Global Water Scarcity and Conservation

Transcription

1 Herbert 1 Global Water Scarcity and Conservation 1.0: Introduction With a population approaching seven billion and growing, the issue of worldwide water security is fast becoming one of the most important issues facing the sanctity of both the environment and society in general. In order to address water scarcity, both current and potential problems must first be identified, and a multifaceted approach to solving them must be applied, taking into consideration a number of important factors such as stakeholders involved, geography, climate, public education, environmental and ecological features, as well as socio-cultural and economic aspects. 2.0: Background and Problems Since the beginning of our emergence as a species, some 4/1000ths of 1% of the Earth s total water has sustained humans (see Notes ). Presently, increased global temperatures are changing the way that water moves through the global hydrological cycle. Many argue that the effects humans have had on the Earth are the driving force behind the change in the way that water behaves in the hydrological cycle. In addition, increased levels of harmful toxins, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, carcinogens, and heavy metals are being recorded in areas across the globe. However, at the same time, humans as a whole seem to either be uninformed on the effect and urgency of the situation, or assume that nothing has, will, or is changing. It is a (hopefully) widely known and given fact that nature needs water for the perpetuation of the hydrologic cycle in order to sustain a number of biological and geological processes essential for the preservation and continuation of life on the planet as we know it. As mentioned above, the impacts that humans are having on these processes, specifically through increased and unsustainable water use are interfering with them. As a result of such unsustainable use, the destruction of water resources is currently happening faster than the reclamation

2 Herbert 2 and repair of them (see Notes ). Due to rising global populations, the demand for food is rising. In order to meet these needs, agriculture around the world is becoming more intensive in terms of inputs, such as fertilizer. This in turn is beginning to affect available water resources. As such, the remaining water resources are also becoming more scarce and/or polluted as agriculture intensifies. Coupled with increased agricultural intensity is, as mentioned, a growing global population. Projections place the majority of global population growth to occur in third world countries (Bouwer 2002). The increased numbers and densities of people in these areas will undoubtedly put an unprecedented stress on local water resources in terms of agriculture and sewage. As such, methods of reusing and recycling water must be developed in order to prevent water sources from becoming completely non-potable or running out. Although this seems like an issue that should be immediately, thoroughly, and carefully addressed without so much as a second thought, society in general is very divided over issues of water and environmental policy. Further division over this subject poses a serious danger to the survival of future generations and therefore how we address it today is of utmost importance. 3.0: Strategies and Solutions There are a number of potential options to consider for the future preservation and sustainable use of global water resources. However, there is no single option that is a cure-all for water scarcity. A number of steps need to be taken in conjunction with each other. The scope of the issue of water security and the many dimensions involved in addressing it are simply too immense to be adequately covered by one single report or effort. However, two points are certain: methods of water preservation need to be flexible in the face of changing environmental conditions, and multidisciplinary communication is essential in determining the needed solutions. In many cases more research is needed before these problems can be properly addressed. However, there are certain

3 Herbert 3 aspects of global water security that have already been incontrovertibly identified and towards which actions may be taken. The area that has the largest impact on available water resources is the agricultural sector. It is also an area where steps towards conservation and more efficient use can be taken immediately. Current agricultural systems are extremely intensive in terms of water use. Given the strong demand for high yields, modern agriculture uses large amounts of fertilizer and other chemical nutrient loading to increase crop productivity. However, this type of intensive agriculture is unsustainable in a long-term scope, as it contributes to soil erosion and chemical runoff that affects other water resources in the watershed of which it is a part. Typically, crops only take up a fraction of the fertilizer applied to them (Kunzig 2011), and the rest simply runs off into nearby water bodies, contributing to increased algal growth and eutrophication, as well as acting to deplete local water resources. Lake Winnipeg is a perfect example of this. In order to address this, there needs to be significant innovation in current agricultural systems that will still allow for high yields, but use much less water in doing so. Also, farming methods and the type of crops grown should adapt to the geographic areas in which they are situated. For example, in typically dry areas such as the American Southwest, agricultural production should focus on crops that are resistant to heat and drought conditions as opposed to crops that require large amounts of water. In essence, crops should be supported by the geographic areas in which they are grown as opposed to artificially supported by an agricultural system that sets itself apart from nature. One specific problem with modern agriculture that has been noted of late is the traditional use of annual species as harvest crops. Instead, perennial species could be developed and eventually utilized as harvest crops. Perennial species have a much greater capacity to absorb water and nutrients, as their root systems are much more extensive than annual species. Also, perennial species do not need to be replanted each year, as is the case with annuals. As such, their root systems remain in place and help to maintain the integrity of the soil, thereby reducing soil erosion and surface runoff. Species such as these require

4 Herbert 4 much less water than current crops, and would therefore reduce the amount of water as well as fertilizer needed, as they do not have to grow from seed to maturity every year. Also, the greater capacity of such plants to hold water makes them more resistant to drought, an occurrence that is likely to become more frequent if current warming trends in the global climate continue. Executing these changes first requires the introduction and implementation of a comprehensive water use strategy that addresses as best it can the needs of all stakeholders involved, especially farmers and local residents that use the water. It is no secret that farming is not a particularly lucrative occupation; as such, it is difficult for farmers to change the methods by which they grow their crops, even in cases where they are in favour of less intensive agriculture. Part of a water policy that aims to reduce water use in agricultural applications needs to address the fact that most farmers do not have the funding or motivation to change their current systems. To counteract this, a combination of subsidies, incentives and support resources at both federal and provincial levels should be offered to farmers to persuade and support them in switching to less water intensive crops and practices. Funding for this would obviously have to come from government coffers. In order to combat aversion by taxpayers towards such large forms of federal funding, public education campaigns are of utmost importance to illustrate the current state of global water resources and the challenges that they will face in the future. Such efforts will hopefully indicate that this type of spending is necessary. Another process that works towards water conservation is the concept of a virtual water trade. This would see areas of the world that have limited water resources, large or dense populations, or a combination of these factors minimize their water use by importing materials, goods, and services that require large amounts of water to produce, such as hydroelectric power, and certain water-intensive food crops. The concept of virtual water essentially eliminates the need to physically import large quantities of water, as the water required to produce the items has already been utilized. This is best summed up by Bouwer: As economies and trade become more and more global in scope, global

