Water Resources and Supply
Water supply depends on rainfall, rivers and groundwater, but many places face shortages due to demand and unequal distribution.
▶ Interact
Play with the controls to see the idea in action.
📘 Learn
Water supply depends on rainfall, rivers and groundwater, but many places face shortages due to demand and unequal distribution.
- Reservoirs store water
- Water stress occurs when demand exceeds supply
- Wells reach groundwater
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Water Resources and Supply?
Within Geography, which covers maps, landforms, weather, climate, population and settlements: understand how our planet and people connect, this topic explains Water Resources and Supply. Geography explains how places, people and natural processes connect, so each topic here combines a clear definition with a visual model.
Check that you can explain Water Resources and Supply in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Water Resources and Supply helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
Water Resources and Supply in detail
Fresh water makes up only about 2.5% of the world's water, and much of that is frozen. Demand is growing because of population, agriculture, industry and rising living standards. Water stress occurs when demand exceeds supply, and water scarcity can be physical (not enough) or economic (lack of infrastructure).
Supply can be increased through reservoirs and dams, groundwater extraction, desalination, water transfers and recycling. Problems include pollution, over-extraction that lowers water tables and disputes over shared rivers. Water conservation, efficient irrigation and fixing leaks are key to sustainable supply.
How the interactive helps you understand Water Resources and Supply
Watch the cycle in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the cycle responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Water Resources and Supply.
Real-life uses and examples
- Interpret a graph or map that shows Water Resources and Supply and say what it suggests.
- Describe a real place where Water Resources and Supply can be seen, using a map or photograph.
- Explain how Water Resources and Supply affects people, jobs and land use in a region.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up cause, effect and consequence when you explain Water Resources and Supply.
- Writing general statements without a named place or example.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Water Resources and Supply
What is Water Resources and Supply?
Water supply depends on rainfall, rivers and groundwater, but many places face shortages due to demand and unequal distribution.
What are the most important points about Water Resources and Supply?
The main points are: Reservoirs store water; Water stress occurs when demand exceeds supply; Wells reach groundwater.
Why is Water Resources and Supply useful?
Understanding Water Resources and Supply helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
How can I practise Water Resources and Supply?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Water Resources and Supply?
Related topics in Geography include Agriculture and Farming Types, World Population Distribution, Population Pyramids.