15

Emerging
issues

Population and Water Quantity

Current population is about 6 billion

Population will continue to grow

Worlds freshwater supply will remain

relatively constant
Severe problems now with distribution
Competition between agriculture and
cities will intensify

Water Quality

As population increases there will be

more waste with potential to pollute
Nearly half the world population lives
without basic household sanitation
More than 5 million people die each
year from water-borne diseases

Environmental Degradation

As population grows loss of habitat for

endangered species will be more of a
problem
More pressure to develop wetlands
More demand for allocation surface
water to other than environmental
flows
More mining of groundwater

Environmental Degradation

As population grows loss of habitat for

endangered species will be more of a
problem
More pressure to develop wetlands
More demand for allocation surface
water to other than environmental
flows
More mining of groundwater

Future Solutions

Privatization of water treatment and

delivery
Groundwater recharge
Water conservation
Dam construction
Water education

Privatization of Water
Treatment
As water becomes
more scarce it becomes a
potential source of profit
Large private water companies are getting
contracts to provide municipal drinking water
and sewage treatment in third world cities
French company had contract for Atlanta
Lost contract due to mismanagement
Largest companies are French
Suez and Vivendi

Ground Water Recharge

Ground water supplies can be

replenished by diverting surface water
into infiltration basins which recharge
ground water
Recharge sites must have plentiful
supply of surface water, permeable
soils (gravel or sands), and good
connection to aquifer

Ground Water Recharge

Ground water supplies can be

replenished by diverting surface water
into infiltration basins which recharge
ground water
Recharge sites must have plentiful
supply of surface water, permeable
soils (gravel or sands), and good
connection to aquifer

Water Conservation

Leaky faucet can lose 3,280 gals/yr

Plumbing to conserve water
Low-flush toilets, restrictive shower
heads, water-efficient dishwashers
and washing machines
National Energy Policy Act of 1994
requires low-flush toilets in all new
construction residences

Dam Construction

Many less developed countries turning

to dams to meet increasing water and
electric demands
3 Gorges Dam in China
What will this do to
species, wetlands, etc.?

endangered

Water Education

Water education programs promote wise use of

water resources
Watercourse and International Project
www.projectwet.org

Water Education Foundation

www.watereducation.org
www.watereducation.org/janfeb03.asp

Groundwater Foundation
www.groundwater.org
www.groundwater.org/pe/cp_winners.html

American Ground Water Trust

www.agwt.org

Stockholm International Water Institute

www.siwi.org

Four Possible Scenarios

Scenario 1: Business as usual

Scenario 2: Technology saves the day
Scenario 3: Global warming floods the
world
Scenario 4: Space is the answer