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Water scarcity concept map
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Water scarcity
Components of water scarcity
Water scarcity is the lack of available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region (ScienceDaily, 2019).
What is
water
scarcity?
Water scarcity is a challenging and complex issues with no easy solutions with Moors suggesting socially complex issues, changing behaviours, and unforeseen outcomes are some factors into why water resource management is considered a wicked problem (2017).
Water stress
1. Water
stress
Occurs when it is difficult to obtain fresh water for a period of time, resulting in further depletion of available water resources. The concept of water stress recently has been identified, with ScienceDaily (2019) explaining water stress can often lead to deterioration of available water for use.
Water shortages
2. Water
shortage
Are considered to be the result of climate change where altered weather patterns causing floods and droughts, or where areas have become overpopulated, increasing the consumption of and overuse of water (ScienceDaily, 2019).
Water crisis
Occurs where available, portable and clean water is less than the demand within a region’s area (ScienceDaily, 2019).
3. Water
crisis
Physical Vs. Economic
water scarcity
Physical Vs.
Ecomic scarcity
Water scarcity is not limited to one area but every continent
Physical
Is the result of result of inadequate natural water resources to supply a region’s demand. Physical scarcity can occur as a result of a natural phenomenon such as drought and human influences (Bond, Burrow, Kennard & Bunn, 2019). These can be concurrent such as drought periods and water overuse.
The key distinction in physical scarcity is the degree of permanency and reversibility, which Bond et al. state temporary droughts can be reversible however overuse of water leading to desertification is permanent.
Economic
Economic scarcity is the outcome of poor management of available water resources due to a lack of suitable infrastructure to ensure regular supply.
According to ScienceDaily areas experiencing water scarcity lack the means to provide in an accessible manner (2019).
Who are
consumers
of water?
Water is considered the most critical resource on earth because it is biologically necessary and is non-substitutable
(Sutlana, 2018)
Households
Whilst 70% of the earth is covered in water, less than 3% of this is freshwater, which means this small amount is needed to cover a variety of needs (Sultana, 2017). This creates a highly contested and fought over resource, causing an unequal access to safe water. ScienceDaily reports more than 1.2 billion people lack proper access to clean drinking water (2019). As the population grows the demand for clean water increases. By 2025, it is projected that two-thirds of the world’s population will face water scarcity (Guarino, 2016)
Industry
As population increases there is a corresponding growth in industrialization and economic growth. Guarino explains growth increases water usage, water ecosystems transformation and a detriment on biodiversity (2016). This can lead to competition over water usage and the regulation of waste water. Consequently, policies are focus on supporting production, with Guarino noting this puts additional pressure on water supplies in the production for commodities such as food and energy (2016).
Agriculture
Water scarcity impacts both rain and irrigated watered agriculture, including livestock, and therefore, has a direct impact on the food industry. Agriculture is regarded as the largest contributor around the world to water scarcity. Guarino states 70% of freshwater usage is by agriculture, however 60% of this is water wasted from irrigation system leakages, inefficient application and inappropriately planting of crops in dry areas (2016). This water wastage and inefficacy leads to significant environmental damage.
Environment
Guarino notes the growing use on fertilizers and pesticides has contributed to freshwater pollution (2016). This pollution adds to the crisis of water scarcity. Bond et al. state physical scarcity causes greater impact on ecological systems compared to economic scarcity due to low levels in rivers that sustain flow-dependent ecosystems (2019). As the global demand for water will continue with the rise of populations, the cost of water will also increase, leading to many considering water to become a commodity like oil.
Could water
become
a commodity?
The increase in water scarcity will lead to countries and businesses facing higher costs and long-term viability in water provision. These higher costs will make water a more expensive commodity than both oil and gold combined, a statistic stated by Guarino (2016).
This economic implication has led to the topic of governing water. Sultana (2018) agrees, stating many countries are already initiating policy pledges that address multicounty ownership of water (2018). Combining this issue of managing the water as a resource, climate change is also forecasted to exacerbate water scarcity even further.
Climate change?
Climate change has seen global temperatures continue to rise with many concerned on the impact on water and food supplies. Guarino states that climate change has impacted extensively on the amount of usable water available especially on agriculture irrigation, thus reducing the land available for agricultural yields (2016).
This leaves the poor most susceptible to the consequences of food and water security. Now more than ever is an urgent global call to action.
Where to
from here?
Possible solutions for water scarcity
Global imposed polices and tariffs that are focused on reducing water overuse and inefficient use of water
Water allocations to areas that experience longer periods of water shortages
Imposing bans on water activities during certain periods
Metering domestic supply of water, for example gardens and households
Could there other alternatives be water resources for agriculture irrigation?