Water Resource (unit: 3)

By Sir Bilal Sarwar from DMC fsd (03228659670)

Topic: Rivers.
Q What is importance of rivers?
Ans: Rivers provide water for domestic and industrial uses, supply irrigation water from canals, rivers helps generate (produce)
hydro-electricity, rivers adds to scenic beauty of area, rivers are source of fish and can be used as mean of transport.
Q Describe the drainage (flow of water) pattern of river Indus.
Ans: River Indus is the largest river of Pakistan; water is provided by the glaciers of Karakoram and Hindukush. After crossing
deep gorges (narrow valleys) of Himalayas it turns south west and enters Pakistan. After entering Gilgit district it is still in deep
gorges. Indus enters in Plain areas of Punjab at Kalabagh then Indus enters in Sindh. Indus forms delta at Thatta and enters in
Arabian Sea after travelling 3180 km.
Q Describe the drainage pattern of rivers of Balochistan.
Ans: Rivers like Zhob, Khandar and Kalachi flows east ward. These rivers join Indus River. Most of the rivers of Balochistan are
seasonal and active in rainy season. Rivers Loralai, Chakar, Bolan and Mula have inland drainage, these rivers soaked
(absorbed) in Kachi sibi plain. River Hab, Porali, Hingol and Mushkai drains (flow) in Arabian Sea. Many small rivers flow west
ward and drains in salt lakes called Hamun.
Q What are domestic uses of water?
Ans: Drinking, cooking and washing.
Q What are uses of water in industry?
Ans: Water is used in production of thermal power hydro electricity. In food industry water is used in juices, squashes and soft
drinks. In textile industry water is used for washing, bleaching, bluing and dying. Water in medicine industry is used in injections
and syrups. In steel industry for cooling process.
Topic: Karez.
Q Describe the main features of Karez.
Ans: In the Karez an underground tunnel is dug to reach the water table in the side of the hill. Water is brought out the surface of
land through tunnel. It is like a man made spring of water. Karez gives continuous (nonstop) flow of water. The vertical shafts
are for the purpose of cleaning and repair of the Karez. Karez are found in Quetta, Pishin and Mastung valley.
Q What are advantages and disadvantages of Karez? N 2010
Ans: Advantages: Karez provide continuous (nonstop) water supply, stop evaporation, and make good use of water from
mountain.
Disadvantages: Irrigate limited area; repair of Karez is difficult due to lack of skilled labor, sources of Karez are drying up. There
is lack of government investment. Many Karez became useless because ground water level has lowered due to use of tube well
in areas where Karez are located.
Topic: Persian wheel.
Q Describe the working of three traditional methods of irrigation.
Ans: (1) Persian Wheel: is an old method of irrigation. A number of buckets are attached to an endless chain (belt) and lowered
in the wells. As wheel turns round by animal power, Water is brought up (fetch) by buckets. The water is led in field through
water channels.
(2) Charsa: is a method where animal power is used to pull out the bucket which is hanging by a rope on a pulley fixed over the
well, charsa is not common now a days.
(3) Shaduf or Dhenkli: A bucket hanging with rope on one end of a pole and a weight on the other end. The pole is used as liver
placed near river bank. The bucket is dipped (lowered) into water by manual labor and the weight at the other end helps in lifting
of the bucket. Only irrigate small area is out of date now.
Q What are advantages and disadvantages of Persian wheel?
Ans: Advantages: Persian wheel is cheap way of irrigation, it can provide water when needed for crops. Persian wheel is useful
in mountainous (hilly) areas due to close water level; it is suitable for small scale farming.
Disadvantages: Persian wheel can irrigate small areas, lot of effort is needed and it is time taking.
Q What are advantages and disadvantages of tube well? J 2010
Ans: Advantages: (1) Tube well reduces dependence on rain. (2) Tube well speed can be controlled. (3) It provides water in
large quantity. (4) Tube well reduces water logging and salinity. (5) Double cropping in a year is possible. (6) Increases yield. (7)
Fulfill the need of high yielding varieties.
Disadvantages: (1) Tube well is costly. (2) It requires lot of electricity and fuel. (3) There is shortage of electricity in Pakistan. (4)
Reduces ground water available. (5) Lack of mechanics for repair.
