001 - Management at the local level
Geographic Knowledge and Understanding
The importance of strengthening the participation of local communities to improve water management in different economic development contexts, including sustainable water use and efficiency, and ensuring access to clean, safe and affordable water.
Concepts
Local participation in water management can provide places with the power to be sustainable. Innovation on a local scale provides people with the possibility of accessing safe, clean drinking water.
Aims
To have knowledge and understanding of how Cape Town is responding to their water crisis.
To have knowledge and understanding of how artificial glaciers are being used in India to create a reliable water source for irrigation.
Key Terminology
Ice stupa
Define the key term above by using the 'Useful Link' below.
Useful Link
Activity One - Investigate - Cape Town
As I am sure you are all aware by reading the news, in 2018 Cape Town is predicted to run out of water. Cape Town, located in South Africa, is a wealthy city and yet the local population has been limited to using 25litres of water a day. This represents the amount of water that is generally used in a shower which lasts four minutes. How has this city got into this state?
Watch the YouTube clip below and begin to fill in the grid that has been given to you.
Read the articles in the 'Useful Resources' box and fill in a copy of the grid below.
Activity Two - Investigate - India
We don't often think of the Himalayan region as being dry but it is, in fact, a cold desert where winter temperatures can drop as low as minus 30-degrees Centigrade and with an average of 100mm of precipitation. Therefore a key barrier to human settlement is the ability to grow crops and have access to a reliable water source during April and May. By harnessing the water in winter when the small rivers do flow villages do not lose water to the Indus River. The solution that is being trialed, is the development of an ice stupa. Basically, this is a conical glacier formed by the spraying of water over a tree and wire structure in winter which then freezes. During the spring this glacier melts and provides vital water that is used for irrigation.
Watch the YouTube clip below and begin to fill in the grid that has been given to you.
Read the articles in the 'Useful Resources' box and fill in a copy of the grid below.
Exam Style Question
Describe two ways in which local participation can help manage the availability of water. [2+2 marks]
This lesson was development in collaboration with Richard Allaway from geographyalltheway. For more resources please visit www.geographyalltheway.com