Freshwater - issues and conflict

1. The WATER SYSTEM

The hydrological
cycle
Examine the inputs, outputs, stores and transfers of the hydrological cycle. Discuss the
causes and consequences of the changing BALANCE between water stored in oceans and
ice.
3 hours
The water
balance
Explain the concept of maximum sustainable yield of freshwater in terms of
a BALANCE between inputs and outputs.
2. Drainage basins and flooding
Drainage basins Examine the functioning of a drainage basin as an open system with inputs, outputs,
transfers, stores and feedback loops.
2 hours
Discharge Define stream discharge. Examine its relationship to stream flow and channel shape. 1 hour
Hydrographs Describe the characteristics of a hydrograph. Examine the reasons for spatial and
temporal (short-term and long-term) variations in hydrographs. Examine the role of
hydrographs in forecasting the magnitude, spatial extent and timing of floods.
3 hours
Floods Discuss the natural and human causes and consequences of a specific river flood. 3 hours
3. Management issues and strategies
Dams and
Reservoirs
Examine the hydrological changes resulting from the construction of dams and
reservoirs. Examine the costs and benefits of dams and reservoirs as part of
multi-purpose schemes.
2 hours
Floodplain
management
Explain the stream channel processes (erosion, transport, deposition) and explain the
resultant landforms found on floodplains.
Examine the human modifications of a floodplain and their effect on the size and
probability of floods.
Evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative stream MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.
3 hours
Groundwater
management
Explain the functioning and management of artesian basins and aquifers, distinguishing
between natural and artificial recharge. Examine the environmental impacts of
groundwater abstraction.
2 hours
Freshwater
wetland
management
Describe the role of wetlands as a water resource. Evaluate the effectiveness of
the MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES that have been adopted in a major wetland.
2 hours
Irrigation and
agriculture
Examine the environmental impact of agriculture and irrigation on WATER QUALITY:
salinization, agro-chemical run-off, the pollution of groundwater and the eutrophication
of lakes, rivers and wetlands.
3 hours
4. Competing demands for WATER
Conflicts at the
local or national
scale
Examine the competing demands for water in a specific river basin. Evaluate the
strategies that have been ADOPTED to meet these demands.
6 HOURS
Conflicts at the
international
scale
DISCUSS an example of an international conflict related to freshwater.










Conflicts at the local or national scale

Case Study: River Jordan Drainage Basin

The River Jordan is 251km in length. The source of the River Jordan is in the Anti-Lebanon
mountains. It then travels south from Lebanon, along the border of Syria and Israel,
before ENTERING the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias). The river then forms the border of
Israel and Jordan, followed by the West Bank (Palestine) and Jordan before having its
mouth in the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is unusual because of its high salt content and low
elevation. It is about 400 METRES below sea level (the lowest place on the surface of the
earth).

Three main tributaries join north of the Sea of Galilee to form the River Jordan. They are:

1. The Hasbani, which rises in south Lebanon, with an average annual flow of 138 million
cubic METRES,
2. The Dan River, in Israel, averaging 245 million cubic metres per year, and
3. The Banias River flowing from the Golan Heights, averaging 121 million cubic metres per
year.

The climate around Israel, Jordan, Palestine and Syria is very arid (much of Jordan and
Syria is desert). The dry climate and the growing populations of the five countries along the
River Jordan would be enough to cause conflict over the use of the River Jordan. However,
if you add the political and religious disagreements of the area, conflict over the River Jordan
is likely to increase in the future.

Very briefly, the area around Jerusalem (Israel/Palestine border) is known as the Holy Land
and is an extremely important holy site to Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Israel is largely
Jewish and Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Jordan are largely Muslim. All countries have
Christian communities, while Lebanon is roughly half Muslim and half Christian. In addition
after the British left Palestine in 1948, the British and UN tried to separate the territory
between Israel and Palestine, with Jerusalem coming under INTERNATIONAL CONTROL.
However, the separation was not accepted by all sides. Since 1948 there have been ongoing
conflicts, culminating in the Six Day War and two Palestinian intifadas (uprisings).

Although the political and religious disputes in the Middles East date back thousands of
years, many argue that the many reason for the Six Day war in 1967 and the ongoing
disagreements is water. During the Six Day war, Israel occupied areas of Egypt, Syria,
Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. Although land has now been returned to Egypt and Jordan
in peace agreements, Israel still occupies land formerly controlled by Syria (Golan Heights),
Lebanon (Shebaa Farms) and Palestine (West Bank). At the end of the war, Israel controlled
the mountain aquifers in the West Bank, the Sea of Galilee and much of the Jordan River.
These three sources now provide Israel with 60% of its water.






Case study: Conflict Along the Loa River Basin (Atacama Desert, Chile)

The Atacama Desert is mainly located in Northern Chile, but does stretch into PARTS of
Argentina, Bolivia and Peru as well. The Atacama Desert is known as one of the driest
places in the world, with the Antofagastan Region in Chile only receiving an average of 1mm
of rain a year. It is estimated that some river beds have been dry for over 120,000 years. In
such an arid environment, it is know wonder that there are competing demands for WATER.
The main sources of water in the Atacama are the Loa River, Chile's longest river, and some
aquifers. The two main competing demands for water are mining and GRAPE growing.

Traditionally agriculture has been one of the most important sectors of the Chilean economy.
However, the discovery of vast copper reserves, has now made mining the most important. It
is estimated that copper ACCOUNTS for 70% of Chilean exports, while agriculture accounts
for just 25%. The vast power of the copper mines, means that water is slowly being diverted
away from vineyards and into mines. Vineyards have been a traditional site in many valleys
in the Atacama, but increasingly grapevines are being left to die, because mining companies
can pay more for the water. Mining companies are paying up to $120,000 a year for water
rights of one litre per second. It is estimated that up to 30% of the regions grape growers
have sold some or all of their water rights.

Water is needed by mining companies to help extract copper deposits from copper ore - only
about 1% of copper ore is actually copper. The shift of water from grapes to mining, not only
means dead grapevines are now a common site, but in some areas the water table has
fallen to over 140 metres below THE SURFACE .