This document discusses reasons for water constraints including limited and unevenly distributed fresh water supplies as well as increasing pollution and demand from population growth, increased agriculture and industry, and changes in lifestyle. It then outlines strategies to address water constraints such as increasing water prices, catchment areas and supplies through international agreements, technology, and desalination as well as the importance of conserving water through policies, campaigns and public education.

1. Chapter 8 Water Resources
Reasons for water constraint
Limited supply of fresh water
o Uneven distribution of fresh water
 While some countries have an abundant supply of fresh water, others
suffer from a lack of it
o Water pollution
 Fresh water is increasingly being polluted by human activities.
 Waste from factories and households are carelessly dumped into rivers
which then pollutes the waters.
Rising demand for water
o Population growth
 Over the past 80 years, the world’s population has tripled while the
demand for water has increased more than six times.
o Growth of agriculture
 Increasing need to grow more food for the growing population.
o Growth of industries
 Waters plays and important role in daily operation of these industries.
o Change in lifestyle
 When a country becomes more developed, people adapt to modern
lifestyle and can afford to buy items with more convenience and
greater comfort
P.L.I.F
Increasing the price of water
People who do not want to pay more will be encouraged to use less water.
However, only those who can afford to pay the higher prices will be able to use the amount
of water they want
o Poor will suffer and only the rich can afford
Increasing the supply of water
Increasing Catchment areas
o Increase in the amount of water collected
o Help to keep the cost of water treatment down
o When more land in a country is set aside to build water catchment areas, more
forests are conserved in the forests
 Wider range of recreational areas
o However, less land available for other purposes.
o E.g. In Singapore, the number of reservoirs increased from 3 in 1975 to 17 currently

2. International Agreements
o Countries discuss and negotiate terms on the buying and sharing of water resources
o Dependence on another country may not be the best solution
o Countries cannot be certain that they will always have enough water to meet the
needs
o E.g. In Singapore, we have been buying water from Malaysia since the 1920s
 Two agreements, on ended just only in this year while the other ending in
2061.
Use of Technology
o Used water can be recycled and converted into safe drinking water
o E.g. In Singapore, NEWater has been introduced to increase the supply of fresh
water
Desalination
o Process of removing salt from sea water
o Using both osmosis and reverse osmosis
o However, it requires a lot of energy to heat up the water
o E.g. In Singapore, the desalination plant in Tuas supplies up to 10% of the nation’s
demand for water
Conserving Water
Careful usage of water resources to ensure that wastage is kept to the minimum
o Policies/Tax
 Discourages people from using excess amount of water
 Domestic Consumption in Singapore
1 – 40m3 – 30%
>40m3 - 45%
o Campaigns
 “Save Water” campaigns carried out since 1970s to teach Singaporeans to
view water as a scare resources, and to use it wisely
Leaflets, water conservation talks ins schools and water rationing
exercises have been carried out
Spread awareness of the importance of conserving water
 “10-Litre challenge”
Introduction of the mascot Water Wally
Includes brochures to educate the public on how to save 10 litre of
water daily