The Global Water Crisis Homework Help

Discuss the global water crises for a 4th university course on Ecosystems And Sustainable Development…………………

Answer:

Abstract

Though some may contest the idea that the global water supply situation is in crisis, it is in actuality an irrevocable fact. This fact is faced every day by those who live in areas where land that was once covered by green fields of corn lays barren. The global water crisis is a state of affairs that has been brought about mainly by human action and neglect. Human action caused the crisis through unsustainable exploitation of this vital resource. Neglect can be seen as the unwillingness of governments to create a framework for sustainable water management. This paper examines the global water crisis and the possible approaches to mitigating it.

All life on the planet depends on water. It is without doubt the most significant and vital substance on earth. According to the world wildlife fund, two-thirds of the total global population is at risk of suffering from an extreme water crisis by the year 2025 (2009). The predicament has many dimensions. Among them are the lack of access to safe drinking water, pollution of water sources such as rivers, lakes and groundwater, and the risk of extreme reduction in global freshwater supplies in the near future (Lall et.al, 2008). This paper is aimed at examining the causes and consequences of the global water crisis. It also looks at the current and proposed actions that should be undertaken to remedy the situation.

Understanding the Global Water Crisis

The global water crisis can be summed up as the deterioration of fresh water supplies across the globe. According to the United Nations, The depletion of global water supplies is a multifaceted problem. It stems from many causes and has different implications on the developed and developing world (2009). The developing world, however, is more likely to bear the greatest costs of the worsening crisis than the developed world.   The world wildlife fund identifies three dimensions to the crisis: an ecological dimension, a humanitarian dimension and an economic dimension (2011).

The ecological dimension of the global water crisis pertains to the destruction of ecosystems that contribute to the supply of fresh water to both people and animals (Hunt, 2007). Destruction of watersheds and wetlands through illegal logging, agriculture and construction leads to reduction in water supply to the surrounding regions. Surface and underground sources of water are usually diverted towards industries and large scale farms and away from human settlements, especially those in the rural areas of developing nations. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that fifty percent of global wetlands have been drained in the last century in order to pave way for agricultural land (WWF, 2011). Diversion of water also affects aquatic ecosystems negatively

Pollution as a result of industrial effluent and agricultural wastes contribute a great deal to the loss of fresh water to residents of developing countries. The World Wildlife Fund observes that pollution destabilizes river and lake ecosystems ( 2011). Proper sewage disposal mechanisms in developing countries are inadequate or lacking altogether. This leads to the pollution of lakes and rivers where the waste is dumped. Seepage of pollutants into the ground also leads to the contamination of water in aquifers. Due to pollution, residents of affected areas are deprived of access to safe drinking water.

Climate change has also impacted negatively on water supply. This can be attributed to the increase of long dry spells which are marked by scarce rainfall.  Global warming has resulted in the melting of glaciers on equatorial mountaintops such as Mount Kilimanjaro as well as those in higher latitudes (Maslin, 2010). This has been attributed to high levels of pollutants in the atmosphere as a result of human activity (Plattner, Knutti and Friedlingstein, 2009).

According to estimates by the United Nations, global population has exceeded 7 billion and is increasing at an exponential rate. The burgeoning population is concentrated in the developing world in countries such as China or India (UN, 2011). This puts great stress on their water supplies as the demand greatly outstrips supply. High population growth in urban centers of developing countries aIDs to the water crisis. This is because the poorly organized infrastructure of the existing water supply systems cannot cater for a rapidly growing population (Van der Bruggen, Borghgraef and Vinckier, 2009).

Population increase translates into a larger consumer base for manufacturers leading to increased consumption of water in industries (Manzoor, 2011). The increased water demand has led to the depletion of water in aquifers. The high plains aquifer in the United States is an example. According to the United States Geological Survey, water levels in the aquifer are falling much faster than can be replaced by rainfall due to increased pumping for the purposes of agricultural irrigation (2011).

Global population growth has resulted in an increased rate of food production with the producers struggling to keep up with demand. The amount of land under irrigation has gone up as a result. Due to climate change, rain fed agriculture has proven to be inadequate in some parts of the world. Irrigation delivers five times greater yields than traditional rain fed agriculture and has been adopted or intensified in order to meet increasing demand. The amount of irrigated land stands at less than a fifth of global agricultural land. However, about half of global food production comes from irrigated land and which consequently uses up more than two-thirds of the fresh water available (Gilbert, 2010).

According to the United Nations, irrigation water needs to be increased by a fifth of current levels in order for food production to match the global population growth (2003).  This is to prevent food supplies from diminishing by 10 percent within a quarter of a century. Food production will also be negatively affected due to exhaustion of groundwater in aquifers, which results in an increase in soil salinity.  Directing water to nonagricultural uses such as manufacturing will also lead to diminished food production.

