Southwest Asias Environmental Issues Pollution Unequal Distribution of

Southwest Asia’s Environmental Issues Pollution & Unequal Distribution of Water

Standards SS 7 G 6 The student will discuss environmental issues across Southwest Asia (Middle East). a. Explain how water pollution and the unequal distribution of water impacts irrigation and drinking water.

Pollution countries in Southwest Asia are experiencin asing problem of water pollution. ers have begun using chemical fertilizers tha he fields and contaminate water supplies. emicals also lead to salt build-up in the soil, entually makes farming in those areas impos growth of industry in cities and towns has ca ge and sewage to build up in rivers and strea

Tigris River Pollution

nough Water availability is a major concern in Southwest ss than 1% of the world’s fresh water is avail area’s inhabitants (5% of the world’s popula is simply not enough water available to mee ation’s needs. ddle Eastern countries are constantly in conf se water problems. ake a look at how water is distributed in seve countries.

Water availability in Iraq will halve by 2050

Turkey has a “water advantage” over other Middle Eastern se the Tigris and Euphrates rivers form in the countr nds. has developed the Southeastern Anatolia Project, w s of 22 dams and 19 hydroelectric plants along the s project has greatly improved the standard of living key’s citizens. unately, the country has had to deal with the increas m of water pollution. addition to chemical fertilizers and industrial wastes, e also been affected by oil spills in the Black Sea.

Ataturk Dam -- Turkey

Syria ams that Turkey built along the Euphrates ha y reduced the amount of water reaching Syri already suffers from food shortages, and irrig and is extremely difficult with the diminished y from the Euphrates. er to keep some water in the country, Syria h ams along the river. s has reduced the river’s flow into Iraq, thus re conflict.

Lake Assad – Syria’s largest reservoir was created in 1974

Iraq ams that Turkey & Syria built along the Euph also greatly reduced the amount of water rea 80% less). s has negatively impacted the country’s food heat & rice production has decreased dramat d many farmers are now without jobs. lso faces water pollution problems as a resu ry and petroleum drilling equipment. o, three decades of warfare have caused da q’s water treatment plants.

The Glory Canal (built by Suddam Hussein in 1993) was a disastrous project that diverted natural water flow from the country’s marshes and converted wetlands into desert.

Israel its creation in 1948, Israel has developed new ology and advanced farming techniques that h d the once-barren desert land into farmland. use rainfall is down, Israel has to rely on drawin s aquifers (underground layer of rock and san ns water). fortunately, the aquifers are in jeopardy becau ter is taken out than is replenished by rain. has been involved in many conflicts over wate rdan River with Syria, Jordan, and Palestine.

National Water Carrier of Israel – pipeline that transfers water from the Sea of Galilee to the highly populated center and arid south

Jordan is one of the ten most water scarce countries in the e country’s major surface water sources are shared d Syria, who leave only a small amount for Jordan. has built pipelines that redirect the river’s water awa and into its own lands. dan & Israel have been involved in military battles o hts. cannot meet the basic needs of its people and has ter supply. zens can only get water two days a week.

Mujib Dam, Jordan – desalinates brackish water from the Dead Sea

Saudi Arabia has a desert climate and has struggle he water needs of its growing population. is scarce in the country, and what little wate ble is of poor quality because of salt water in ountry has built a number of desalination pla e most of the country’s drinking water. salination is the process of taking salt out of d using it for drinking water.

World’s Largest Desalination Plant – Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia

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