The Three Methods of Water Supply

The Three Methods of Water Supply Introduction Water is a basic need for human consumption, sustenance of animal and growth of crops. Therefore, it is an essential factor of development and economy.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Three Methods of Water Supply specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, water supply is a main challenge in the developing countries. Therefore, the countries carry out analysis of water supply seeking to solve these challenges (Stein, 2008). This paper will focus on water supply in Kenya which is a developing country from Africa. It will analyze three types of methods that are used to supply water in a developing country. They include dams, ground water and rain water (Stein, 2008). The paper will compare the three methods in line with their impacts to social set up, political situation, cost of technology and environmental impacts. Location The three methods are found in different locations within the geographical se t up of a community. First, dams are built across a river aiming at tapping the flowing water. However, the dams do not tap and retain all the water on the upper side of the river (Stein, 2008). In this case, a hole is created to allow some water to flow down the stream. As a result, people living down the stream get water for consumption. This location calls for the availability of a river. Therefore, dams cannot work as a supply method in a region that has seasonal rivers. On the other hand, ground water can be found naturally or through artificial means. Natural supply includes springs, oasis and others. However, artificial supply of underground water is much relevant in this case. In most cases, artificial underground water is found in boreholes.Advertising Looking for report on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Boreholes are drilled using strong machines that have the acumen to reach the wat er table. The boreholes are located in places where the level of the water table is high. This implies that reaching the water table is easier than in the place where the water table is extremely low (Stein, 2008). As a result, geologist must intervene and examine the level of the water table and determine the suitable location of the borehole. Rainwater is a natural source of water that forms an essential component in water supply. The location of rain water is determined by storage. Rain water is stored in holes and tanks (Stein, 2008). Therefore, the water is available for use during the dry seasons. This ensures that the annual rainfall is distributed equally over the year. The government seeks to evaluate the suitability of this method to the country. Social Impacts Construction of dams has enormous social impact on human beings. The most significant impacts are relocation of people from their original land. In this light, dams are prone to flooding during the rainy season. The refore, the flooding water destroys their property forcing them to relocate to other places. In addition, the dams may be inhabited by dangerous animals like hippopotamus leading to insecurity. Therefore, people are forced to relocate and congest in slums. This is an enormous social impact (Rabar, 2005). Also, boreholes have similar social impacts on human beings. In this case, people tend to migrate from their original land and surround the bore holes especially in cases where the water is not conveyed to their residence using the pipes. Therefore, the boreholes act as a pull factor for settlement.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Three Methods of Water Supply specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result, the government is evaluating whether the use of boreholes can work efficiently. Moreover, it is aiming at eliminating the slums that may form around the borehole if they are built. Rainwater, also, causes soci al impacts that revolve around human settlement. In Kenya, people tend to settle around areas that receive relatively high amount of rainfall. For example, central province receives the highest amount of rainfall in Kenya. Consequently, it has an extremely high population of about 3.7 million (Rabar, 2005). On the other hand, North Eastern receives the lowest amount of rainfall and has a lower population of about 479,342. Surprisingly, North Eastern is two times larger than central province by size (Rabar, 2005). Technological Cost The cost of technology is incurred during the setup of the method and its maintenance. Surely, dams require a lot of funds to set up and maintain. In this case, building the wall require qualified personnel and experience. Kenya does not have sufficient experience in building the dams and maintaining them (Rabar, 2005). This implies that the country has to import the man power from other countries like China, U.S.A and Britain. This makes the cost to be e xtremely high for the growing economy. In addition, building the dam will require machines that are quite costly to obtain (Rabar, 2005). This forms an additional cost to the process of implementation. Maintenance includes the removal of silt that sinks at the base of the water reservoir leading to floods. This implies that building and maintaining a single dam in Kenya will pose a serious economic challenge to the country. On the contrary, ground water has a fairly low cost than the use of dams. For example, setting up a borehole system requires a machine that the country can afford without affecting the economy of the country.Advertising Looking for report on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When the borehole is made, the country will require insignificant funds to maintain the system. In fact, they would just maintain the pipes distributing water to various residences of the citizens. Rainwater requires the lowest amount of the fund to implement and maintain. In this light, the government needs to dig up the storage whole and direct the running water towards the holes using ditches. For security reasons, they put a fence around the holes to prevent children from playing around the water hole. When the holes get silted they remove the silt by use of dredgers. Although it is taxing, the holes do not get a lot of silt since the flowing of water is not continuous. Lastly, they need to pump the water using pumps for irrigation. Environmental Impact The three methods of water supply have impacts to the environment. In this case, dams make the reservoirs upstream. The reservoir cause flooding during the rainy seasons and sweep the existing plants and crops. The plants decay i n the water causing the emission of carbon into the atmosphere. This carbon attacks the ozone layer leading to global warming. Ground water has minimal effect to the environment and the surroundings. The most notable effect it would have is depositing salts on the soil leading to soil degradation and deterioration of fertility. Using rainwater to supply water to the citizens of Kenya would have minimum effect on the environment. In this light, the construction of holes would lead to depositing soil around the banks. This soil is infertile and cannot support the growth of plants. In addition, the construction of these holes would need them to clear forests leading to environmental degradation. This is because the available land has been used for settlement. Political Situations Construction of dams leads to political debates between governanment and the people living around the dams. This is attributed to the flooding that affect and destroy their property once they occur. It, also, leads to political disagreements between the people living downstream and the government. This is because the use of the dam would allow little water to flow down the stream Use of ground water is a crucial source of political violence and disagreement. For example, the use of boreholes causes disagreements concerning the use of water between communities. In fact, Turkana and Pokot communities have been fighting over oasis and several boreholes that have been made in their county (Rabar, 2005). The use of boreholes should be applied with caution and care. The use of rain water has minimal and insignificant political issues. Recommendations and Conclusion According to the above comparison that follows the five factors of social, economic and political interest, it is possible to give suitable recommendations. In this case, the government of Kenya can integrate the use of underground water and rain water. The two methods require relatively low funds for construction and maintenance. A lthough, they face political and social challenges, the challenges can be controlled. For example, the government can use pipes to distribute water to the people at their homes. This ensures that people do not settle around the boreholes. In addition, it would prevent political disagreements on the distribution of water. On the other hand, the use of dams is not suitable for the country. This is because the dams can be constructed across rivers only. However, rivers are not equally distributed across the country. Consequently, the country can meet a high technological cost and reach a few people across the country. Therefore, we can conclude that the use of underground water and rain water is the best option for the country. References Rabar, J 2005, Kenyan studies, France Institute of Research in Africa, Nairobi. Stein, R 2008, Water supply, H.W. Wilson Co, New York.