Lall, Heikkila, Brown, and Siegfried argue that population increase leads to increased demand for food, energy and manufactured commodities (2008). The increased industrial and agricultural output that results from increased demand is directly proportional to the production of pollutants which in turn end up in rivers and lakes.  Increase in industrial output leads to increased emission of atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxide and Sulfur dioxide. In aIDition to being a greenhouse gas, sulfur dioxide is involved in the formation of acid rain, which damages forests that act as carbon sinks and water catchment areas. Atmospheric pollutants are also released by an increasing number of automobiles, contributing further to global warming and climate change. These factors impact global water supplies negatively since the depletion of forests and watersheds leads to widespread desertification.

Adequate infrastructure is crucial in providing reliable water supply especially to people living far from urban centers in developing countries. Information from the United Nations reveals that one in every six people in Africa cannot obtain clean water near where they live (2009).  Corruption in developing countries leads to the misappropriation of funds allocated to the construction of water reservoirs. Piped water in rural areas of developing countries is very uncommon and most of the pipes even in urban areas are in a state of disrepair. Inefficient water supply contributes to water shortage in these countries (Hunt, 2007).

The worsening problem of water scarcity has generated negative consequences both socially and environmentally. Frequent droughts caused by climate change have led to wildlife deaths in East Africa, which has brought some species to the brink of endangerment (Manzoor, 2011). Human and livestock deaths due to famine have been recorded in parts of East Africa, due to severe drought.

Pollution of Freshwater lakes and rivers destroy the ecosystem on which numerous species including human beings rely on. The environment possesses an inherent ability to sustain itself and absorb pollutants at low levels; however, this ability is lost when pollution exceeds the natural ability of the environment to clean itself. The result is the degeneration of the ecosystem and the loss of microorganisms, plants and animals that are dependent on it (Shah, 2011).  According to the world wildlife fund, species that live in freshwater lakes and rivers rank among those that face the highest risk of extinction (2011).

Pollution of aquatic ecosystems due to dumping of industrial waste, sewage and fertilizer and pesticide runoff from farms into rivers and lakes leads to the depletion of fish, which is a food source for populations which live close to rivers and lakes. The wealth of the community that depends on the ecosystem deteriorates as food has to be sourced from other locations at a higher price.  AIDitionally, fishermen and miIDlemen who rely on the channels of supply of fish from the lakes to the consumers lose their source of income. This results in an increase in poverty for the affected population.

Scarcity of water in developing countries places a great economic burden on the population. Irregular and infrequent supply of piped water in the urban areas forces the residents to resort to water vendors. Countries spend large amounts of taxpayer’s money on construction projects for reservoirs, wells and dams to keep up with the demands for agricultural, industrial and human use. These measures impact the economies of developing countries negatively, resulting in exacerbation of poverty levels.

Countries where access to safe drinking water is limited to the lower income classes face numerous health problems.  According to the United Nations (2003), 1.1 billion people were faced with the problem of limited access to adequate water supply and 2.4 billion lacked access to adequate sanitation in the year 2003. Water polluted by sewage and industrial waste is responsible for the proliferation of diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract such as typhoid and diarrhea.  AIDitionally, diseases such as malaria and dengue fever affect those living close to aquatic ecosystems where disease vectors breed.

The use of contaminated water for bathing and washing their clothes expose people to the risk of contracting diseases such as scabies which are transmitted by parasites present in the water. Children under the age of five represent a large portion of those that are affected by water-borne diseases in developing countries. The use of wastewater for irrigation in developing countries aIDs to the burden of disease faced by these countries.  Microorganisms such as salmonella and amoeba present in the water expose farmers and consumers of crops irrigated by wastewater to disease. Furthermore, wastewater contains high levels of toxic chemicals and heavy metals which put consumers at risk of poisoning.

Negative effects of water scarcity include the impact on the educational development of children in developing countries. In Africa for example, girls living in areas that experience chronic water shortages skip school in order to walk long distances in search of water.  Women, whose role in traditional societies includes fetching water, also face similar burdens in rural areas with water shortages.

The global water crisis has had a profound negative impact on food production especially in the developing world. In Africa, for example, agriculture relies heavily on rainfall. Global warming and climate change has led to erratic rainfall and long periods of drought in parts of the continent leading to massive famines. To mitigate this problem, Countries resort to the importation of food through global trade channels. Hujsak (2011) asserts that food producers and consumers rely on international trade. Shortages of water in one part of the globe affect the cost of food in other parts. Rising costs of food may have a negative effect on global markets due to drops in demand. Disturbances in the normal supply chains may result, diminishing the supply of food to regions that do not produce locally. In some cases, the shortage of food brought about by disruption in supply may lead to civil unrest.

