Global water distribution

-Ocean covers 71 percent of the earth surface

-Oceans and seas contain 97% of all the water which means only 3% is fresh water.
-Most of the available freshwater is stored frozen in ice sheets

The water cycle

Inputs: precipitation from the atmosphere
Stores: surface stores such as oceans, seas, lakes, underground stores (aquifers) etc.
Flows: rivers that transport water from land to sea
Transfers: surface water is evaporated and transferred to the atmosphere as water
vapor
Evaporation: it is produced due to the heat of the sun. Water from the ocean, sea and
lakes surface is changed from liquid water to water vapor.
Transpiration: water is transpired by plants mainly from their leaves.
Evapo-transpiration: it is used to refer to all the water losses from land surfaces.
Condensation: it is the process where water vapor is changed to liquid water. The
condensation of the clouds produce precipitation.
Interception: after precipitation falls on the earth, some is prevented from falling
directly to the ground and it is intercepted by trees and plants.
Run-off: the water that is conducted by rivers or streams after the precipitation.
Infiltration: when water reaches the ground slowly and in small amounts this gives
time for soil and rocks to soak up water. So by saying infiltration we are referring to
all the water that infiltrates underground.

Water supply
Some of the best supplies of water are in aquifers. Inthere, water is trapped by
permeable rocks. Favoral geological conditions for aquifers are:
-Folded layer so water can naturally accumulate in the down fold.
-Permeable rocks to receive the new supplies of rain water.
-Water is stored in the permeable limestone and sandstone rocks
Water supplies can also be taken out of the ocean by using the process of
desalination or reverse osmosis.

Desalination (reverse osmosis): it is the process where you can change ocean salty
water to freshwater. First, sea water is pumped from the ocean. Then, it is forced at a
high pressure to pass through a semi-permeable membrane which blocks the passage
of salt and minerals. So, only fresh water flows through the membranes. Only
plentiful energy supplies and a desperate need for fresh water can justify the costs
this process has. Oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia or Kuwait do this.
Definitions:
Aquifer: underground store of water.
Impermeable rock: rock which does not allow water to pass through it.
Reservoir: artificial lake used to store water for human use.
Spring: the point where underground water re-emerges at the surface.

Surface water supplies: most of them are stored in mountainous regions for 3 good
reasons:
-Precipitations are usually higher here than in low-lands.
-Summer heating melts ice and snow in the mountains and releases freshwater.
-Many lakes are found at the bottom of steep-sided mountains, often carved out by
glaciers in earlier times.
The big problem is that few people live in those mountainous areas where water
availability is greatest. Fortunately, water flows like rivers transport this surface water
to low land regions.

Water usage
Water is used into 3 sectors:
-Domestic (%10): in the home and for waste disposal
-Industrial (%20): in factories and for power
-Agricultural (%70): mainly used for irrigation

Water rich and poor countries:

Precipitation fills surface rivers, other surface stores and underground stores
(aquifers). Precipitation, however, varies greatly from one place to another. Water
availability is determined by climate and also by the capacity of the country to
distribute it.

Access to water: Why do urban areas have more access to fresh water than rural
areas?:
-People incomes are higher in urban areas so they can pay for it
-Most wealthy people live in modern houses at urban areas
-Cities are more wealthy places with factories and offices
-At cities is more easier to put pressure on the politicians for them to make
improvements
-Water pipes are easier and cheaper to build when a lot of people live close together.
Dams
It is a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, forming a reservoir
used to generate hydroelectric electricity or as a water supply.

The following factor should be considered when placing a dam:

-Steep sided valley with narrow area suitable for dam
-Impermeable and solid rock for dam foundations in geologically stable areas
-Enough rainfall in catchment area or meltwater from glacier
-Accessibility for construction and maintenance

Advantages of building dams:

-Farmers can grow crops all year.
-The flood risks to crops and people disappears
-It provides electricity for homes, factories and water pumps
-The energy generated does not produce contamination and does not contribute to
global warming

Disadvantages of building dams:

-Silt builds behind the dam. Farmers need to spend more fertilizers to maintain crop
yields.
-People are forced to move for dams to be built (local people removed)
-Less water levels
-More pollutants accumulated
-Less water life
-Ecosystems are destroyed
-Animals habitat lost

Main causes of water pollution:

-Agriculture: fertilizers on farms and chemical pesticides produce eutrophication as
farmers try to increase crop yields.
-Domestic waste: human waste is thrown into the water and carries many diseases.
Adding to that, domestic waste also includes detergents, metals and many other
manufactured products.
-Industry: Industrial processing of metals and the uses of them. Also, thermal
pollution is made.
Bioaccumulation: when pesticides or other chemicals are accumulated in an
organism.

How to manage pollution and improving water quality:

-Sewage treatment
-Making polluters pay for any damage from pollutants
-Improve sanitation
-Water conservation and more efficient use
-Greater clean water supply for example desalination
-Testing the water to check for pollutants
-Testing of potable water to check if it is safe to drink
For all of these things to be made you need capital.

Water related diseases:

There are 3 main types of diseases related to water:
Water-based: the carrier lives in water
Water-borne: diseases are spread by drinking contaminated water
Water-bred: the carrier breeds in water and spreads the disease by biting its victims.
Malaria, for example, is a water-bred disease. This disease is transported by female
mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are born in swamps, ponds and lakes. At first,
mosquitoes are born in water as larvae pupates. Then, they emerge and fly where
they feed. After that, they reproduce and they drink blood. Afterwards, they rest for
2 or 3 days and females put the eggs in water. Finally the cycle starts again.

Strategies for controlling malaria:

-Destroy the breeding places draining water where the carrier breeds.
-Drugs: these can be taken to reduce the risk of malaria parasite multiplying in our
body. People traveling to areas where malaria is common are advised to take such
drugs.
-Spraying DDT or insecticides can be used to sprey homes and breeding areas to kill
mosquitoes.
-Genetic engineering: sterile male mosquitoes can be released so mosquitoes
breeding is unsuccessful, reducing the number of mosquitoes that can carry the
disease.

Problems with the control of malaria:

-Many people, especially in rural African areas, cannot afford buying drugs for
treating malaria.
-Medical programmes collapse when wars or break outs. This is a major factor in
many African countries.
-Campaigns for eradication of malaria are useful but when they finish malaria breeds
again.
-Water draining cannot be done when in wet seasons when precipitations are
produced in a higher amount
-DDT can influence in the food chain of animals and can affect them