Topic: Dams.
Q Describe the distribution (spread) of dams in Pakistan. [5]
Ans: (1) Tarbela dam is on river Indus. (2) Warsak dam is in river Kabul near Peshawar. (3) Mangla dam is on River Jhelum. (4)
Nari-Bolan dam in on river Bolan near Quetta in Balochistan. (5) Khanpur dam is on river Haro in Hazara. (6) Rawal dam is on
river Kurrang in Islamabad.
Q What are the natural factors favors the construction of dams?
Ans: Suitable place to set up dam should have hilly and mountainous area with a narrow valley which has steep slopes.
Impervious (solid) rocks provide strong foundation and prevent water soaking. Presence of Perennial River is necessary. There
should be high precipitation (rain/snowfall) in nearby areas.
Q Name two institutions set up by the government to build dams?
Ans: Small dam organization and Water and power development authority (WAPDA).
Q State three problems created due to storage of water in reservoirs (lakes).
Ans: Water logging and salinity are caused due to seepage (leakage) of water from the bed of reservoir (lakes) and canals.
Siltation reduces water capacity of reservoirs. Floods are reduced so fertile layer of soil is not laid down on plain areas reduce
their fertility. Amount of water in downstream is reduced which is harmful for Eco-system and aqua culture (fish resource).
Storage of water in dams is harmful for delta and mangrove trees because amount of alluvial material has reduced.
Q what is purpose of multi-purpose dam?
Ans: Dams store water for irrigation, reduce floods, generate (make) electricity and act as a picnic spot. Dams can be used for
aqua culture (fishing) and act as a bridge.
Q Why some hydro-electric power stations in Pakistan have additional dam wall?
Ans: To check silt. If silt is allowed to come in main dam silt will go on settle down in dam which will reduce storage capacity of
dam.
Q What evidence shows that water level in dam is low?
Ans: Dry ground in dams lake, silt, scars at edges, sand and flat land at edges shows that water level in dam is low.
Q How electricity is transmitted from a dam to consumer?
Ans: Electricity is supplied by transmission lines (electric wires), poles, transformers and grid stations.
Q Name the farming area irrigated by Warsak dam.
Ans: Peshawar and Mardan.
Q How electricity is produced in dam?
Ans: Tunnels lead water from lake of dam to the turbine. The force of water rotate turbines which rotate shaft in generator and
electricity in produced.
Q Why dams like Warsak dam are difficult to establish?
Ans: Dams like Warsak dam needs large sums of money to set up dam wall, tunnels and power station. Loans are needed from
World Bank and friendly countries. Foreign experts are needed. Setting up of transmission lines add to the cost.
Q What are advantages of small hydro-electric power (H.E.P) stations?
Ans: Small hydro-electric power projects can be set up in shorter time, less capital is needed, can be build by Pakistani
engineers; many sites (locations) are available for small hydro-electric projects.
Q Why reservoir of Mangla and Tarbela holds large amount of water?
Ans: These dams are set up in deep, large valleys have steep slopes. These dams have high dam walls. Large perennial rivers
like Indus and Jhelum provides water to Tarbela and Mangla dams. High rainfall take place in nearby areas and evaporation rate
is low.
Q Why Hydro-electric power (H.E.P) is an important source of electricity in northern areas?
Ans: (1) Hydro-electric power is cheap to generate. (2) H.E.P is a renewable resource. (3) No fossil fuels and thermal power
station are available in northern areas. (4) Rivers are available due to high precipitation and glaciers so H.E.P can be produced.
(5) There is lack of evaporation in northern area and sites for dams like deep valleys with steep slopes are available. (6) H.E.P
does not cause pollution.
Q Why can the supply of power from these stations in northern areas is unreliable? (3) N 2010.
Ans: Machinery of these projects is old and worn off, sometime power lines are damaged due to snow storms, some time there
is shortage of water due to low rain or snowfall, siltation can reduce storage capacity of small dams, load shedding due to less
production.
Q What is siltation how it is caused? J 2001.
Ans: Siltation means settle down of silt, mud and sand on the bed of the reservoir (dam/barrage). Silt is caused by erosion
process of river. Land sliding and soil creep add to eroded material in rivers. Deforestation in hilly areas increases erosion
process.
