Exercises- Answer Key
Chapter 3 - Water Resources
Date: 26/07/2021
E. Answer the following questions in 10-20 words
[Link] are the various forms of water found on the Earth?
1. The oceans,lakes,rivers and ponds constitute surface water.
2. Water that is found in the pores of rocks under the face of the Earth is called
groundwater.
3. Water is also present in the form of ice sheets in the polar and high mountain regions.
2. State the factors that have created water scarcity in many parts of the world.
Reasons for water scarcity are,
The rapid increase in population,
modernisation of agricultural techniques,
increasing urbanisation
change in consumption patterns.
unequal distribution of rainfall in different parts of the world
[Link] are the major contaminants of the source of freshwater?
Ans- Untreated or partly treated sewage, cleaning fluids that are flushed down drains,pesticides,
chemical fertilisers, leakage from petrol and diesel tanks and industrial effluents are the major
contaminants of the sources of fresh water.
4. Name any two effective methods of Irrigation.
Ans-Sprinklers and Drip irrigation are the two effective methods of irrigation.
F. Answer the following questions in 50-70 words
[Link] are Multipurpose River Valley projects? Discuss the merits and demerits of
Multipurpose River Valley projects?
Multipurpose river valley projects aim at the overall utilisation of the rivers and serve many purposes
simultaneously. In a multipurpose project, one or more huge dams are constructed across a river to
store water in reservoirs. This water is then utilised for different purposes like irrigation, flood
control, generation of hydroelectricity, inland navigation, fish breeding, soil conservation and
recreation etc.
Merits:
[Link] for agriculture: Extension of irrigation facility is one of the important objectives and
advantages of multipurpose [Link] stored in reservoirs is used to irrigate agricultural [Link]
is estimated that 30-40% of irrigated lands worldwide,which contribute to 12-16% of global food
production rely on [Link] these projects can stimulate agricultural productivity for meeting the
growing requirement of food and raw materials.
[Link] Control: Another important objective of such projects is to control the occurrence of floods.
Dams protect from flood by regulating water discharge and balance the runoff differences.
[Link] Electricity: The most prominent use of Multi-purpose projects are generation of
hydro-electricity on a large scale [Link] to other renewable sources hydropower produces the
most cost efficient energy which is very much important for the development of industry.
4. Navigation: Such projects can create navigation facilities in the country by developing ferrying
services for transportation. The navigability may provide an impetus for trade and [Link]
navigation is the most cost effective and least polluting means of [Link] reduces the traffic
load on rail and road transport.
5. Forests and Fisheries: These projects can help to raise forestry on the banks of the canals.
Moreover, it can also encourage the development of fisheries in the reservoirs.
6. Drinking Water: Such projects facilitate the development of safe drinking water projects for the
adjoining areas. Especially in the urban areas,reservoir storage capacities are used to supply drinking
water for industrial purposes.
7. Development of Industry and Employment Generation: Such projects can create a favourable
location for the development of industry by offering the facilities like cheaper power, better water
transport, availability of raw materials at cheaper rates for agro-based industries etc.
Moreover, by developing agriculture, industry and infrastructural services, these projects can
generate adequate volume of employment opportunities in the farm and non-farm sector. All these
would help to raise the standard of living of the people of those adjoining regions reaping benefits
from such projects.
8. Recreation: Multi-purpose projects can also facilitate the development of recreation facilities in
the form of picnic resorts, holiday resorts etc. which are having much commercial viability
nowadays.
Demerits: Multi-purpose projects commissioned in India have already derived impressive results in
respect of creation of irrigation potential and also in the generation of hydroelectric power. In spite of
its achievements, the multi-purpose projects in India are subjected to the following controversies.
Large dams projects are subjected to widespread criticism due to their social and environmental
impacts.
[Link] hydro power is having the advantage of low operating cost, renewable source and eco-
friendly but at the same time it is also subjected to long gestation period, delay in commissioning the
project resulting in escalation of project cost and higher initial cost. All these have resulted in a
comparatively higher unit cost of generation in respect of hydro power.
