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Desalination: Water Solutions Explained

The document discusses desalination, the process of converting seawater into freshwater, highlighting its significance in regions facing water shortages. It notes that while there are over 13,000 desalination plants globally, the process is costly and primarily powered by fossil fuels, raising environmental concerns. The text also includes tasks related to the distribution of desalination practices and its environmental impact.

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10 views1 page

Desalination: Water Solutions Explained

The document discusses desalination, the process of converting seawater into freshwater, highlighting its significance in regions facing water shortages. It notes that while there are over 13,000 desalination plants globally, the process is costly and primarily powered by fossil fuels, raising environmental concerns. The text also includes tasks related to the distribution of desalination practices and its environmental impact.

Uploaded by

yza gay paroisa Isabida
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Geography

Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Geography


EarthquakesWater
and volcanoes

Part A: Theme 3
57 Using water

This sheet extends the work on page 175 of the coursebook.

Desalination – turning saltwater into freshwater

DESALINATION SEYCHELLES
Desalinated water produced
2007
cubic metres per day
1 cubic metre (m3) = 1000 litres
1 000 000 or more
100 000–550 000
50 000–99 999
10 000–49 999
fewer than 10 000
none

97% of the world’s water is seawater and 3% freshwater. Desalination involves the conversion of
seawater to freshwater. Although the technology is expensive, it is being used more and more in areas
with serious water shortages and a coastline! There are over 13 000 desalination plants in the world.
The main disadvantage is the high expense of the heavy use of power to carry out the desalination
process. Almost all plants use fossil fuels which is an issue when most countries want to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Perth, in Australia, has a desalination plant using wind power though.

TASK 1 c Describe the distribution of countries that practise


a What is meant by desalination? desalination in Africa and the Middle East.
b Use the key and an atlas to help you name one country d Some countries in Africa do not or cannot practise
that produces the following amounts of cubic metres desalination. Suggest three reasons why.
of desalinated water per day: e Desalination is not environmentally friendly.
■ 1 000 000 or more Why is this? Is there any evidence that this can be
changed?
■ 100 000–550 000
■ 50 000–99 999 TASK 2
■ 10 000–49 999 Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the map above.
■ fewer than 10 000

Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Geography © Cambridge University Press 2018

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