Water management is a key issue in IB Geography, particularly within Option A: Freshwater – Drainage Basins. Decisions about how water is stored, distributed, and used often benefit some groups more than others. As a result, water management frequently creates winners and losers, shaped by power, wealth, location, and governance.
One major way water management creates winners and losers is through large-scale infrastructure projects such as dams and reservoirs. These projects can provide reliable water supplies, hydroelectric power, and flood control for cities, industries, and agriculture. Urban areas and commercial farmers often benefit most, gaining secure access to water and economic opportunities. These groups are usually the “winners” of water management schemes.
However, dams can also create significant losers. Communities living upstream may be displaced by reservoirs, losing homes, farmland, and cultural sites. Downstream users may experience reduced river flow, affecting fishing, agriculture, and ecosystems. Reduced sediment flow can lower soil fertility and increase coastal erosion. In IB Geography, this highlights how benefits and costs are unevenly distributed.
Water management can also favour wealthy users over poorer communities. Large-scale irrigation schemes often prioritise commercial agriculture, leaving small-scale farmers with reduced access to water. In cities, wealthier neighbourhoods may have reliable piped water supplies, while informal settlements rely on unsafe or expensive alternatives. This creates inequality in access to a basic human need.
Political power plays a key role in determining who wins and who loses. Governments and corporations often influence water management decisions, shaping policies to support economic growth or energy security. Marginalised communities may lack representation in decision-making, meaning their needs are overlooked. In IB Geography, this links water management to issues of governance and justice.
Transboundary water management can also create winners and losers between countries. Upstream countries that build dams or divert rivers often gain control over water flow, benefiting agriculture and energy production. Downstream countries may suffer from reduced water availability, increasing scarcity and tension. This can lead to conflict if cooperation is weak.
Environmental impacts further complicate water management outcomes. Ecosystems often become silent losers when rivers are heavily managed. Reduced flow, pollution, and habitat disruption threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services. While human users may benefit in the short term, long-term environmental damage can undermine sustainability.
Overall, water management decisions create winners and losers because water is limited and unevenly distributed. Effective and fair management requires inclusive decision-making, environmental protection, and consideration of long-term impacts.
RevisionDojo helps IB Geography students analyse water management critically, linking power, inequality, and sustainability into clear, exam-ready explanations.