Q Why siltation a problem?
Ans: Silt brought by river settle down in dam’s bed and reduces its storage capacity as well making of electricity. Siltation
shortens the life of dam. It dam may block tunnels and damage machinery.
Q How siltation can be reduced?
Ans: Fixing of silt trap in dams, allow free flow of water at low level during flood cleans silt from reservoir (Dam Lake). Raising
height of dam also increases storage capacity.
Topic: Barrages.
Q What is the main purpose of barrages? J 2004.
Ans: Irrigation canals are taken out from barrages. Barrages control floods and store water, used for fish culture, picnic spot and
act like a bridge over river. Some barrages also supply water to link canals.
Q Describe the changes taken place in lower Indus due to construction of barrages.
Ans: Lower Indus plain has low rainfall. Sukkar, kotri and Ghuddu barrages irrigate lower Indus plain. Due to these barrages
large waster land has been changed into green farms land, where crops, vegetables and fruit is grown. Villages, towns and big
cities are set up in belt close to these barrages. Roads and railway network is established.
Q Compare the height and length of a barrage with a major dam.
Ans: Barrage is lower in height than dams, barrages are longer than dams, and barrages do not produce electricity and store
less water. Tarbela dam is 9000 feet long and 485 feet high and has 50km long lake.
Sukkur barrage is 1.6km long and 18 feet high. It has 66 gates.
Q Name and state the location of two barrages.
Ans: Sukkur and Kotri barrages are set up on River Indus in Lower Indus plain (Sindh).
Q State the meaning of the term ground water aquifer.
Ans: Water in subsoil or water found under the surface of land is called ground water aquifer.
Topic: Canals.
Q Explain the difference between perennial canal and inundation canals.
Ans: Perennial canals supply water throughout the year is takeout from barrages or headwork. Inundation canals are seasonal
canals only active in rainy season. These canals divert flood water. Length of inundation canals is short.
Q Explain the difference between lined and unlined canals.
Ans: Lined canals are paved (lined) with cement and bricks from inside and bed to check loss of water through seepage.
Unlined canals are without any brick cover inside and bed. Their bottom and sides are made of earth and soil.
Q Define link canal.
Ans: Link canal transfer water from western rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to eastern rivers Ravi and Sutlej.
Q Name a link canal.
Ans: Marala-Ravi, Rasul-Qadirabad and Taunsa-Panjnad are link canals.
Q What are advantages and disadvantages of perennial canals?
Ans: Advantages: (1) Provide water when needed and fill the gap of rainfall.(2) Steady and continuous supply of water.(3)
Provide water throughout the year.(4) Provide water in large quantity.(5) Double cropping is possible.(6) increase yield.(7) less
labor in needed. (8) Fulfill the needs high yielding variety.
Disadvantages: (1) Perennial canals are expensive to set up. (2) Canals may dry up. (3) There is shortage of water at tail end
perennial canals. (4) Unlined canals may cause water logging and salinity.
Q Describe the distribution of the perennial canals.
Ans: Canal network is mainly set up on Indus Plain because the rivers are widespread in Punjab. In Sindh province canals are
only taken out of Indus river. The flow of canal are mostly NE to SW in Punjab and Upper Sindh mostly NW to SE in Lower
Sindh. In south and east of highlands no canal is set up. No canals are located in Balochistan, northern and western mountains.
Topic: Water logging and salinity.
Q Name the project setup to control salinity. J 2002
Ans: Salinity control and reclamation project (SCARP).
Q How Salinity and water logging is caused? N 2002
Ans: Seepage (leakage) of water from unlined perennial canals for long time increases ground water table. When water table
comes close to the surface, the moisture (water) comes above surface due to capillary action. Water evaporates and a layer of
salt left on the surface is called salinity. Salt left behind after evaporation forms a hard crust on surface so Soil becomes unfit for
crops. Water logging and salinity is caused because farmers use too much water, Fertilizers add to salts in soil, Perennial canals
water supply is available throughout the year also causes water logging and salinity.
Q How water logging and salinity can be controlled?
