Water Surplus & Water Deficit
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 6.3.1
What is a Water Surplus?
The amount of water in an area and the demand for water in an area determine whether the area has a water surplus or a water deficit.
What is a water surplus
- An area with a water surplus has more water than the people living in the area need to drink.
- An area with a water surplus is described as having 'water security'.
What is a water deficit?
- An area with a water deficit has less water than the people living in the area need to drink.
- An area with a water deficit is described as having 'water insecurity'.
What determines the demand for water in an area?
- The demand for water is determined by:
- The number of people living in an area.
- The population density of the area.
- The income of people living in an area.
- The amount of farming & livestock living in the area.
What determines the supply of water in an area?
- The supply of water in an area is determined by:
- The amount of rainfall in an area.
- The amount of groundwater available.
- Any other sources of water available (e.g. desalination plants by the sea).
Which countries have water surpluses?
- In 2011, 166 countries had a water surplus.
- The Republic of Congo, Greenland, Iceland, and Papua New Guinea had the biggest water surpluses.
- Most countries with water deficits are found in Africa and the Middle East.
- Qatar, Lebanon, Libya, and Mexico suffer from water deficits.
Test yourself on Water Surplus & Water Deficit
What determines the demand for water in an area?
What are the main factors that affect if an area experiences a water surplus or deficit?
What is another way of expressing a country having a water deficit?