Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography A (1GA0) · Spec 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11 and 6.12
Water resource management
Read the notes, then try the questions. Each one is marked the moment you press Check, and shows the right answer and why.
Key ideas
- About 2.5% of all water on Earth is fresh water. Most of that is not easy to use.
- A water deficit is a place where demand for usable water is greater than the supply. A surplus is the opposite.
- The UK has supply problems because most rain falls in the north and west, but demand is highest in the south-east.
- Globally, about 70% of fresh water withdrawals are used by agriculture, about 20% by industry and about 10% by homes and towns.
- Desalination removes salt from sea water. It gives a supply that does not depend on rainfall, but it uses a lot of energy and produces waste brine.
Key terms
- Water deficit
- Demand for usable water is greater than the supply.
- Water surplus
- Supply of usable water is greater than demand.
- Desalination
- Removing salt from sea water to make fresh water.
- Water footprint
- The water used per person to make the goods and services they consume.
- Water transfer
- Moving water from where it is plentiful to where it is needed.
Common mistakes
- Saying a deficit is just low rainfall. A deficit needs the idea of demand against supply.
- Saying the UK has supply problems because 'there is less rain'. It is a mismatch between where rain falls and where people need it.
- Saying landlocked countries must have shortages because they cannot desalinate. Supply depends on rain, rivers, groundwater, storage and management.
Exam tip
In the 20-mark option, a named-place 4-marker needs a country of the stated tier and its own projects. Name stakeholders and their reasons rather than 'people think X'.
Free practice questions
6 questions, 12 marks. Answer, then press Check. The marking guide explains how the marks are worked out. Nothing is saved.
- Question 1 · Fill the gaps[2 marks]
Complete the sentences. Globally about 70% of fresh water withdrawals are used by ___, about 20% by ___ and about 10% by homes and towns.
Word bank: tourism · agriculture · industry
- Question 2 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Define the term 'water deficit'.
- Question 3 · Matching[3 marks]
Match each stakeholder to the water measure it is most likely to back.
- Question 4 · Choose more than one[2 marks]
Which TWO are disadvantages of desalination?
Choose 2.
- Question 5 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which is the best explanation of why parts of the UK have water supply problems?
- Question 6 · True or false[3 marks]
Decide whether each statement is true or false.
1. About 2.5% of all water on Earth is fresh water.
2. Most fresh water is held as groundwater.
3. Landlocked countries cannot manage water shortages in any way.