PLEASE BECOME KNOWLEDGABLE IN YOUR ASSIGNED OR CHOSEN TOPIC/QUESTION SO THAT ON THE DATE IT’S DUE YOU AND YOUR PARTNER WILL BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN, DISCUSS, SUMMARIZE AND GRAPHICALLY OR VISUALLY DISPLAY WHAT YOU KNOW IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
1. Explain why the poor in many countries have to pay more for their water than do the wealthy. COMPARE SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN EACH CATEGORY (FIND THE AVERAGE COST OF WATER IN 5 OR 6 POOR COUNTRIES AND ALSO FOR 5 OR 6 WEALTHY COUNTRIES.
2. Explain the problem that was created by overdrawing surface water that flows into Mono Lake. How is this problem being addressed? ALSO FIND ANOTHER EXAMPLE
3. Briefly describe the complexity of international water use, using the Rhine River or the Aral Sea as an example. PLEASE DISCUSS BOTH
4. How is water used in agriculture? Discuss two ways to use agricultural water more sustainably. FIND OUT WHAT MOST FARMS IN THE US USE. PROVIDE PICTURES OF EACH TYPE OF IRRIGATION.
5. Explain how water resource problems might contribute to economic or political instability. PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF CONFLICTS IN 5 OR 6 COUNTRIES, WHEN AND WHY THEY OCCURRED AND WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS.
6. What are some of the problems associated with overdrawing surface water? with aquifer depletion? USE THE EXAMPLES GIVEN IN THE BOOK AND PROVIDE A FEW MORE, INCLUDING WHERE AND NAME OF SURFACE WATER OR AQUIFER.
7. What is aquifer depletion? Why is the Ogallala Aquifer an excellent example of aquifer depletion? DISCUSS THE HISTORY / TIMELIME OF THE USE OF THE OGALLALA, AND WHAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED TO SUSTAIN THE USE OF THIS WATER.
8. Where is the Aral Sea? Why is it shrinking? DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF THIS SEA, THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED, SPECIFIC DATES, CURRENT STATUS.
9. Dams – environmental, economic, societal benefits and drawbacks. DISCUSS THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED THREE GORGES DAM IN CHINA, INCLUDING THE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT – NAMES OF TOWNS SUBMERGED, HOW MANY PEOPLE RELOCATED, REASONS FOR OBJECTIONS TO PROJECT.
10. Desalinization – environmental & economic benefits and drawbacks. WHERE AROUND THE WORLD IS THIS BEING DONE, SPECIFIC LOCATIONS, PICTURES, ANY USES OF SALTS.