Renewable Water Sources in Desert Regions of the World - Essay Example

? Solutions for Renewable Water Sources in Desert Regions of the World of the of the Solutions for Renewable Water Sources in Desert Regions of the World Water is the most vital resource that is significant for life to sustain in the world. Majority of the living organism have higher ration of water in their bodies and thus require water more than any other food resource. By mass, humans have about 60% content of water. In the similar way, economy, wildlife, culture, etc are noting without mush resources of water. Water scarcity is increasing and there should be sustainable solution to provide water for the urban as well as rural regions. Desert Regions have less sources of renewable water and Green solutions have the capability to provide water for the desert regions of the world. The main objective of the paper is to “Give solutions to reduce or limit water scarcity in desert regions of the world”. Water resources The planet ‘Earth’ is covered with about 71% of saline water that cannot be utilized by humans for readily use. Although, oceans and seas contribute much in providing life for the marine creatures that are beneficent for humans and balance of the planet, but the water cannot be utilized in the pure state. About 97% water present on water is salty and remaining 3% is fresh. The most part of the fresh water content about 68.7% remains frozen in the shape of glaciers, and mountainous ice caps and 30.1% are conserved by nature in ground (Ground water). The remaining 0.9% is in the form of lakes and rivers and available of humans, animals’ and plants’ use. Thus, there is a little portion of water that is available for human use, and there is a need to develop strategies and methods to conserve water for the future of the human race and for the future of the planet (Reisner, 438-442). Image Source: Chenje, nd Water scarcity is rising due to the impact of climate change. On the other hand, humans have done fewer efforts in developing technologies and strategies to conserve the water resource with the increase in the population. Renewable water resources are the resources of water that generate water through natural or artificial processes by utilizing the waste water. Rivers, Lakes and streams are the renewable water resources, where water is maintained by the natural process of rain. Renewable resources can also be considered as the fresh water resources (Reisner, 438-442). Water Scarcity Water stress has a deep relation with the size of the population and the resources the region has. The ration depicts a region is facing the water stress if the region’s water sources are unable to provide 1700 cubic meters of water to single person on an annual basis (Howard, n.p). However, if the water sources are unable to provide 1000 cubic meters of water to a person annually, the region is considered to be facing water scarcity (Webb 51-57). On the other hand, if the supply water drops lower than 500 cubic meters, the regions is considered to be facing absolute scarcity that can unable to provide enough drinking water to a person. On the other hand, the quality of water has an inverse relation with the water scarcity. People will compromise on the quality of water in water scar regions. Water scarcity is directly related to the food scarcity as crops are also unable to survive without water. Image source: Accessed from www.revolve-magazine.com A report by United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs (USDESA) writes “Around 700 million people in 43 countries suffer today from water scarcity” (Un.org, n.p). In another place, the Report predicts “By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water stressed conditions” (Un.org, n.p). The corresponding report depicts that the most stressed regions of the world are Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and in the Desert regions of Arizona and Nevada in the United States. The Report predicts “With the existing climate change scenario, almost half the world's population will be living in areas of high water stress by 2030, including between 75 million and 250 million people in Africa. In addition, water scarcity in some arid and semi-arid places will displace between 24 million and 700 million people” (Un.org, n.p). The report depicts that a major portion of the earth is suffering from water scarcity, and we shall focus our attention towards the problems and use the water efficiently and effectively. The recent droughts in the majority of the African regions depict the similar scenario. On the other hand, the drastic drop in the level of Sea of Galilee (Lake of Gennesaret) in Israel also shows that the water drawn from the lake is more than the annual rain falls in the region. Now the water in the lake is one third of its original capacity. It is estimated that the lake would not be able to carry the burden and water in the lake will vanish in a decade or two (Un.org, n.p). It is believed that an amount equal to the Dead Sea has been depleted from the Middle Eastern region in seven years. The alterations in the hydrologic cycles due to climatic changes around the world impact much African regions. Thus, the natural processes are unable to provide sufficient water to fulfill the demand. The cycle of rain comprises of evaporation of sea water due to the solar thermal energy, the formation of clouds, and then the condensation of water vapors in the form of rain. The whole process is similar to the water distillation process. Thus, fresh water can also be made artificially by utilizing distillation, purification and treatment of waste water from homes and industries and efficient use of fresh water (TWAS, 7-37). Image Source: (Webb, 2006) Solutions to Reduce Water Scarcity in the Desert Regions: Governments and civil authorities worked effectively to fight the issue related with the generation and usability of fresh water, but all the efforts contributed little to solve water scarcity problems. Efforts should be made on large scale, specifically in regions with less fresh water resources. Sustainable solutions both on the small scale and large scale should be adopted to conserve and regenerate fresh water. In order to conserve and produce water, following methods can be adopted (TWAS, 7-37). From general perspective, the technologies that make utilization of solar technologies to generate fresh water are better as compared to the other technologies. The solar water distillation methods provide portable water. Reduce the Demand of Fresh water: Increasing the efficiency and management of water in agriculture, home and industry, the demand of the fresh water can be reduced and more people would have access to the fresh water resources (Howard, n.p). It is estimated that about 90% of the fresh water of a specific region is consumed to grow crops or by the agriculture industry in the developing countries. If, methods and strategies are developed to reduce the consumption in the agriculture sector, the demand of water can be reduced. Moreover, about 71% of rain in Israel is consumed by the agriculture industry, and thus there is not enough for the sole consumers of