Question bank: Impacts of Human Activities

Imagine you are a small farmer and use the water from the nearby river to irrigate your crops and also to generate energy for your home. How can your activities impact the river and the surrounding environment? What can you do to minimize these impacts?

In the region where Pedro and his family live, water is a precious and often scarce resource. Pedro learned that the water used to generate energy comes from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, and that this use can affect the quantity and quality of water available for people and agriculture. Observing his surroundings, he realized that changes in the landscape and intensive land use for planting can also influence the amount of water in rivers. Based on this scenario, how can human activities related to energy production and agriculture impact the environment and water availability in the region where Pedro lives?

In our lives, we use water for many things, such as drinking, bathing, and also to help plants grow. Farmers, for example, use rainwater or water from rivers and wells to irrigate corn, beans, and other foods that reach our table. In addition, companies use water from rivers to generate the electricity that lights up our homes. However, when we use too much water or do not take good care of it, we can cause problems in the environment, such as drying up rivers and leaving fish without a place to live. With that in mind, I would like you to tell me: How do you think people can better take care of water when using it in agriculture and energy production? Give examples of what farmers and companies can do to help the environment and what you, as a water user, can also do to help.

Imagine you are a farmer and need to use water to irrigate your crops and also to generate energy for your house. How can you do this in a way that does not harm the environment? Write a short text explaining your actions and the reason for them.

Imagine that you are a farmer and need to use water to irrigate your plants, but we also know that we need to save water to generate energy in a hydroelectric plant. How would you use water responsibly so that both activities can be carried out without causing harm to the environment? Describe your actions in detail.