Geopolitics of water supply within a country
- Created by: Amy Brown
- Created on: 08-06-14 10:55
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- Geopolitics of water supply within a country
- Often when countries compete for water resources international agreements and treaties have to be drawn up on how best to manage shared water supplies
- Under the Helsinki Rules there is an agreement that international treaties must include concepts such ad equitable use and share
- Case Sudy: Geopolitics with the USA: the Colorado River
- Background
- The Basin of the Colorado river is the most heavily used source of irrigation water in the USA.
- Original water rights were allocated in 1933
- Since then a series of treaties between the 7 US states with water rights and between Mexico have been signed
- A series of dams have been built ot serve the water needs to 30 million people
- Agreements
- 1920s 'Law of the River' = divided the water between upper basin states e.g. Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico and their responsibility to supply the lower basin states
- California was given the highest proportion of water due to its large population and political power
- Stakeholders and conflicts
- Farmers - 80% of allocation and 1/20th of the cost
- US Government under pressure from own politicians NOT to change water allocations
- Mexican people - 90% of water is used before it reaches mexico -affecting fisherman
- Indigenous groups - have claims to water rights based on treaties signed in the 1880s
- Environmentalists - development of lakes for recreation is effecting wilderness and wetlands
- City Dwellers are increasing demands
- Background
- Often when countries compete for water resources international agreements and treaties have to be drawn up on how best to manage shared water supplies
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