Berlitz Kids German Language Pack

Berlitz Kids German Language Pack It is an unfortunate fact that very few elementary schools teach foreign languages, despite research indicating that children age 12 and younger are much more receptive language learners than older students. The Berlitz Kids Language Pack series is aimed at parents who know this, and want to offer their son or daughter the benefits of a second language. The Berlitz Kids German Language Pack program targets children ages five and up. The Language Pack comes in a colorful cardboard briefcase package with handle that kids can carry around. The Berlitz Kids German package includes the following: The Missing Cat/Die verschwundene Katze story bookAudio CD for the story book and songsFirst 100 German Words picture dictionaryHelp Your Child with a Foreign Language guide bookBerlitz Language German Club certificate The Berlitz Kids German Language Pack materials teach the language in a natural, familiar way that is suited for young learners. In a reading and story-telling format, along with songs in German, kids are introduced to German vocabulary, grammar, and the sounds of the language (on CD). Berlitz has repackaged its 1998 Language Pack edition, dropping the former flashcards, and putting the audio on CD rather than cassettes. The story book is in German with English in smaller print. The accompanying audio CD has excellent sound and includes eight sing-along songs that go with each chapter of the story book. The story of Nicholas and Princess, his missing cat, is a typical illustrated childrens tale that manages to introduce basic German vocabulary and grammar without seeming to teach them overtly. Berlitz offers two additional German story books (The Five Crayons and A Visit to Grandma, also with audio CD) at extra cost, which is one of the few complaints I have about this $27.00 package. For that amount, it should include more than just one story book. Besides The Missing Cat, the only other printed material for the young student is a thin 26-page picture dictionary called the First 100 Words. But parents are offered some real help in guiding their young learner. Besides being able to learn and read along with their youngster, the included 210-page book Help Your Child with a Foreign Language by Opal Dunn helps parents do a better job of introducing a new language to their kids. The book is a comprehensive guide that includes pedagogical information, language activities and games, Language Time ideas, German phrases, mistakes to avoid, suggested teaching strategies, and other resources to help mom or dad enhance the childs learning experience. It encourages parents to participate in their childs language learning by offering good ideas and practical strategies for young learners that they can use. I have awarded the Berlitz Kids Language Pack German program four stars (out of five) because it offers a good introduction to German for kids, but it should include at least one more story book instead of offering it at extra cost. I found the German songs a bit irritating (all sung by the same artists), but most young kids will probably love them. Children and their parents will enjoy learning German with the Language Pack. It is also available for Italian, French, and Spanish. Berlitz Kids German Language PackStory book/audio CD, picture dictionary, parent guide, certificateBerlitz Publishing/Langenscheidt$26.95 SRP