Water Scarcity and Management Overview

Study Notes

Drought: A prolonged period with little or no rain, leading to water shortages.
Climate change: Global or regional shifts in climate patterns, often linked to human activity and influencing rainfall and temperature.
Desalination: The process of removing salt from seawater to make it potable.
Irrigation: Artificially supplying water to crops to promote growth.
Water management: Strategies to use and protect water resources efficiently.
Public services: Government-provided services like healthcare and education.
Sustainability: Using resources responsibly to meet current needs without compromising the needs of future generations.
Push and pull factors: Factors causing people to leave or move to a certain region (e.g., water scarcity).
Quality of life: Individuals' and society's general well-being.
Infrastructure: Basic facilities (roads, water, electricity) essential for society.

Liveability: How suitable a place is for living, considering safety, services, and environment.
Factors positively influencing liveability: Good infrastructure, clean water access, safety, and community services.
Factors negatively influencing liveability: Pollution, lack of water, poor infrastructure, and high crime rates.
How liveability impacts people's choices: People may relocate to areas with better standards of living or avoid places with poor conditions.

Supply and demand: The amount of a product available (supply) versus the amount people want it (demand).
Producers and consumers: Producers make goods/services; consumers buy them.
Price: The cost of a product or service.
Income: Money earned through work or business.
Expenses: Money spent on needs and wants.
Profits: Money remaining after subtracting expenses from income.
Needs vs. wants: Needs are essential for survival; wants are desirable but not necessary.
Goods and services: Goods are physical items; services are actions performed for others.
Imports and exports: Imports are goods brought into a country; exports are goods sent to other countries.
Entrepreneurs: Individuals who start and run businesses.
Costs and risks of running a business: Financial costs (rent, wages, materials, utilities) and potential failure risks.
Characteristics of entrepreneurs: Creativity, determination, risk-taking, problem-solving.
How imports and exports contribute to the economy: Imports provide access to goods not locally produced; exports bring money into the country.
Australia's imports and exports: Australia exports minerals (iron ore, coal), agricultural products (wheat, beef); imports include electronics, cars, and clothing.
Factors influencing price: Supply and demand, production costs, and competition.