The world water shortage looks unsolvable

[marmar]

The world water shortage looks unsolvable
Many nations are experiencing unprecedented strain on water supplies, but few are coming up with solutions

By Dina Fine Maron

This article was originally published by Scientific American.

Scientific American As we have been hearing, global water shortages are poised to exacerbate regional conflict and hobble economic growth. Yet the problem is growing worse, and is threatening to deal devastating blows to health, according to top water officials from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) who spoke before a House panel hearing today.

Ever-rising water demand, and climate change, are expected to boost water problems worldwide, especially in countries that are already experiencing shortages. Globally, the world is on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people unable to reach or afford safe drinking water by 2015, but it still must make strides to improve global sanitation, says Aaron Salzberg, the State Department’s Special Coordinator for Water Resources. In addition to supply problems, unclean water causes more than four billion cases of diarrhea a year which lead to roughly 2.2 million deaths, and most are in children under the age of five.

“The magnitude of it is extraordinary.” says Christian Holmes, global water coordinator for USAID.

The hearing comes on the heels of stark reminders of the current water shortages that are apparent across the globe. Pakistan, one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, is on the brink of crisis. A recent report from the Asian Development Bank, highlighted by The Atlantic, states that the country’s emergency water reserve only has enough supply for 30 days – more than 30 times below the 1,000-day recommendation for similar countries. Pakistan, the report states, is “not far from being classified as ‘water scarce,’ with less than 1,000 cubic meters per person per year.” Among other factors, climate change is affecting snowmelt and reducing flows into the Indus River, the area’s main water source. .........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.salon.com/2013/08/04/global_water_shortage_is_getting_worse_partner/

[raccoon]

1. K&R and bookmarked to read entire article later. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. The consequences of climate change are rapidly increasing...

rec

[CanonRay]

3. And yet, we're mixing good water with poison

and blowing it down 10,000 foot deep wells. Brilliant. Sometimes I think we should go extinct.

[ananda]

4. It sure does look that way.

Humanity's greatest success as a species could well be the cause of its downfall.

[tridim]

6. Worry not, Brawndo will save the day...

It's got Electrolytes.

Didn't the BFEE corner the water market awhile back? I seem to remember it being a big deal 10 years ago.

[LWolf]

7. How about this:

Nobody has more than 2 children, and at least half the population has fewer.

How does that affect the water shortage?

[kentauros]

8. That's a viable idea (although it would have massive resistance.)

Those of us in first-world countries would do something immediately and without as much resistance:

Stop watering our lawns.

[LWolf]

9. I don't have a lawn to water.

I use a slow drip system for shrubs and trees in July and August, but don't grow grass. I don't need to water the shrubs the rest of the year.

I could. I have my own well that draws sweet, clean water from 470 feet below the local rock and sand. I could grow 6 acres of grass, but I don't.

You are right about the massive resistance, of course. I think it's the difference between keeping the planet healthy enough for humans, or not, so I'm willing to take on that resistance.

[kentauros]

10. Childfree and no lawn; just a concrete balcony.

Yet people can have nice lawns without watering, if they'd just educate themselves about soil-care.

I would shut off the valves to golf courses, though

[zipplewrath]

11. Rain water runoff

The sad part is that we "collect" alot of rainwater every year around here. We "collect" it in the roads, sweep up all manner of toxins, and then tend to dump it straight into lakes and streams. We should collect it into local cysterns and then demand that people who want to water grass/lawns use THAT water. It'd help clean it a bit as well.

[kentauros]

12. Or just require them to collect the rainwater off their roofs.

My parents have a rainwater collection system out in central Texas. It supplies all of their potable water, even during a drought (they have two 5000 gallon tanks.) You can get all sorts of unobtrusive tanks, especially if you have a nosy HOA.

I do like your idea as it would have the benefit of flood-prevention as well They do that through retention ponds around here.

[zipplewrath]

13. Makes more sense in urban/zero lot line kind of neighborhoods

You can try to collect rain water off the roof around here, but the lots are so small that there isn't much room in an individual yard for a 5000 gallon cistern. As such I tend to think of "communal" solutions (socialism, I know). Retention ponds, underwater cisterns, etc. are all possible, and collect some of the most polluted water (that off of roads). You can still "meter" it to control abuse/waste.

[kentauros]

14. Well, my parents live out in the country, and have a large metal roof.

I wouldn't expect people to be able to collect that much water (yet there are large tanks that can hang on a fence and collect hundreds of gallons.) Plus, the level of air-pollution will determine whether you use that water for drinking or just watering plants. In some cities you could probably drink it; I wouldn't do that here in Houston

I have started seeing more of these little notices painted on storm sewer drains, telling people it's not a garbage can. I wonder how many understand that concept, and how many even care...

[zipplewrath]

16. Road kill

I appreciate the signs, but the reality is that most of the pollution comes off the road itself. Spilled oil, dripping anti-freeze, grease, bits of tire, and the truth is asphalt itself all ooze junk that ends up in the rain water. Only after that are we talking about the stuff people dump on the road, including the crap in the cups, bottles, cans, and inside the boxes and wrappers.
It is why they are trying to pipe much of this water to settling or "retention" ponds, so at least the heavy stuff will sink, and the soil will filter the smaller stuff out.

[KamaAina]

15. Nothing is unsolvable

The question is, can we summon up the political will to solve it?



These solar panels in India not only generate electricity, but reduce evaporation loss as well.