Water transfers and dams/reservoirs
Aim: To know how and why there is an increasing demand for water and the need for water transfers in the UK.
Explain how water supply varies across the UK
1.
Match the key term and definition:
Areas where the rainfall does not provide enough water on
a permanent basis.
Areas that have more water than is needed.
Water stress
Areas of deficit
Occurs when the amount of water available does not meet
demand.
Areas of surplus
Complete the map annotations using the information below:
NW UK
SE UK
Water deficit or surplus?
Water deficit or surplus?
Why?
Why?
High relief
High precipitation
Dense population (50% of UK
live here)
Lowest annual precipitation
Sparse population
Low relief
Plentiful surface rivers and
lakes.
Solutions to areas of water deficit
1.
WATER TRANSFERS from one river to another.
It has been proposed that water from the River Severn is transferred to the River Thames. This would increase the supply of
water to London by 20%.
Organise the following problems into the table below:
Building tunnels between Wales (River
Severn) and the Thames Valleys would
cost billions of pounds.
Severn river water has different
minerals, temperature and acidity levels
to Thames.
Local people’s land will be lost in Wales
because of new tunnels and reservoirs
being built.
The different types of water mixing
together may affect insect, fish and plant
life.
Land will be lost which may impact on
wildlife habitats.
Land will be lost and not create an
income for the Welsh people.
Economic problems
Social problems
Environmental problems
Water transfers and dams/reservoirs
Solutions to areas of water deficit
2.
Build a DAM/RESERVOIR
Case study = Kielder Water in Northumberland
Location = close to Scottish border
Explain the physical and human reasons why this dam/reservoir was built.
Complete the table below with the information in the boxes:
Annual precipitation was high (1370mm
per year)
Few people lived in the valley (only a few
families needed to be removed and
rehoused)
Valley here is large with a flat valley floor
and steep sides.
Poor quality farmland that are far away
from the markets
Limited wildlife habitats.
Water needed for an expected increase
in growing chemical and steel industries.
Physical reasons why Kielder Water dam/reservoir was built
Human reasons why Kielder Water dam/reservoir was built
Describe the social, economic and environmental effects of a dam/reservoir case study.
Complete the table below with the information in the boxes then HIGHLIGHT/LABEL IF THEY ARE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE
Created jobs in the water
industry, tourism and forestry
as previously there were only
farming jobs available.
Flooded an area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty.
No problem of water
shortage in NE England so
industries do not suffer.
1.5 million trees were
deforested to make way for
the lake.
It is a multipurpose scheme –
used for water supply, flood
control, tourism and forestry.
The dam water generates HEP
to supply homes and industry
in the region.
Farming communities were
displaced (forced to move)
Water and land based
activities attract ¼ million
visitors each year.
Social effects of Kielder Water
Economic effects of Kielder Water
Environmental effects of Kielder Water