Water Conflicts

Demand exceeds supply

• When demand for water overtakes supply there is the potential for conflict.

• Competing demands for irrigation, power generation, domestic use, recreation and conservation can also create tension both between and within countries.

• This is know as a pinch point …

• Figure 12

Demand exceeds supply• However, between 1950-2000, out of the 2000 international

disputes, only 25% led to any conflict. These were about the quantity of water available (75%) and the impact of dams (25%).

• Conflict is more likely in developing nations where water is vital to feed struggling growing populations and promote industrial development.

• On the other hand some countries have worked together to secure the supply of water for everyone. E.g. The Mekong River Commission which worked with Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and dealt with HEP, flood control etc. HERE

• Also see the video here from Perkins – Mekong from 12.20

Trans-boundary water Conflicts

• The trans boundary basins and aquifers link populations of different countries and support the incomes and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people worldwide

• Politicians and map makers have not helped as boundaries and boarders do not fit with river catchments or aquifers.

Trans-boundary water Conflicts

• The trans boundary basins and aquifers link populations of different countries and support the incomes and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people worldwide

• Politicians and map makers have not helped as boundaries and boarders do not fit with river catchments or aquifers.

Trans-boundary water Conflicts

• Approximately 40% of the world’s population lives in river and lake catchments that fall across two or more countries, and over 90 % live in countries that share basins.

• About 2 billion people worldwide depend on groundwater, which includes approximately 300 trans boundary aquifer systems.

Case Study 1: Trans boundary conflicts – Teesta River (India and Bangladesh)

• 54 rivers shared between the countries.

• Indian Government control the flow of the Teesta River. Video

• 315km in India

Case studies

Your Turn - Research • In pairs choose ONE example below and produce a one sided fact file on the case

study. These can then be shared with the rest of the class. Try to include a map and LOTS of DETAIL that you have researched and found out.

Location Reason for conflict / pressure point

Tigris – Euphrates

Turkeys GAP project will take a lot of water before it goes downstream and Syria also building dams along the river. (p70-71 Parrot) (BETWEEN)

Ganges – Brahaputra

Faraka barrage has reduced flow into Bangladesh from India (p48-9 normal text book) (BETWEEN)

Colorado Basin

Different states demand different uses and therefore volumes of water from the river. (WITHIN) p49-52 normal text book

Murray Darling Basin

Huge issues in Australia of over abstraction by farmers in NSW along the river (WITHIN) (p82 and 86 Parrot)