeforestationWith lesser trees canopy, the water flows into the river faster causing soil erosionPoor farming practicesMonocultureOvergrazingUsing chemical substance over croppingThe rising demand for waterIncrease in populationIncrease in agriculture activitiesIncrease in industrial and commercial activities

Chapter 14 - Response to the rising demands for water-Increasing the PRICE of water

-Increasing the SUPPLY of water *Managing Catchment areas *International agreements *Desalination

Increasing the PRICE of waterWater price are inter-related to the rising demands of water. *E.g. If price of water increases, people would use water more effectively and consciously.

Water prices are determined after discussions among: -Government officials -Water companies -Environmental group -Interest groups of consumers

Increasing the SUPPLY of waterManaging catchment areas

Definition of catchment areas: As known as a drainage basin; the area of land bounded by hills or mountain.

Negative human activities can affect the water quality of catchment areas. *E.g. Deforestation Soil being washed into rivers. Poor farming practices - Using large amounts of chemical fertilisers Water pollution Soil leaching & erosion

Increasing the SUPPLY of waterProper management can minimise the negative human impacts. *E.g. (Done by the Government) Restricting logging activities Carrying out reforestation programs

Initiate large water projects is another form of proper management of catchment areas. *E.g. Man-made Lake Nasser -Supplies clean drinking water and irrigated water for Egyptians all year round Three Gorges Dam project in Central China

Increasing the SUPPLY of waterInternational agreements

Some rivers cut across political boundaries, making the rivers a form of shared water resource.

Regional tensions and conflicts might arise.

These might result in inefficient use of water / decrease in water supply to the affected countries.Water pipes containing water from Malaysia to Singapore

Increasing the SUPPLY of waterThe allocation of water might cause regional tensions and conflicts. *E.g. If a country occupy the downstream water of a river and the water received is polluted, the country occupying the upstream would be blamed.

Such problems can be solved by international agreements. It helps to settle or prevent cross-border disputes over water resources. *E.g. Great Lakes Basin spans eight states of USA and two provinces of Canada. Thus in 2004, they signed the Great Lakes Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreements. Special attention was given to relate the amount of water withdrawn.

Increasing the SUPPLY of waterDesalination Definition: A process that removes salt and other impurities from saltwater.

Technique is practiced in countries where fresh water is scarce or where demand of water is high.

7500 desalination plants are in operation and 60% are located in the Middle East.

The largest desalination plant, Jubail Desalination plant, is in Saudi Arabia where it produces 3000 litres of fresh water per day.Senoko Power Desalination Plant

Treatment of water for REUSE

Use for irrigation, toilet flushing, industrial processIndustries use for cooling processes Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Phoenix, Arizona in USA

-With improved technology, can be use for drinkingNEWater Visitors Centre

- Take Place across all sectors of economy

- Public education is essential to knowledge people about importance of water conversationTools: posters, booklets, flyers, programmes, events 1. Turn water off when soaping during shower & washing hands2. Take short shower instead of long batheUse a mug or cup to contain water when brushing teethWash only at full load when using washing machineWash vegetables & fruits in a pan of water than under running tapWater plants with water recycled from washing rice, vegetables & fruits

Responses To Rising Demand For WaterIncrease price of water-Effective tool to control demand-Slow down demand of water

Increasing water supply

Water conservation- Educate public on how to conserve water

Catchment AreasTechnologyInternational AgreementsConstruction of damsConstructing of reservoirs E.g. Singapore1/2 to 2/3 turn into catchment areas (2009)Desalination: A process that removes salt from seawaterWater Reclamation: A process that recycles used water- e.g. NEWater of Singapore-Helps to allocate shared water resources among countries-Established to protect, conserve & manage water source

*Chapter 15 *

+Supply of water:

Half of Singapores land is able to collect rain in the catchment areas.The rest of the land is highly urbanised areas where rainwater flows into drains and eventually ends up in the sea. -some rainwater seeps into the ground as groundwater. [can only be obtained if wells or boreholes are sunk] + or else, the water would also flow to the sea. * Given the high temperatures in Singapore, much of the rain is also lost through evaporation.

Demand for water

As population in Singapore grows so does thedemand for water. +Water in Singapore comes from 4 sources: *local water catchments *imported water (from Malaysia) *NEWater [reclaimed water] *desalination+ these 4 sources are known as the 4 NATIONAL TAPS.

4 National taps strategyPUB, Singapores national water agency manages water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way.

PUBs water conservation plan:

+ Pricing water to reflect its strategic importance and scarcity.+ educating the public to make efficient use of the water.+making it compulsory in commercial and industrial premises to install water-saving devices.+ encourage industries to use alternative sources [eg:NEWater.]+ imposing fines on water wastage and unauthorised water usage.

