What are three examples of conflicts that arise over competition for water?

Answer 1

The basic conflicts are over who is entitled to the water and in what amounts, and who may be abusing or polluting the river.

It can involve issues as diverse as the Moab, Utah, where uranium tailing operations return harmful solids and untreated water to the river. It involves questions like agricultural leaching into the water supply, allowable salinity levels, and environmental issues such as the populations of toads and minnows.

Water use of the Colorado River Basin is based on the 1922 Colorado River Compact and the population of the west has shifted since it became the Law of the River. For years, Arizona and California made use of any unused water that came their way until it was a mere trickle when it reached Mexico.

The Compact was based on flawed science which overestimated the river's capacity. It is scheduled for review in 2016 and any change in allotments will surely be tested in the Supreme Court and then challenged by Mexico in International Courts. There is simply not enough water to meet the needs and the desires of the 7 US States and 2 Mexican States that are dependent on that water.

Answer 2

When there are needs for water downstream, upstream uses may be disputed if they take too much water or if they add harmful wastes to it. Similarly, users on the opposite banks of a river may come into conflict concerning diversion or stockpiling that occurs across the river.

Answer 3

This is a obviously a test question because people who want to know things like this don't specify that they want to know exactly three of them. This is not going to be answered.