Global water crisis (Task 7)

The world’s population is growing at an alarming rate, since 1900 it has doubled and now stands at approximately 7 billion. According to reliable estimates, this figure is predicted to rise to around 9 billion by the year 2050(United Nations). An increased world population means that more and more of the world’s natural resources are being depleted, and freshwater is one of these, in fact, over the last century, the world has seen a six times increase in water consumption and this has led to water shortage in some areas, many government and international agencies are alarmed by this upward trend. This essay will first present an overview of the global water crisis, before looking at two possible solutions.


Although water is a renewable resource, the rapid increase in world water use in causing severe problem in many parts of the world, as the demand from agriculture, industry and urban users grows the amount of available freshwater decrease. Recent research by the United Nations, for example, shows that as many as 80 countries now have water shortages that threaten health and economies, (United Nations). A total of 1 billion people do not have access to safe and affordable drinking water; 24 billion people live in condition lacking adequate sanitation (WWAP). As a consequence of this water – born diseases now kill one child every eight seconds. Furthermore, the increasing use of water for irrigation in particular, is causing groundwater depletion, salinization and desertification in some places.


Since the Earth’s natural freshwater reserves are extremely limited, one way to help solve the water shortage problem would be to create more water, and we already have the technology to do Desalination is the process of removing salt and other minerals from sea water so that it can be used for drinking or watering crops, this is a extremely expensive process as desalination requires vast amount of energy, but it is gradually becoming more widespread. Desalination plants have been built in many parts of the world (11000 in 120 countries), and 60% of these are in the Middle East. In the UAE, for example, between 60% and 70% per cent of the water supply is desalinated and this figure is rising every year (AQUASTAT).


A less costly and more immediate to the water shortage problem, However, would be for us to start save and managing the water resources which we already have, the problem is not that water is running out, but that there are steadily more of us to share it (DeVilliers). Water Conservation would include such measures as repairing reservoirs, fixing pipes, increasing our use of recycled water and reducing pollution (see Fig1 below). In order to manage water resources better, government, particularly in developed countries, could encourage the public to reduce their consumption of water by means of public awareness campaigns and policy changes (UNEP). For example, suggests that municipal authorities should start charging people for the water they use.




In this essay, we have looked at the problems being caused by the rapid in global water consumption and have examined several ways in which these problems might be solved. To sum up, we will soon face a global water crisis unless we can increase the supply by desalination, better conservation and better management. I personally believe that sine 97% of the Earth's water reserves consist of seawater, this is where our future supply will have to come from, and I therefore feel that governments should invest more in desalination technology so as to make it cheaper and more effective. Water is a vital resource; without it, life on Earth would be impossible. Water will be more important than oil this century (Ghali). Water may become the cause of future wars.

Fig.1: Estimated Annual water

Bibliography

"AQUASTAT - FAO's Information System on Water and Agriculture." FAO: FAO Home. 27 May 2009 http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/countries/untd_arab_em/index.stm.

De Villiers, Marq. "Water: The Fate of Our Most Precious Resource. - Review - book review Business Economics Find Articles at BNET." Find Articles at BNET News Articles, Magazine Back Issues & Reference Articles on All Topics. 26 May 2009 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1094/is_1_36/ai_71712045/.

Ghali, Boutros. "BBC NEWS Special Reports 2003 World Forum Water." BBC NEWS News Front Page. 27 May 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/2003/world_forum/water/default.stm.

Kirby, Alex. "BBC NEWS Science/Nature Water scarcity: A looming crisis?" BBC NEWS News Front Page. 26 May 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3747724.stm.

"The Crisis of Water Management Global Economic Symposium." Global Economic Symposium Global Economic Symposium. 27 May 2009 http://www.global-economic-symposium.org/ges-2008/themes/dealing-with-climate-change/the-crisis-of-water-managemant.

UNESCO Documents and Publications - Home Page - UNESDOC / UNESBIB. 26 May 2009 http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001295/129556e.pdf.

"Waste not." -- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Home page --. 27 May 2009 http://www.unep.org/OurPlanet/imgversn/141/ghazi.html.

"WORLD POPULATION TO INCREASE BY 2.6 BILLION OVER NEXT 45 YEARS, WITH ALLGROWTH OCCURRING IN LESS DEVELOPED REGIONS." Welcome to the United Nations: It's Your World. 26 May 2009 http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/pop918.doc.htm.