O-LevelGeographyEconomic development2217/12 · May/June 2010 · Q625 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 9, which shows the percentage use of water in selected world regions. [Figure 9] (b) Study Fig. 10, which shows information about access to clean drinking water. [Figure 10]

(a)(i)What is meant by industrial use of water?[1]
(a)(ii)State two differences between the percentage use of water in Europe and Asia.[2]
(a)(iii)Suggest reasons for the variation in the percentage use of water in Europe and Asia.[3]
(a)(iv)The total amount of water used for household purposes in the world is increasing. Suggest reasons for this.[4]
(b)(i)Describe the distribution of areas where more than 90% of the population has access to clean drinking water.[3]
(b)(ii)Describe how the population of a country can be provided with a reliable supply of clean drinking water.[5]
(c)Many areas have a shortage of water supplies. Describe the likely impacts of a water shortage on the people and development of a named area which you have studied.[7]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2010). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] (a)(i) Use of water in factories/for cooling/processing/producing energy etc.
[2] (a)(ii) Differences such as: Greater percentage use in industry in Europe; Greater percentage used for agriculture in Asia; Higher percentage used domestically in Europe; Main use in Asia agriculture but in Europe main use is industry.
[3] (a)(iii) Expect ideas such as: people are more dependent on the land in Asia; Greater proportion used for industry in Europe as there are more factories; Greater proportion used in homes in Europe because supply infrastructure is more efficient; people own more domestic appliances (washing machines/dishwashers) in Europe etc.
[4] (a)(iv) Ideas such as: growing population to supply; more use of pipes/taps to supply; more use of domestic appliances (or examples); greater need of water to promote good hygiene/sanitation; more water used to wash cars/water gardens/fill swimming pools; development of LEDCs leads to greater domestic water use etc.
[3] (b)(i) Ideas such as: Uneven distribution; Mainly in MEDCs; In temperate areas; Most are in Northern hemisphere; Concentrated are in North America/Europe/Australasia; Scattered in South America/Asia/Africa; One mark MAX for examples of countries (e.g. Australia/USA/Chile etc.)
[5] (b)(ii) Methods such as: dam/reservoir; with pipelines leading to homes (dev); desalination plants; more boreholes/wells; cloud seeding; rationing; cover wells; so there is less evaporation; afforestation; Treatment plants/use grey water/recycling; Import water; from areas which receive higher rainfall (dev) etc.
[7] (c) Level 1 (1-3 marks) Statements including limited detail describing impacts of a water shortage. (e.g. Loss of lives/higher death rates; less food production/crops die; malnutrition/starvation; migration to urban areas/many refugees; reduction in levels of hygiene/sanitation; Rationing/water restrictions, water conflicts etc.)
[7] (c) Level 2 (4-6 marks) Uses named example (e.g. Ethiopia). More developed statements describing impacts of a water shortage. (e.g. Loss of lives/higher death rates due to malnutrition/starvation; less food is produced as crops die due to insufficient water; As they cannot make a living from farming people migrate to urban areas; rise in diseases such as typhoid as people use same water for drinking, bathing and waste disposal etc.) (NB MAX 5 marks if no named e.g.)
[7] (c) Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example (e.g. Ethiopia). Comprehensive and accurate statements including some place specific reference. (NB Place specific references may be to particular parts of the country affected, named rivers/reservoirs/lakes which have dried up or areas/cities to which people are migrating. Alternatively candidates might quote statistics relating to the length of a drought or the rainfall figures.)