Ans: (1) Lining of canals reduces leakage of water. (2) Canals should be closed when water is not needed for crops. (3) Setting
up of tube well reduces ground water level. (4) Planting eucalyptus trees which transpire large quantity of water reduces water
logging. (5) Making surface drains (channels). (6) Education to improve farming methods and Government schemes SCARP is
also working to reduce water logging.
Q How have tube well been used to help control salinity?
Ans: Tube well draws out water at double the speed of rising underground water. Tube well is used to flush (wash) out the salt
from the surface of land. Salty water is thrown (poured) in nearby water channel. Water can be thrown in deep wells made for
this purpose. Water evaporates from these wells then they are covered with soil.
Q Explain problem created by water logging and salinity to farmers.
Ans: Water logging and salinity makes land unfit for agriculture. If water table comes closer to roots it damage crops and reduce
yield. Reduce income of farmers and it is expensive to recover or treat soil. Salts left behind forms a hard crust (layer) on
surface so soil becomes infertile.
Q Explain why there is a shortage of water for irrigation in Indus Plain?
Ans: Causes of water shortage in Indus plain are (1) Canals are blocked by silt. (2) Lack of rainfall. (3) High rate of evaporation.
(4) loss of water due to seepage from unlined canals.(5) increasing demand of water for domestic uses due to growing
population, demand of water is also increasing in agriculture and industry.(5) Siltation of dams and barrages have decreased
their storage capacity.(6) large amount of water is used in Punjab so there is shortage of water in Sindh.
Q suggests why the amount of water stored in the reservoir is decreased? J 2009
Ans: Siltation has reduced storage capacity due to soil erosion caused by deforestation, overgrazing, less water supply, less rain
due to climatic changes, evaporation.
Q To what extent is it possible to increase water supply in Pakistan?
Possibilities: Cleaning of canals and desalination of dams is necessary. Loss of water should be reduced. More storage facilities
should be set up like dams and barrages. Leakage should be checked by lining of canals. Ration usage means water should be
divided between provinces and users. Control misuse of water by education. Water sources should be protected from pollution.
Q What can be done to stop the amount of water in the reservoir from reducing further?
Ans: Silt traps in dams, afforestation and terracing in hilly slopes can reduce soil erosion, removing silt from dams, reduce
wastage of water.
Q Name two conflicting users of water supplies in the Punjab. Explain briefly why each user thinks that they should have more
water.
Ans: conflicting users of water: are farmer, industrialist, home-owner, power industry.
Farmers: Reasons for demanding more water because farmers want more water for more crop production. More food for
growing population is needed, farmers wanted to earn more income. Large amount of water is needed in crops like rice and
sugarcane.
Industrialist: wants water for to increase industrial output. More production would increase trade, exports, industrialist wanted to
increase income, example of high usage, e.g. drinks, chemicals, steel industry.
Domestic users: Home owner wants more water for domestic use – better hygiene, food preparation, healthy living, example of
high usage, e.g. washing, drinking. [5]
Q Explain some causes of water pollution and why it is problem? J 2011
Ans: Causes: Dumping of chemical waste by industry in rivers. Due to lack of sanitation facilities human waste is drained in
rivers without treatment. Pesticides and fertilizers are also some time drains off in water sources through rainfall. Oil spills
through oil tankers due to accident also contaminate sea water.
Problems: Drinking water is polluted by poisonous chemicals and human waste causes diseases like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis,
diarrhea etc. Water pollution increases cost of treatment from drinking water, reduces fish production, and can’t be used in food
processing industry. There is risk of smell and malaria from still water. Plastic bags in water damage crops.
Q Consider the feasibility (possibility) of improving water supply to farmers in Punjab and Sindh. [6]
Ans: In favor: Rainfall in monsoon season can be stored. Snow melt from mountains bring water to Indus river system.
Government can make more storage like dams and barrages can build more canals and can use groundwater and can setup
more tube wells
Against: Cost of setting up new dams, barrages, canals and tube wells is high. There is Lack of dams and barrages in Pakistan.
Indus Treaty has limits supply of water in rivers. There is dispute with India over water supply. Lower water table restricts use of
groundwater in arid areas. Water logging and salinity problems are created due to canal system in Punjab and Sindh. There is
lack of electricity and cost of power supplies for pumps is high. Other problems are e.g. lack of awareness, wastage of water,
conflict between provinces.