4.2

Guiding questions 

• What issues of water equity exist, and how can they be addressed? 

• How do human populations affect the water cycle, and how does this impact water security?

You are part of a team of environmental consultants competing for funding to improve water security in a specific region. Your task is to research water scarcity issues in your assigned location and develop a proposal to present to an international funding agency. The goal is to make a persuasive case for why your proposed strategies should receive financial support.

Summary: Possible Solutions 

Increasing Water Supply

• Constructing dams and reservoirs

• Implementing rainwater catchment systems

• Building desalination plants

• Enhancing natural wetlands

Water Conservation at the Domestic Level

• Water metering

• Water rationing

• Grey-water recycling

• Low-flush toilets

• Rainwater harvesting

Water Conservation in Industry and Agriculture

• Using greenhouses that recycle harvested rainwater

• Implementing aquaponics systems (combining fish and vegetable production)

• Using drip irrigation systems

• Growing drought-resistant crops

• Switching to vegetarian food production

As a team, create a pitch for two concrete, fundable strategies that would improve water security in your location. 

Your proposal should include:

The Problem – A brief summary of the water security challenges in your location.

The Solution – Two realistic, impactful strategies that could be funded.

The Cost & Feasibility – A rough idea of how much funding is needed and why the strategies are practical.

The Impact – How your strategies will improve water security for people, ecosystems, or industries.

Prepare and deliver your pitch.

Your team will present your proposal in a five-minute pitch to the World Bank funding panel. Your aim is to convince them that your strategies are necessary, effective, and realistic. Take note of the evaluation guide below!

When you're not pitching, you are evaluating. Consider the following questions, ask probing questions during the Q&A and write an evaluation of the proposal as a team.

Effectiveness & Impact

• Does it significantly reduce water consumption or improve water availability?

• Is it a short-term or long-term solution?

• Does it work in different climates or only in specific conditions?

Economic Considerations

• How expensive is it to implement and maintain?

• Who pays for it (government, businesses, individuals)?

• Does it save money in the long run, or is it an ongoing cost?

Environmental Impacts

• Does it protect or restore natural ecosystems (e.g., wetlands, rivers)?

• Does it have negative environmental side effects (e.g., habitat destruction, pollution)?

• Does it improve biodiversity or support sustainable land use?

Social & Ethical Factors

• Does it fairly distribute water among different groups (e.g., urban vs. rural, rich vs. poor)?

• Could it lead to conflicts over water use?

• Does it require behavior change from the public? How easy is it for people to adopt?

Infrastructure & Practicality

• Can it be easily implemented with existing infrastructure?

• Does it require significant changes in laws, policies, or regulations?

• Is it scalable (can it work in both small and large communities)?

Resilience & Adaptability

• How well does it handle extreme weather events (e.g., droughts, floods)?

• Is it future-proof against climate change and population growth?

• Can it be combined with other strategies for a greater impact?

The HL-only content in this unit is quite similar to what you cover in SL and elsewhere in the course. This is an opportunity to practice independent study skills using resources such as Mr G and InThinking. How can you learn to 'draw the panda' for this part of the syllabus?