5 Herbert 5 movement of food from water-rich to water poor countries should be just as feasible as moving petroleum products from oil rich to oil poor countries (Bouwer 2002). A virtual water trade would make Canadian agriculture even more important on the global scale given the extensive freshwater resources available in Canada. It would also assign water a higher economic value, thereby encouraging more efficient use of water. The importance of water resources to natural processes also needs to be considered along with the needs of humans. Nature is, as Robert Sandford phrases it a legitimate water customer (see Notes ). Nature needs water to sustain the processes, such as the hydrologic cycle, that in turn sustain humans. In making nature a force to live in congruity with, rather than contend with, human society will be able to sustain itself in a long-term context. Given the small amount of fresh water actually available to humans, it is simply too valuable to use just once before it becomes wastewater, especially with a rising global population. In order to confront this, substantial innovation in water treatment is needed not simply in a technological sense, but also in the way that our systems of water use and treatment are designed. One way of redesigning current systems of water treatment is to institute measures towards planned local water reuse prior to treatment and release back into the water table. This would help to cut the amount of wastewater produced, as water reuse basically compresses the hydrologic cycle from an uncontrolled global scale to a controlled local scale (Bouwer 2002). A key component in achieving water reuse is public education. People need to be informed about water reuse so that the stigmas associated with using recycled water or treated sewage as it is seen in the eyes of many, can be eliminated. Rather than being treated immediately after becoming wastewater it can instead be used for non-potable purposes such as agricultural and urban irrigation, industrial uses, environmental enhancement, fire fighting, and toilet flushing. Effluent could also be used to recharge groundwater aquifers, where natural filtration will remove a number of pollutants. The re-used water would

6 Herbert 6 then come from wells as opposed to treatment plants. It would cease to become the treated sewage that many perceive it to be. Lastly, public education on the threats and situations surrounding water scarcity is extremely important. Major changes in the way in which global society functions as a whole do not happen overnight. However, education and the opportunity to participate in the discovery of solutions helps to create political will among public citizens, a key component in motivating change. Public education should stress the urgency of the current situation and the potential threats that it poses to future generations However at the same time education efforts need to be careful not to fear-monger, as this could create further divisiveness on the subject, and no significant progress would be made. An example of this type of schism due to fear-mongering would be the current debate over climate change; proponents essentially claim that the world as we know it will end if current practices do not stop, and detractors claim that actions to address climate change will bankrupt nations, leaving thousands jobless and starving. This type of polarizing divisiveness must be avoided at all costs, as it eventually breeds public apathy, which is the antithesis towards creating change. The public must be included in the decision making process surrounding water resources and made to realize that there is no such thing as a perfect solution. Sacrifices will need to be made by humans regarding their consumptive habits, and at the same time must realize that there will be an environmental impact as a result of our actions. The extent of those sacrifices and impacts are dependant on the choices that humans make today and will make in the future. The success of actions taken to address water conservation may be gauged in a number of ways. The first, and most obvious method is the monitoring of water use in residential areas, industry, and agriculture. If use levels drop by an acceptable degree, conservation measures are effective. If not, changes to current approaches, or different approaches altogether are needed. Alongside water use, water quality needs to be measured also. The effectiveness of public education campaigns is somewhat more difficult to ascertain. However, there are indirect indicators that may demonstrate

7 Herbert 7 a greater value placed on the conservation of water resources by the public. Such indicators could include monitoring investment in and consumption of water conserving goods, technologies, and services. An increase would show that public concern is growing and that education efforts are having a positive effect. Another option would be public surveys performed either independently, or as part of provincial and federal censuses. 4.0: Conclusions With an increasing population, and a global climate that is growing warmer, the condition of water resources on the planet can no longer be ignored. A combination of factors including attitude change, consumption habits, a greater understanding of ecological and geologic cycles, and innovation, both technological and systematic, are needed to properly address the problems we are currently faced with. Coming generations will be greatly affected, or even wholly dependent on the decisions that we make today. Those decisions need to exercise foresight, sacrifice, openness to change, and urgency to ensure that the proper steps are taken towards preserving the future for our descendants. Notes: 1. Selected information was gathered from a lecture and presentation titled Scarcity in all the Wrong Places, given by Robert W. Sandford on February 10 th, The lecture was sponsored by the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists. Sanderson discussed global water scarcity, the issues surrounding it, and the potential consequences that may come if current systems of water management remain as they are. References/Works Cited Bouwer H Integrated Water Management for the 21 st Century: Problems and Solutions. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. 128(4): Fereres E. Soriano M Deficit Irrigation for Reducing Agricultural Water Use. Journal of Experimental Botany. 58(2): Kunzig R Perennial Solutions. National Geographic. 219(4): Pimentel D Reducing Energy Inputs in the Agricultural Production System. Monthly Review. 61: