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many
of you
are
guilty?
Chapter 4
Sustainable
Management
of Water
Overview of the Chapter 4
4.1 How do the variations in precipitations affect the
availability of water?
• The amount of precipitation that an area receives will determine
how much water is available.
Flood Drought
What are floods?
A flood is an overflow of a large amount of
water onto what is normally dry land.
Floods: Flash floods
Usually caused by
exceptionally heavy rainfall
over a short period of time.
• Often occur in dry areas
where there is not enough
soil or vegetation to allow
rainwater to infiltrate the
ground.
• Rainwater that falls onto the
ground quickly becomes
surface runoff which quickly
floods low-lying areas.
Floods: River Floods
Usually caused by sustained
heavy rainfall, or meltwater
produced when snow and ice
start to melt in the spring
season.
• Large amounts of rainwater
and meltwater enters the
streams which then flows into
the rivers.
• Water levels in the river rises
rapidly and it eventually
overflows the banks, flooding
the surrounding areas.
Flash floods vs River floods
Types of flood Cause of floods
Flash Floods Caused by heavy rainfall over a short period of time
River Floods Caused by sustained period of heavy rainfall or
meltwater
Domestic Recreation
Agriculture Industry
Use of Water: Domestic
In Singapore…
• Bathing, cooking and
flushing the toilet account
for the highest percentage
use of domestic water
usage.
• In 2017, each
Singaporean consumed an
average of 143 litres of
water per day for domestic
activities.
Use of Water: Recreation
However …
These activities
are highly
dependent on:
• Water conditions
• Water quality
Use of Water: Agriculture
Agriculture
• Accounts for the
largest use of
water worldwide
• Water is used to
grow crops and
rear animals for
human
consumption.
• Many industries require water to function. It can be
used to cool equipment in factories and power plants
because they generate a lot of heat when they operate
Reducing Water
Improving Water Quality
Consumption
Improving Water
Importing Water
Technologies
How do countries
improve water
quality?
How do countries improve water quality?
Water quality is
determined by Countries will implement
considering laws to maintain or
factors like: improve water quality
• Temperature
• Amount of
dissolved oxygen Affects how well
• Turbidity aquatic plants and
animals can
• pH survive
Improving Water Quality: Singapore
Under the Environmental Protection and Management
(Trade Effluent) Regulations:
• Industries are not allowed to release wastewater into
water bodies without permission from the National
Environmental Agency (NEA)
Improving Water Quality: China
To cope with water shortages, China has aimed to clean up
polluted rivers so that more clean water is available for
agriculture and industry.
Improving Water Quality: China
In January 2018, the
government
implemented a revised
version of the Water
Pollution Prevention and
Control Law.
• Officials who achieve
clean water standards
are rewarded
• Requires cities with
only one water source
to set up emergency
and back-up water
How do countries
reduce water
consumption?
Water consumption:
• The amount of water used.