Imported water ^.^Singapore depends on the Malaysian peninsular to augment our water supply.

Importing water from Malaysia through 2 water agreements signed in 1961 and 1962; which are up in force up to 2011 and 2061 respectively.

Water is piped in through the Causeway from Johor, Malaysia to Singapore.

Desalinated waterSupplies enough to meet up to 10% of our demand for water. {Capacity of 136 380 cubic metres a day} This is so as depending on traditional sources like reservoirs and imported water may not be sustainable.

NEWater-{reclaimed water}All used water in Singapore is collected through a Sewage reticulation network and treated to acceptable discharge standards at the water reclaimation plants.with new technology to further treat the effluent; large volumes of water has been reclaimed. {process done through reverse-osmosis}.NEWater is mainly used for commercial and industrial purposes, with a small amount blended into reservoir water. With the introduction of NEWater-Singapores water suppl has become more sustainable.

Water from local Catchment areas Currently 14 reservoirs to supply us with clean water. Rainwater is one of Singapores most important sources of rainwater. Currently of Singapores total land area is used as water catchments. {By 2009 it will go up to 2/3 of Singapore.}Reservoir Integration scheme connects various reservoirs through a system of pumps and pipelines. *so that excess water can be transferred from one reservoir to another. {The Marina Barrage will create Singapores 15th reservoir.}Besides boosting Singapores water supply, it will also control flooding, and the freshwater lake created is suitable for recreational activities.

Water Resources In SingaporeBenefits from heavy rainfall-Increase demand due to:Rapid population growthLiving standards & Economic activitiesThe Four National Taps StrategyWater Catchment-1/2 to 2/3 of Singapore as catchment areas by 2009-Currently Singapore have 14 reservoirs with Marina Barrage as the 15th Imported Water-Water agreements with Malaysia, supplying half of Singapores demand-Water carried by pipelinesNEWater (Reclaimed Water)- Purification of treated used water to produce NEWaterDesalinated Water-Meets 10% of our demandPUB-Mission: Ensure efficient, adequate & sustainable water supply-Manages water supply, water catchment & used water in an integrated way-Encourages all Singaporeans play a part to conserve water, keep water catchments & waterways clean, and build relationship with water so that we can enjoy our water resources

From this project, I learned that the time taken to revise my work and to study reduces and that if everybody works together to compile the notes, it is much faster and easier to understand the topic. It is not time consuming and the notes that everyone has compiled are very easy to understand and I can master the topics much more easily than before. I also learned that teamwork is very important and that studying in groups arent that bad.

Next, from what I have learnt, I think that we should cherish what we have now and conserve what we can. For example, water. As a scarce resource, we should use it wisely and too, understand our water supply.

-Suli

ReflectionsWith all the water shortages Singapore faced and solved, I truly learnt the importance of conserving water. Though there is no serious water shortage in the world currently, we should foresee the problem and solve it NOW and not let the problem develop. Although we have already found the solution of our shortage problem in Singapore, we should not be contented with the current situation and continue wasting water but to sought for more solutions to get ready for a yet-to-come crisis of water if there is one.

Overall, the must important factor to supply more water is to RECYCLE, REUSE, REDUCE! Its also a pleasant to work with such a wonderful group to complete this revision slides xD~~

-SzeHwee

Reflections I feel that the rising demand of water is becoming a major problem that would threaten mankind in the future. A handful of rivers in the world are polluted due to the many centuries of usage. There are factors such as deforestation that in turn result in soil erosion and leaching too.

If mankind continue to figure out ways to help lesson the demands; I feel that raising the cost is not a permanent solution. Without the water, even any amount of money could not buy it back. Ways such as stopping deforestation would certainly come in handy. It would be a better solution to prevent the problem from starting in the first place.

-Gina

Reflections Overall, Ive learnt about how Singapore derives its water sources from the 4 National taps, which are namely: Desalination, reclaimed water (NEWater), imported water though water agreements and water from Singapores Catchment areas. Although Singapore has 14 (going to 15 soon) reservoirs and has almost 2/3 of its land area as water catchment, we still have to rely on desalination and water reclamation, as well as imported water to augment our water supply and it is safer to have access to potable water through various alternatives should one of these means fail (eg. Water supply cut off from Malaysia due to hostile relations or drought due to change of climate). The PUB has also come up with a comprehensive water conservation plan to urge consumers to use water efficiently. [eg: pricing water and educating the public to make efficient use of water.] -Lydia

Done by:Lydia Chuah (05)Gina Hiu (06)Goh Sze Hwee (07)Heng Suli (08)Jiayous 4 Exams!^.^

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