2. The construction of dams and the creation of reservoirs often leads to the inundation of thousands
of acres of forests and agricultural [Link] forested areas get submerged under [Link] to
anaerobic respiration by the plant submerged,methane is released causing the water to become
[Link] construction often leads to the displacement of a large number of people.
[Link] of dams often disturbs the natural flow of the river. Which leads to less sediment
deposition on the river banks. Which results in excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the
reservoir, disturbing the natural aquatic [Link] construction of dams also stops the aquatic fauna
[Link] stagnant water in the reservoir often causes water borne diseases.
4. The construction of multipurpose projects often induce earthquakes.
5. Finally, the multi-purpose projects have resulted in serious adverse environmental impact in
respect of degradation of soil content arising out of waterlogging and soil salinity in its command
areas.
2. Distribution of freshwater is highly uneven in the world. Justify this statement.
Ans-Distribution of freshwater in the world is highly uneven mainly due to the differences in
climatic conditions. In regions where precipitation is more than evaporation, there is excess water. In
regions where evaporation is more than precipitation, there is water scarcity. The regions where
precipitation is in excess are located between the Equator and 20° North and South latitudes. In
regions between 20° and 40° North and South latitudes, evaporation is more than precipitation. This
has resulted in the formation of deserts in these regions.
G. Answer the following questions in 80-100 words
1. Explain the various ways in which water is useful to us.
Ans- Water is a very precious natural resource and is useful to us in a number of ways.
We use water for our domestic purposes like drinking,cooking, bathing and washing
etc.
Water from rivers and lakes are used for irrigation, thereby helping in agriculture.
Underground water is drawn through wells and tube wells and used for both
domestic as well as agricultural purposes.
Water is required for our industries too, for cleaning and cooling the
machines
When water falls from a height, as in waterfalls or dams, it can be harnessed
to generate hydroelectricity.
Large water bodies like seas and oceans help in moderating the climate of the
coastal regions.
Rivers, seas and oceans serve as a means of transport. Both inland and
international waterways are the main arteries of trade and commerce.
The ocean waters are home to a great variety of marine life, which is a source
of occupation for many people.
Plants absorb water from the soil. Water also forms an important constituent of
the body weight of animals.
The water vapour in the atmosphere is responsible for providing all the freshwater
on the Earth through precipitation.
2. Scarcity of water resources is a major problem faced by many [Link]
Ans - With the rapid increase in population, modernisation of agricultural techniques,
increasing urbanisation and change in consumption patterns, many parts of the world
today are facing the problem of water scarcity. A number of the existing sources have
dried up and many others have become polluted. The regions suffering most are Northern
Africa, Central and West Asia, the Middle East, parts of South Asia, parts of South
America and Central and Western Australia. Unequal distribution of rainfall is the main
reason for water scarcity. Moreover, the countries or regions that are water deficit, are also
usually poor and underdeveloped. They cannot afford to import water from other countries
or transport water over long distances from the surplus regions. Most of these regions are
also densely populated, which puts pressure on the consumption of water. It has been
estimated that by the year 2025,65 countries including India, Korea, Nigeria, Peru and
Poland are likely to face shortage of water.
3. Describe the various methods of conserving water.
Ans -The important methods of conserving water include
I. Afforestation: Planting of trees and other plants can slow down the surface runoff and
improve seepage of water into the soil. This helps in replenishing the underground
reservoirs.
II. Irrigation: Over irrigation is neither good for crops nor for soil. Efficient irrigation
methods, like sprinklers, help in reducing wastage of [Link] can irrigate even
undulating [Link] loss through seepage can also be checked by this [Link] dry
regions, where evaporation rate is high,drip irrigation is useful
III. Industrial use: Industrial water may be recycled and used for cleaning and
cooling the machines.
IV. Domestic use: In domestic use, wastage of water should be avoided. Taps
should not be unnecessarily kept open and the faulty ones should be repaired. Waste
water from kitchens may be used to fill up air coolers or for gardening.
V. Rainwater harvesting: This is an important method of conserving water.
Rainwater
can be collected in storage tanks and later be used to fill up wells and tube wells.
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