Topic 3- Water Resources

Types of canals:

 Inundation canals provide water only when the water table is high.
 Perennial canals provide water for irrigation throughout the whole year.
 Unlined canals are canalling whose walls are not lined with cement or concrete.
 Lined canals are the canals whose walls are covered with cement or concrete.

Traditional irrigation methods:

 Shaduf
 Well
 Inundation canals
 Charsa
 Karez
 Persian Wheel

Persian Wheel

It is used to draw out water from a river or a well. A number of buckets is chained around a vertical
wheel which is connected to another interlocking vertical and horizontal wheel which is driven by a pair
of oxen.

Karez

It consists of underground dug holes to extract ground water and bring it to the surface. It is mostly used
in the mountainous areas e.g.: Baluchistan.

Modern irrigation methods:

 Perennial canals
 Tube wells
 Sprinkler

Perennial canals:

They connect the dams and barrages and supply water throughout the year for irrigation.

Tube wells:

They use electrical or diesel pumps which are used to pump out groundwater to the surface. They help
to lower the water table thereby reducing water logging and salinity.

Sprinkler:

They are connected to public water supply pipes and are used to irrigate the fields.

Uses of Water:

 It is used for drinking, bathing, cleansing and washing.

 It is used in the industry for the cooling of machines and to make chemicals and medicines.
 It used to produce power in thermal power stations to power the machines.

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Topic 3- Water Resources

 It is used in hydroelectric power stations.

 It is used to irrigate crops.

Waterlogging and Salinity:

It is caused when the water table rises to the surface and the water in it evaporates and leaves behind
all the salt.

Harmful effects of waterlogging and salinity:

 It damages the dams and the water leaks due to which the water table rises.
 It increases the salt content of the soil making it unfit for crop growth.
 It forms a crusty and soggy surface which makes it impossible to grow crops.

Solution to waterlogging and salinity:

 Installing tube wells reduces the water table as they pump ground water to the surface. This
would result in lower water table which means that no salt will be left behind.
 Eucalyptus trees can be planted as they absorb the excess salts and water.
 The canals should be lined with cement so that the water doesn’t seep through the banks.
 Establishment of the SCARP Programme.

PP Qs:

Explain how the Karez system provides water for agriculture. [4]

 The rain water which flows down the hills enters the horizontal canal through the mother (main)
shaft.
 The maintenance (vertical) shafts are dug for the servicing of the canal.
 The water comes out through the surface canal.
 Trenches are dug to divert water towards the agricultural fields.

Explain 3 reasons, other than waterlogging and salinity, why some land in Pakistan is un-cultivated. [6]

 The land could be owned by landlords who did not care much and left the land uncultivated.
 There could be a shortage of water in the area.
 To improve the fertility of the soil by not exhausting it by planting too much crops at the same
time.
 Explain the importance of the Indus water treaty to Pakistan. [4]

Peacefully resolved the water issue of Pakistan and prevented a war from occurring. This was a
permanent solution which meant that India wouldn’t stop the supply of water to the Indus since the
headquarters lay in India. There would be no water shortages in Pakistan and it would be sufficient to
setup industries and fulfill the demands of the population.

Describe 2 ways in which water can be polluted. [2]

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Topic 3- Water Resources

 Throwing chemicals and rubbish in canals and rivers.

 Washing utensils and objects and the then flowing of water into the sewage.

How the problem of water pollution be solved? [2]

 Imposing fines on water pollution.

 Establishing water filtration plants.

Warsak dam is located b/w Kabul and Swat river.

Diamir Bhasha dam is located b/w Gilgit and Indus river.

What are the advantages of building a dam at Diamir Bhasha site? [4]

 Clean water will be available in abundance.

 Electricity can be generated.
 Tourism attraction.
 Employment opportunities.
 Prevent flooding.

Describe the disputes over the building of Kalabagh dam. [4]

 Only Punjab will benefit.

 Other provinces especially the northern region might be deprived of clean water.
 Huge financial burden on the government as taking raw material to a hardly accessible area is
difficult.
 Destruction of the settlements of the nearby citizens.
 Destruction of the nearby forests and wildlife homes.

Study the diagram of the Karez system and label the diagram in the spaces provided.
Maintenance Shaft

For example, the Jinnah barrage located on the River Indus.

Explain why barrages are needed in Pakistan. [2]

 To prevent flooding.
 To provide water for irrigation.
 To provide water for industries and domestic uses.

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Topic 3- Water Resources

View A: The best way to prevent water shortages in Pakistan is to build more dams and other
infrastructure projects.

View B: The best way to prevent water shortages in Pakistan is to educate people about different
methods of saving water.

Which view do you agree with more? Give reasons to support your answer. [6]

According to View A, building more dams will help accumulate more water and save it. The water will be
supplied only when it is needed thus reducing its wastage. This water will be used to water the farms,
generate electricity and be supplied for domestic and industrial uses.

According to View B, people should be educated that by contaminating the water they are reducing the
amount of clean and fresh water available. They should not pollute the environmental as there is only
1% fresh water and pollution leads to high temperatures which results in the melting of snow and
evaporation of water. Advertisements should be shown to convey to the people to turn off the water
taps when not using water such as when brushing teeth or applying soap on utensils/ objects. Farmers
should also be educated to turn off the water once their farms have been irrigated.

Describe simple methods that can be used to

irrigate small areas of desert X. [4]

Persian Wheel uses buckets connected to a chain

around a wheel which is connected to another
interlocking vertical and horizontal wheel which is
driven by a pair of oxen.

Charsa is a method in which one end of a rope is

tied to the foot of the animal and the other end is
connected to the bucket in a well. As the animal
moves formward, the water filled bucket is brought
to the surface.

Explain how some parts of desert Y can be

irrigated by large scale schemes. [4]

The nearby mangla and tarbela dmas store water and can be used to supply water by developing water
irrigating lines.