Energy and Water Resources » Water resource issues and management

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The global distribution of water resources and water scarcity
Causes of water shortages (physical and economic)
Impacts of water shortages on people and the environment
Management strategies to increase water supply
Sustainable water management approaches
Case studies of water management in contrasting locations

Introduction to Water Resources

Water is essential for all life on Earth. Despite 71% of our planet being covered in water, only 2.5% is freshwater and just 0.3% is accessible for human use. As the global population grows and climate patterns change, managing water resources has become one of the most critical challenges of the 21st century.

Key Definitions:

Water scarcity: When water supply cannot meet demand.
Physical water scarcity: When there is not enough water to meet demands.
Economic water scarcity: When water is available but inaccessible due to lack of infrastructure or financial resources.
Water stress: When annual water supplies drop below 1,700m³ per person.
Water security: Reliable access to enough safe water for health, livelihoods and production.

💧 Global Water Distribution

Water resources are unevenly distributed across the globe. Some regions have abundant water while others face severe shortages. Countries in northern Europe, Canada and tropical regions typically have high water availability, while North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Australia face significant water stress. This uneven distribution is due to variations in climate, rainfall patterns and geography.

📊 Growing Water Demand

Global water demand has been increasing at approximately 1% per year since the 1980s, driven by population growth, economic development and changing consumption patterns. Agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, followed by industry (20%) and domestic use (10%). By 2050, global water demand is expected to increase by 20-30% above current levels.

Causes of Water Shortages

Water shortages occur due to both natural and human factors. Understanding these causes is essential for developing effective management strategies.

🌞 Physical Causes

Climate (arid regions)
Seasonal rainfall patterns
Drought conditions
Climate change impacts
Geographical barriers

🏠 Human Causes

Population growth
Urbanisation
Over-extraction of groundwater
Pollution of water sources
Deforestation affecting water cycles

💵 Economic Causes

Lack of infrastructure
Poor water governance
Inadequate investment
Inefficient irrigation
Water-intensive industries

Impacts of Water Shortages

Water shortages have far-reaching consequences for people, economies and ecosystems. These impacts vary in severity depending on the level of development and adaptive capacity of affected regions.

👪 Social Impacts

Health issues: Waterborne diseases, malnutrition and poor hygiene
Gender inequality: Women and girls often bear the burden of water collection
Education: Children miss school to collect water or due to water-related illness
Migration: People forced to relocate due to water scarcity
Conflict: Disputes over shared water resources

🌳 Environmental Impacts

Ecosystem degradation: Loss of wetlands and aquatic habitats
Reduced biodiversity: Threats to plant and animal species
Soil degradation: Increased salinity and reduced fertility
Groundwater depletion: Falling water tables and land subsidence
River and lake shrinkage: Reduced flows and surface area

Water Resource Management Strategies

To address water scarcity challenges, various management approaches have been developed, ranging from large-scale infrastructure projects to local conservation efforts.

🛠 Supply-Side Management

Dam construction
Reservoir creation
Water transfer schemes
Desalination plants
Groundwater extraction

🔋 Demand-Side Management

Water conservation
Efficient irrigation
Water recycling
Rainwater harvesting
Water pricing policies

🌐 Sustainable Approaches

Integrated water resource management
Watershed protection
Community-based management
Water-sensitive urban design
Ecological restoration

Sustainable Water Management

Sustainable water management aims to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This approach considers environmental, social and economic factors.

🌎 Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)

IWRM is a holistic approach that promotes coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources. It aims to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising ecosystem sustainability. Key principles include:

Managing water at the catchment or basin level
Involving all stakeholders in decision-making
Recognising water as a finite and vulnerable resource
Balancing economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability

📄 Water Governance

Effective water governance involves developing appropriate policies, institutions and regulatory frameworks. Good governance practices include:

Clear water rights and allocation systems
Transparent decision-making processes
Public participation in water management
Coordination across sectors and administrative boundaries
Monitoring and evaluation of water resources and usage

Case Study: Singapore's Water Management

Singapore is a small island nation with limited natural water resources, yet it has achieved water security through innovative management strategies known as the "Four National Taps":

Local catchment water: Singapore collects rainwater from two-thirds of its land surface through a network of reservoirs and waterways.
Imported water: Water is imported from neighbouring Malaysia under long-term agreements.
NEWater: Highly purified reclaimed water produced from treated sewage using advanced membrane technologies. NEWater meets 40% of Singapore's water needs.
Desalinated water: Singapore operates several desalination plants that convert seawater into drinking water.

Singapore also implements strict demand management through water pricing, public education and efficiency standards. This comprehensive approach has transformed Singapore from a water-scarce nation to a global leader in water management.

Case Study: The Aral Sea Crisis

The Aral Sea in Central Asia demonstrates the devastating consequences of unsustainable water management. Once the world's fourth-largest lake, it has shrunk to about 10% of its original size since the 1960s due to:

Soviet-era irrigation projects diverting water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers to grow cotton in the desert
Inefficient irrigation systems with high water losses
Poor governance and lack of transboundary cooperation

Consequences include:

Collapse of the fishing industry and local economy
Toxic dust storms from the exposed seabed causing health problems
Regional climate changes with hotter summers and colder winters
Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services

Recent efforts to restore the Northern Aral Sea through the construction of the Kok-Aral Dam have shown some success, highlighting the potential for recovery with proper management.

Future Challenges and Opportunities

As we look to the future, water resource management faces several challenges but also opportunities for innovation and improvement:

Climate change: Altering precipitation patterns, increasing evaporation and causing more frequent extreme weather events
Population growth: Increasing demand for water, especially in water-stressed regions
Urbanisation: Creating concentrated demand and altering local water cycles
Transboundary water issues: Requiring international cooperation and agreements
Technology and innovation: Offering new solutions for water efficiency, treatment and monitoring
Nature-based solutions: Working with natural processes to enhance water security

Addressing these challenges requires integrated approaches that consider the water-energy-food nexus, incorporate climate resilience and promote equity in access to water resources.