LAS 201 Water Security
Test 1 Sample Questions
Question 1
Circle the correct answer – one correct answer for each question
Water on Earth has many characteristics. Which of the below is incorrect?
a. Earth’s water is always in movement
b. Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice
c. The quantity of water in the hydrosphere remains essentially constant
d. All the water at or near the surface of the Earth constitutes the cryosphere
The process by which liquid water becomes vapor through plant metabolism is:
a. Transpiration
b. Evapotranspiration
c. Sublimation
d. Deposition
Water security incorporates:
a. Good governance and transboundary cooperation
b. Socioeconomic development
c. Water-related hazards and climate change
d. All of the above
“Creation of water management services to support vibrant and livable water-sensitive
cities” refers to which dimension of water security?
a. Domestic
b. Economic
c. Urban
d. Environmental
Brine is a by-product of:
a. Moisture harvesting
b. Cloud seeding
c. Desalination
d. None of the above
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Question 2
Answer by True (T) or False (F)
Only a small portion of the total freshwater is caught in ice caps, glaciers,
and permanent snow.
The VW approach presents some limitations since it threatens food security
in countries which rely on VW imports for water intensive crop production.
Green water footprint is water from precipitation that is stored in the root
zone of the soil and evaporated, transpired, or incorporated by plants.
The salinity of the irrigation water is a major concern in terms of its impact
on the crop yield.
Springs are considered as reliable but relatively expensive source of drinking
water.
Virtual water refers to the freshwater consumed by a product or service in its
place of consumption.
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Question 3
Read the text and answer the following questions
The Ebro River Basin
A variety of tools can be developed to strengthen water institutions ranging from launching public
policies at many levels, to ensuring comprehensive planning, establishing a clear legal framework
of legislation and regulations, and providing information through reliable data systems. Being able
to apply these different tools as needed helps support water institutions to manage river basins or
watersheds in a holistic way, balancing economic growth with environmental protection and social
development for green growth.
The Ebro River Basin provides an example based on Spain’s decades-old water management
policy at the river basin level. The Ebro basin has been managed since 1926 by the Confederación
Hidrográfica del Ebro (CHE) as a partnership of private users and public authorities. CHE was the
first water authority created to coordinate water policy in a river basin in Spain and one of the
earliest river basin authorities in the world.
During CHE’s early period, the main objective was to promote and coordinate the construction
and operations of infrastructure to support agricultural development and economic growth. More
recently, the main functions of the Confederation have been:
• To implement and enforce the Ebro River Basin Management Plan (or Hydrological Plan),
• To administer and control allocation of public waters.
• To manage public dams (over 100), canals, and hydraulic works
One of the top achievements of the Ebro planning process has been the creation of the Automatic
Hydrological Information System (SAIH), a technological advance. SAIH uses flood zone
mapping and flood risk management systems to minimize risks to people and property with high
quality and real time information. The data also enables stakeholders to prepare in advance for
floods, droughts, and other emergencies.
1. What role can strengthen water institutions play in river basin management?
2. What was the main objective of CHE in the early period, and what are its current
functions?
3. What role can advance information technology play in water management systems?
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4. From your knowledge, list two conventional and two non-conventional water
resources, and provide a brief description for one of them.