1. Where’s the water?
Today I will learn how water pollution and scarcity in Southwest Asia impacts people in the region.

2. SS7G6 Explain the impact of environmental issues across Southwest Asia (Middle East).
a. Explain how water pollution and the unequal access to water impacts irrigation and drinking water.

3. Unequal distribution of water
Causes: Some countries have water sources; some don’t
More = Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Jordan
Less = Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan
Effects
Conflicts between countries over water
Hard to farm
Countries must develop irrigation systems –
Desalination – remove salt/chemicals from seawater
Countries without water must spend more to build irrigation systems or import water

4. Irrigation – bringing water from rivers, lakes/other sources to where it is needed
Underground aquifers (run-off)
Fossil water (non-renewable)
Old methods – water wheel, canals, ditches, animal power
New methods *very expensive – drip irrigation – technology used to measure how much each plant receives.
desalination system – removing salt from ocean water

6. Drip Irrigation -watering plants with amount they need
Efficient

8. Fossil Water - Water that has been sealed in underground aquifers (layers of rock) for long periods of time—once used cannot be replaced by underground springs or rainfall (a nonrenewable resource)
Pipes are put in place for a Libyan water transfer project

9. Desalination— Removes salt from seawater
Problem—A technology too expensive for most countries to afford

10. Desalination plant in Saudi Arabia
Produces 25,000,000 or more gal/day of fresh water

11. decrease the water supply, preventing rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates from flooding—nutrients no longer deposit on the soil as fertilizers—many farmers then use chemical fertilizers that eventually build up in the soil as salts-- -soil becomes unusable for crops or animals
produce hydroelectricity
Reduces amount of water to countries downstream
Cause conflicts
Dams

14. Causes of Water pollution
Chemical fertilizers – used by farmers and they contaminate water supply through run off into streams/rivers; causes salt to build up in soil
Garbage/sewage – cities and towns have grown so fast they have not developed proper ways of disposal
Population growth

15. Effects of Water Pollution
Waterborne illnesses –
Unusable water

16. Critical Thinking/Decision Making
1. Role – read and describe your role
2. Analyze pros and cons of EACH solution

17. Roles for Critical Thinking Simulation
Desk Number
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5

18. Water Resolution simulation
Background The Middle East is not a homogenous region. The geography ranges from snow-capped mountains to parched deserts to fertile farmland near rivers. People of the region are faced with unpredictable rainfall. Some regions may not receive a single drop of rain for YEARS. So how do the people adapt to life in such an environment?
Water Resolution simulation