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

Key Terminology

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? 


Cape Town - Day Zero

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.


India - Ice Stupa

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