Introduction
In the IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) course, water management is one of the most practical and applied topics. By the 2026 first assessment, students are expected not only to identify different strategies but also to critically evaluate their sustainability.
Water management connects to nearly every other part of the syllabus: food production, population growth, biodiversity, and climate change. That’s why examiners often design questions around how societies manage freshwater resources—because the answers demand systems thinking and a balanced perspective.
Quick Start Checklist for ESS Students
When studying water management strategies, make sure you can:
- Distinguish between large-scale and small-scale methods.
- Give named examples of strategies in action.
- Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
- Link water management to sustainability goals.
- Use case studies in exam answers.
Why Water Management Matters in ESS
Freshwater is a finite and unevenly distributed resource. Agriculture, industry, and households all depend on it, but climate change and population growth have made scarcity one of the defining environmental issues of the 21st century.
ESS requires you to understand management strategies on two levels:
- Large-scale (national or international projects).
- Small-scale (community or household solutions).
Both approaches are necessary—and both come with trade-offs.
Large-Scale Water Management Strategies
1. Dams and Reservoirs
- Purpose: store water, provide irrigation, generate hydroelectric power.
- Advantages: reliable water supply, energy generation, flood control.
- Disadvantages: displacement of communities, ecosystem disruption, high cost.
- Case study: The Three Gorges Dam (China).
2. Desalination Plants
- Purpose: convert seawater into freshwater.
- Advantages: dependable in arid regions, reduces reliance on rivers.
- Disadvantages: expensive, energy-intensive, produces brine waste.
- Case study: Saudi Arabia’s large-scale desalination facilities.
3. International Agreements
- Purpose: manage shared water resources between countries.
- Advantages: promotes cooperation, reduces conflict.
- Disadvantages: enforcement is difficult, benefits may not be equally shared.
- Case study: Nile Basin Initiative.
Small-Scale Water Management Strategies
1. Rainwater Harvesting
- Purpose: collect and store rainwater for household or agricultural use.
- Advantages: low-cost, reduces pressure on mains supply.
- Disadvantages: limited by climate and rainfall patterns.
- Case study: Rooftop collection systems in rural India.
2. Drip Irrigation
- Purpose: deliver water directly to plant roots in agriculture.
- Advantages: highly efficient, reduces water loss by evaporation.
- Disadvantages: initial setup cost can be high.
- Case study: Used extensively in Israel.
3. Greywater Recycling
- Purpose: reusing wastewater from sinks, showers, and washing machines.
- Advantages: reduces demand on freshwater, lowers household water bills.
- Disadvantages: requires treatment to avoid contamination.
- Case study: Urban eco-housing projects in Australia.
Comparing Large-Scale and Small-Scale Approaches
- Scale of impact: Large-scale benefits millions, small-scale targets local needs.
- Cost: Large-scale requires billions in investment; small-scale can be affordable.
- Sustainability: Small-scale is often more sustainable long-term, but large-scale is vital in water-stressed regions.
- Flexibility: Small-scale adapts easily to local contexts, while large-scale projects can cause irreversible changes.
Exam Tips for ESS Students
- Use case studies: At least one large-scale and one small-scale.
- Evaluate sustainability: Don’t just describe—analyze the trade-offs.
- Expect Paper 2 questions: “Evaluate water management strategies” is a classic essay.
FAQs
1. Do I need to know both large-scale and small-scale examples?
Yes. ESS emphasizes systems thinking, so you must show that both approaches play a role in global sustainability.
2. Could water management appear in Paper 1?
Definitely. Resource management, especially water, is a recurring Paper 1 theme. Expect data interpretation tasks involving maps or graphs.
3. Which strategy is most sustainable?
It depends on the context. Drip irrigation is sustainable in agriculture, while desalination may be the only option for some arid countries despite its high energy demand.
Conclusion
Water management strategies are central to ESS because they illustrate how humans attempt to balance environmental needs with social and economic demands. By mastering both large- and small-scale approaches—and backing them up with case studies—you’ll be ready for any exam question on this topic in the 2026 first assessment.
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