Remedies to the Global Water Crisis

To provide a remedy to the global water crisis, action is needed on various fronts. Firstly, cities need to make available improved water supply systems. This can be achieved by the installation of utilities that are able to cater for large, densely packed populations in the lower income groups.  Policy makers should formulate effective regulations that will be able to suppress corruption and ensure that the planned targets for infrastructure development are met within the specified budgets.  Diversion of piped water in low income urban areas should be curbed through strict law enforcement measures. City planning should be improved by setting appropriate regulation that will ensure that correct zoning is assigned to industry and residential areas, facilitating efficient water distribution.

Watersheds play a great role in supplying large cities with water. They include forested areas that store moisture and release it as streams and rivers, which provide water for human use, agriculture and industry. Efficient management of these sources of water involves protecting the ecosystem that sustains them. This includes governments setting up regulation aimed at curbing the stripping of forests through logging, which may be legal or illegal. AIDitionally, the destruction of wetlands to pave way for agriculture, industry or construction should be discouraged.

Forests play a crucial role in cleaning the environment by acting as carbon sinks. This helps in reducing the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change.  Environmental sustainability will be achieved through the protection of existing ecosystems and the repair of damaged ones. This will be achieved by developing new technology and employing existing knowledge in order to reinstate original water levels in lakes and rivers. AIDitionally, there is need for awareness and concerted efforts by governments, private sectors and communities to efficiently manage their resources and reduce waste production to a minimum.

Efficient water management is central to reducing diseases transmitted by vectors, such as malaria and yellow fever. Water management is crucial in enabling the residents of developing countries to acquire water that is safe for drinking. According to Herro, Governments should enforce proper sanitation practices which will prevent the pollution of water sources, enabling residents to have access to safe drinking water (2006).  Pit latrines in developing countries contaminate groundwater sources through seepage of waste through the rock strata, and should therefore be abolished. AIDitionally, government policies should direct industries to protect water sources by treating their wastewater before committing it to rivers and lakes.

Efficient management of water for irrigation purposes is crucial in ensuring food security in developing countries. Appropriate technology is required to enable improved irrigation while at the same time conserving water for other uses.   China, for example, has moved towards improving irrigation by introducing changes to how irrigation is managed by involving farmers, facilitating equal access to water for irrigation and creating efficient methods of irrigation (United Nations, 2003).

Population reduction is crucial in aIDressing the global water crisis. This is because population increase is accompanied by increased demand for resources such as food, water and energy.  In order to meet market demands for commodities, industry and agriculture are faced with a constant need to increase output. This translates to higher levels of water extraction for industrial purposes and irrigation, leaving little water for human use.

Seawater desalination can be used to alleviate water shortages as has been seen in MiIDle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia (Manzoor, 2011). However seawater desalination is largely unsuitable for low income developing nations since the facilities are expensive to install and maintain. Hoffman (2005) asserts that the remedy for low income countries rests in water harvesting methods, which involve the construction of rainwater harvesting dams and the promotion of water saving measures.

Agriculture is worst hit in countries where high reliance is placed on rainfall. In this case, genetically modified crops that are resistant to drought are a suitable alternative to ordinary crops. These crops have acquired drought tolerant traits from the genes of other organisms such as bacteria and drought tolerant plants. The genetically modified crops will enable the low income countries faced by irregular rainfall and droughts to produce food locally and avoid importation, which might have a negative effect in their economy. AIDitionally, food from these crops will help in staving off shortages and famines, leading to healthier populations with improved quality of life.

Conclusion

By examining the roots of the water crisis it has been found that the lack of will by global policy makers and individual governments to create policies that enabled the efficient management of water and environmental sustainability is to blame for this predicament. The lack of proper policy to lessen environmental degradation through pollution of the atmosphere and water sources has led to phenomena such as global warming and climate change. This has been compounded by exponential growth in global population which has in turn led to increased extraction of resources and further environmental degradation. Change is needed in government policies and water management structures in order to ensure that global water supply achieves sustainable levels in the near future.  Governments, private sectors and citizens should be made aware of the importance of ecosystems in maintaining the hydrologic cycle. It is important to keep in mind that developing water supplies that are sustainable requires proper management of the environment where every individual has a role to play.  With proper management of water supply combined with effective campaigns aimed at stemming global population to manageable levels, problems associated with the water crisis such as the food shortages and famines, diseases, poverty, environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity will be eliminated.

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