1. What are the solutions for the water crisis?
L/O: To evaluate how large-scale water management can alleviate the water crisis.
To identify the meaning of blue water, grey water and green water.
Starter:
Match up the key terms on your hand-out and answer the question underneath.
To describe the advantages and disadvantages of a big dam.
To understand why the 3 Gorges Dam is an ecological disaster.

2. Write down 3 geographical things that are happening here

3. Large Scale Water Management
Large scale projects to increase water supply tend to involve big dams. They are usually complex and multi purpose projects. The big dam age began in the 1930s. Since then, dams have increased in scale because of technology. Up to the 1980s the rate of building increased, most of the best sites in North America and Europe had been developed.
Currently dams supply…
- 40% of the world’s irrigated water
- 20% of the world’s electricity
- 15% of all blue water

4. Cost/Benefit Analysis of Dams
Factors
Benefits (positives)
Costs (negatives)
Social
Economic
Environmental

5. Cost/Benefit Analysis of Dams
What do you notice about the benefits and the costs of dams and reservoirs?
Cost/Benefit Analysis of Dams
Factors
Benefits (positives)
Costs (negatives)
Social
People in the cities are able to use water throughout the year as there is a steady supply for them, e.g. 8 million people in Nevada, California and Arizona.
In developed countries the water is clean and filtered and therefore healthy.
Loss of ancient sites which are over 1000 years old in many areas, e.g. China.
People have to be moved from their homes to allow the water to flood, in China 1.3 million people had to be moved.
Poorest people end up drinking dirty water due to industry polluting the water.
Economic
Able to provide large amounts of water to the city and keep businesses open and making money.
Can be used to generate energy (HEP) and reduce costs of opening power stations.
Able to hold millions of gallons of water during rainy seasons to be used in times of drought.
Dams are very expensive to build and require large amounts of investment from the government.
Costs are high due to people having to be displaced – China, 150 towns had to be moved.
Loss of businesses and trade for some towns and cities.
Environmental
Able to retain water for long periods of time so in times of drought, you can use it to water and irrigate farm land.
Areas where there are dams, rivers are running so dry that water is now not reaching the sea. Destruction of wetland habitats and ecosystems.
Disruption of marine animal’s migration patterns down river.
Due to droughts, there has been less water added to the lakes and rivers but water usage has increased drastically.

6. The 3 Gorges Dam Whilst watching the video you should note down…
Social issues
Economic issues
Environmental issues
Put a (+) next to the positive statements
Put a (-) next to the negative statements
Recent pictures - response to heavy rain recently

8. You only have 6 minutes to complete.
The 3 Gorges Dam
On your hand-out, complete the gap fill exercise using the words below.
You only have 6 minutes to complete.
Three Gorges Dam
1-in-100
Compensation
15 million
1 billion tonnes
Polluted
Positive
Reduce
Factories
$30 million
Cities
Yangtze
People
Farmland
Flooding
Power Generation
Silt
Power stations

9. The 3 Gorges Dam The Three Gorges Dam
Dimensions
181 km high and 2.3 km wide.
Area Flooded
632 km2
Cost
$25.5 billion
Built
Started 1994; Finished 2006
Increased Depth
110m (reduced to 80m when flood risk downstream)
Task – Stick your fact-file in your books. Fill in the missing information!
181 km high and 2.3 km wide.
632 km2
$25.5 billion
Started 1994; Finished 2006
110m (reduced to 80m when flood risk downstream)

10. Using a named example, explain the costs and benefits of large scale water management schemes (6 marks)
Using the notes from today’s lesson, answer the question under exam conditions – 6 marks = 6 minutes.