Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Practice Exam

Which option is NOT a method for water supply management?

1. Building dams

2. Desalination

3. Pollution control measures

4. Wastewater treatment and reuse

The correct answer is: Pollution control measures

Water supply management encompasses various strategies aimed at securing water availability and quality for human consumption and ecosystem health. The correct choice here is indeed pollution control measures, which do not directly contribute to the management of water supply systems. Building dams is a traditional method employed to store water, regulate flow, and create reservoirs, facilitating the supply of water for various uses such as drinking, irrigation, and recreation. Similarly, desalination is a technological process aimed at converting seawater into freshwater, thereby expanding the available water supply. Wastewater treatment and reuse also play a crucial role in water supply management by treating used water to a safe level for reuse in irrigation or industrial processes, thus augmenting the overall water supply and minimizing wastage. Pollution control measures, while vital for protecting water quality and ensuring safe drinking water, focus instead on mitigating the contamination of existing water sources rather than managing the supply itself. Hence, while they are essential for maintaining water resources, they do not directly serve as a method for managing the water supply in terms of availability or distribution.