(a)(i) Define the term Environmental Resources, (ii) List two types of Environmental Resources other than water. (b) Highlight four ways in which water is important as an environmental resource. (c) Outline two problems that might arise from the degradation of water resources.
Explanation
Environmental resources means any useful item in the environment or materials and substances that are useful to man. (ii) Types of resources (a) Atmospheric resources (b) Human resources (c) Mineral resources (d) Land resources (e) Vegetation resources. (b) Importance of water resources (1) Generation of hydro-electricity (2) Irrigation in agriculture (3) Domestic use (4) Industrial use (5) Recreation (6) Tourism (7) Minerals (8) Transportation (9) Fishing (10) Climatic modification. (c) Problems of Degradation of Water Resources (i) Destruction of aquatic life (ii) Water poisoning (iii) Inadequate fresh and pure water for domestic purposes (iv) Inadequate fresh and pure water for industrial use (v) Unemployment amongst fishermen (vi) Scarcity of sea foods (vii) High cost of water treatment.
