10. ‘‘Urbanisation has added to water scarcity.’’ Support the statement with arguments.

Urbanization indeed exacerbates water scarcity through various mechanisms:

1. Increased Demand: As urban areas grow, so does the demand for water due to larger populations, industrialization, and commercial activities. This heightened demand can quickly outstrip the available supply, leading to water scarcity.

2. Infrastructure Strain: Urbanization puts a strain on existing water infrastructure. Often, cities struggle to upgrade or expand water treatment plants, distribution networks, and sewage systems to keep pace with population growth. This strain can result in leakages, inefficiencies, and water losses, further exacerbating scarcity.

3. Groundwater Depletion: Rapid urbanization often leads to the over-extraction of groundwater to meet the demands of growing populations. This over-pumping can deplete aquifers faster than they can recharge, leading to long-term water scarcity and even land subsidence in some cases.

4. Surface Water Pollution: Urbanization brings with it increased pollution from industrial discharges, untreated sewage, and runoff from roads and buildings. This pollution contaminates surface water sources such as rivers and lakes, making them unfit for human consumption and further reducing available water resources.

5. Land Use Changes: Urbanization involves extensive land use changes such as paving over green spaces and wetlands for buildings and roads. This reduces the natural capacity of land to absorb and retain water, leading to increased surface runoff during rainfall events and decreased groundwater recharge.

6. Climate Change: While not directly caused by urbanization, the phenomenon exacerbates the impacts of climate change, including altered precipitation patterns, increased frequency of droughts, and rising temperatures. These changes can intensify water scarcity in urban areas, where the demand for water is already high.

7. Social Inequities: Urbanization often exacerbates social inequalities, with marginalized communities facing disproportionate impacts of water scarcity. These communities may lack access to reliable water services, forcing residents to rely on unsafe or expensive alternative sources.

Overall, urbanization amplifies water scarcity through a combination of increased demand, strained infrastructure, environmental degradation, and social disparities, making it a significant challenge for many rapidly growing cities worldwide.