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Water scarcity is the major concern in various regions on the surface of earth. It means the lack of sufficient water in a region to meet the needs of people. Causes of Water scarcity is a popular and easy topic studied by the matriculation students during their board preparation. Water scarcity is the major cause of various problems and it's shortage may lead to a variety of illnesses such as food poisoning and cholera.
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Keyterms: Water, earth, cholera, food poisoning, pollutants, Ground water, Diseases, Poverty, Migration
Read More: Natural Resources Management
Water Scarcity Definition
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Water scarcity refers to the situation where the sufficient amount of portable and unpolluted water is not available to meet the demands within a region. This occurs due to both human and natural causes. As we know, the amount of water available on the earth 's surface is unequally distributed and much of it is polluted, wasted and sustainably managed.
According to a recent survey, nearly 1.2 billion people lack access to good drinking or potable water. However, this is not at global level but there are some places or regions where there is scarcity of water. One of the major reasons behind the scarcity of water is because the demand for water has increased twice than the earlier due to the increasing population in countries like India, China etc. Africa and some Middle Eastern Countries also in this way due to the increment of pressure on water resources.
Major Causes of Water Scarcity
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Let's discuss some of the major causes of water scarcity as given below
- Pollution of Water
The major factors behind the water scarcity is due to the increase in level of water pollution. It is the major cause of concern in the present time. Oil, carcasses, chemicals, and faecal matter are some of the pollutants of water. It is recommended that we all need to focus our mind on this problem so that we can stop polluting water as it is our major need in future
- Overuses of Water
These days, the overuse of water is increasing day by day and individuals are utilizing an additional than required. In some cases, it is also overused by people, animals, land, or any other number of things; sometimes it is also pointlessly utilized for recreational exercises with no consideration about the impacts on the environment.
- Drought
Drought is very common in regions which are hot and dry. Most of the places where the amount of rainfall is not upto the required level creates a hindrance in the sustainability of life. Some of the places are dry permanently and some may suffer occasionally.
- Groundwater Pollution
Unwanted utilization of fertilizer and other harmful substances can cause groundwater pollution, which eventually prompts shortage of water. We can reduce this by using natural manure while doing agriculture activities.
- Global Warming
Global warming is one of the significant purposes for water scarcity, it is a condition where average air temperature becomes hotter, water from rivers and lakes evaporates faster, which might prompt the drying up of water bodies. So, one who relies upon water for their living will be one who will suffer a lot due to the scarcity of water.
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Effects of Water Scarcity
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Below are given some of problems which may arises due to water scarcity
- Lack of Access to Drinking Water
- Destruction of Habitats
- Loss of Biodiversity
- Hunger
- Diseases
- Sanitation Issues
- Poverty
- Migration
Methods to Reduce Water Scarcity
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As we know that the scarcity of water may lead to various problems, so we have given some of the methods to reduce water scarcity
- Recycle Water
This is the most effective way to reduce water scarcity. We all need to adopt the water recycling process by practicing harvesting water and other techniques.
- Save Water
We all need to save water wherever possible through many ways such as by taking short showers, the use of washing machines, stopping the water when it is of no use, and water harvesting.
- Improve Farming Practices
Farming and irrigation practice is the major cause of water scarcity. So to reduce this practice we need to work effectively on our agriculture practice which may lead to reducing the use of water in agriculture.
- Less uses of chemicals in Farming
We need to use organic manure instead of using chemical fertilizers for farming.
- Education
Educating people about the need and importance of water on a daily basis can also help in reducing the water scarcity problem very effectively.
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Points to Remember
- Causes of water scarcity is a part of Biology syllabus Unit 5, Natural Resources.
- It carries a total of 6 to 7 periods and 2 to 3 marks.
- Water scarcity refers to the lack of freshwater in regions to meet the requirements.
- Water scarcity can be caused by pollution, drought, global warming, etc.
- There can be two causes of water scarcity: physical water scarcity and economic water scarcity.
- Physical water scarcity is caused by insufficient natural water resources whereas economic scarcity refers to the mismanagement of water supply in various regions.
Sample Questions
Ques 1. What is meant by water scarcity? (1 mark)
Ans. Water scarcity or insufficient amount of freshwater resources to meet the human and environmental demands of a given region. This is inseparably connected to basic freedoms, and adequate admittance to safe drinking water is a need for priority for global development.
Ques 2. What is an example of water scarcity? (1 mark)
Ans. The Water Project brings up the Colorado River basin as a prime representation "of an apparently plentiful source of water being overused and over managed, prompting intense to very serious physical water scarcity downstream.
Ques 3. What are the 2 types of water scarcity? (2 marks)
Ans. Water scarcity can be a result of two components: physical (outright) water scarcity and economic water scarcity. Physical water scarcity is a consequence of lacking regular water resources to supply a region's demand, and economic water scarcity is a consequence of poor administration of the adequate accessible water.
Ques 4. Why does water scarcity take place? (1 mark)
Ans. The main cause of scarcity of water is by the lack of investment in infrastructure or technology to bring up the water from rivers, oceans, aquifers, or other water sources, and an insufficient capacity of humans to satisfy the demand for water.
Ques 5. What are the effects of water scarcity? (2 marks)
Ans. Water scarcity may likewise prompt migration waves. Nowadays when large areas of land may presently don't be appropriate for living or cultivating due to water scarcity, a huge number of individuals might lose their livelihood because of that. These individuals might be compelled to migrate to other places for survival.
Ques 6. Are humans responsible for water scarcity? (2 marks)
Ans. The activities done by humans is a major reason for water shortage because of the uses of fossil fuels that alter environment and climate action, as well as the rapid increment of global population consuming more water To accommodate a developing population, dams and water irrigation systems are worked to supply fresh water to distant regions.
Ques 7. What do you mean by Physical scarcity of water? (2 marks)
Ans. The physical water scarcity is the result of a region's demands outpacing the limited number of water resources available in a region. Around two thirds of the world population living in those areas face water scarcity at least one month a year. And the number of people affected by this will increase more as the population increases and the weather becomes more unpredictable and extreme.
Ques 8. What is the solution to water scarcity? (2 marks)
Ans. The water scarcity should be made do with the objective of equitably maximizing economic and social government assistance without compromising environment working. Along with these a number of environmental, economic and engineering solutions have been proposed to save the world from water scarcity.
Ques 9. How can the scarcity of water be reduced? (5 marks)
Ans. Water scarcity can be reduced through the following:
- Recycle Water
This is the most effective way to reduce water scarcity. We all need to adopt the water recycling process by practicing harvesting water and other techniques.
- Save Water
We all need to save water wherever possible through many ways such as by taking short showers, the use of washing machines, stopping the water when it is of no use, and water harvesting.
- Improve Farming Practices
Farming and irrigation practice is the major cause of water scarcity. So to reduce this practice we need to work effectively on our agriculture practice which may lead to reducing the use of water in agriculture.
- Less uses of chemicals in Farming
We need to use organic manure instead of using chemical fertilizers for farming.
- Education
Educating people about the need and importance of water on a daily basis can also help in reducing the water scarcity problem very effectively.
Ques 10. How does global warming affect scarcity of water? (2 marks)
Ans. Due to changes in weather and increasing pollution global warming is increasing. Due to an increase in global warming there is a decrease in the intensity of rainfall. On the other hand there is an excessive amount of demand for fresh water which leads to more than permissible use of groundwater. This imbalance caused due to decrease in rainfall and increase in groundwater demand leads to the scarcity of freshwater to a great extent.
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