2.6 Access to drinking water

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

2.6 Access to drinking water

Aims

• You will be able to discuss the differences in access to drinking water in MEDCs and LEDCs.
• You will be able to explain the challenges in access to drinking water in rural and urban areas of LEDCs.

The global demand for water

The amount of water used in the world every day is very uneven.

MEDCs use more water than LEDCs - households, farming and industry all demand water.

What the water is used for depends on the country.

• In general, LEDCs (like Bangladesh and Malawi) will have most of their water used in agriculture (farming) and little in industry or domestic use. Bangladesh has farming as a large part of its economy so a large percentage of their water is used for that purpose.
• MEDCs (like the UK) have a more significant use of water for domestic reasons. MEDCs also tend to have a higher percentage for industrial use.
• There are exceptions. The USA is an MEDC, but it still has a high amount of water used for agriculture because there is also lot of farming across the country.

Water used per person

The amount of water used per person in each country changes dramatically. The bar chart shows the total amount of water used per person in selected countries.

Average water use in litres per person, in different countries.

Difference between MEDCs and LEDCs

In MEDCs there are a lot of facilities which demand water use. For example, showers, baths, washing machines and swimming pools.

In LEDCs many people do not have access to piped water and so use it more sparingly. Water may be brought to the home from a well or stream.

As a country becomes more wealthy, there will be an increase in its demand for water. Higher levels of industrialisation and more domestic goods such as washing machines all lead to an increase in demand for water. With greater wealth there is also more demand for spas, golf courses and even baths and showers.

Shared water pump

(improved water source)

Unprotected well

(unimproved water source)

Management of water usage in LEDCs

There are problems in supplying water in LEDCs. These are:

• lack of availability of clean water;
• diseases spread via the water supply;
• water pollution.
• As LEDC cities grow, so does the demand for water.

Using appropriate technology is usually the best way to manage supply.

Without safe water, people cannot lead healthy and productive lives.

Areas which are in poverty are likely to remain in that way.

See the planner in Teams for the homework!