fresh water. The similar scenario is in the African regions, where crops and livestock consume a significant portion of fresh water (TWAS, 7-37). However, in the developed countries like North and South America, the industry takes about 60% of the total fresh water available for the region. Moreover, the industrial consumption of fresh water can be reduced by utilizing more energy efficient products like replacing steel with aluminum, plastic or other similar products reduce water consumption at a large scale (Webb 51-57). Utilization of Natural Processes: The utilization of the natural for cleaning and generation fresh water involve the solar distillation to extract fresh water from salty or unpurified water by utilizing the solar thermal energy. Solar water distillation utilizes a clear sheet of glass or plastic to collect the fresh water from salty sea water. On the other hand, unpurified water can be filtered by utilizing the activated charcoal that can be easily be made from the burning wood. On the other hand the germs in the water can be killed by placing the water in a clear water tight container under the sun. the solar energy increases the temperature of the water and thus, the increase in temperature kills all rge microorganism in water. UV radiation also kills microorganisms. Water Recycling Water from sewage can be recycled up to the similar or better quality. The sewage water typically has the biological water that can be removed by treating the water with air involving microorganisms (mostly bacteria). Bacteria remove the soluble wastes from the sewage water producing an adequate amount of bio gas. Then, the temperature of the bacteria treated water is raise to kill the bacteria present in the water. In the next step, chemicals are added to remove odor and balance the pH of the water (Chenje, 17-57). Water Desalination Water desalination involves various methods to generate fresh water from salty water. The methods like, Thermal Vapor Decompression Water Distillation (TVD), Mechanical Vapor Decompression Water distillation (MVD), Reverse Osmosis water Purification (RO), Ion Exchange Purification Method, etc. Water distillation methods provide the water with the highest quality, however, the both the distillation processes are most energy consuming. On the other hand, RO system provides water with the more than acceptable water quality but the energy requirement for the RO system is the least as compared to the other systems (Chenje, 17-57). RO Desalination Water desalination is becoming popular due to the presence of large amount of sea water. Reverse osmosis (RO) system is utilized to purify sea water. RO water purification has the least cost at medium and large scale. Thus, in the regions with low energy resources, RO purification methods remains to be more sustainable and energy efficient. In Israel, Water Authority is making fresh water by utilizing the sea water and purifying it using RO purification system. RO system utilizes the osmotic layers to purify water. The pores in the osmotic layers are so small that only water molecule can pass through these pores. In Israel, RO is becoming much popular to produce fresh water from salty sea water. This technique is also adopted in the Middle Eastern regions. Increasing water Portability Water contamination is one of the major medium to spread diseases. Water contamination kills more people that killed by cancers, accidents and wars. More than 80% of the world’s population lives in the regions that lack many facilities found in developed countries. Common and basic methods can reduce or limit the water contamination. One method is the chlorination of water as it removes microorganisms from water (TWAS, 7-37). The people of Maldives use a technique known as solar disinfectant method. Plastic containers and solar energy are utilized the raise the temperature of water, which eventually kills the bacteria in the water. In the similar manner, solar and ground distillation is utilized to generate fresh portable water in Arabian regions. Salty water is vaporized by utilizing the solar energy, which is then condensed over a plastic or glass sheet to attain fresh water. In the similar manner, in Africa, solar water distillation provides the communities with fresh water from unpurified muddy water. On the other hand, small portable reverse osmosis plants purify the water with the worst quality consuming very less energy (Webb 51-57). Following programs are initiated to reduce the water scarcity and generation of portable water through sustainable and low energy consuming methods. The UNDP-World Bank Water and Sanitation Program: The UNDP-World Bank Water and Sanitation Program are initiated to develop and improve the water supply system by providing the required water to the poor and needy people. The program has been working for 15 years (Howard, n.p). The program supports more than thirty countries worldwide and operates in water scare regions like, Africa, Asia and Middle Eastern regions. The program aims to educate people about the rain water harvesting system; disinfection infected and unpurified water and simple and inexpensive ways to purify the water to generate drinkable water. On the other hand, the program also funds communities to conserve and generate renewable water. The program constantly, alters the ideas by analyzing the ideas attained from the previous lessens. WWF Fresh Water Programs WWF fresh water programs are initiated in regions with low fresh water resources and regions with lower quality drinking water. The major aims of the programs are water stewardship, water security and protection, fresh water habitat protection, fresh water ecosystem protection and services, adaption with respect to climate change and governance of water. The programs initiated by WWF utilize the biological and chemical indicators to develop knowledge about the change in the quality of water. The programs focus to reduce the problems related to the fresh water including pollution, quality of water, endangered species and providing drinkable water to the communities. WWF started its programs in the African region (WWF, n.p). the programs educate people about the natural process that help maintain the balance in the world and how people can live healthy by utilizing nature to purify water and clean rivers and water bodies. Protection of water resources from depletion, pollution and degradation: The natural process of rain in major part of the Africa is impacted during the last decade and thus the program started by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in 2003 that manages, protects, develops and prevents the fresh water resources from pollution around the Africa. The program educates people about the importance of the fresh water resources in their lives and how the sources impact their lives. The program educates people about the sustainable methods to store and generate fresh water from natural resources and use of simple technology. Jewish National funds- Water Projects The water projects initiated by the Jewish National funds contribute much in education and developing strategies for people to understand the importance of the water cycle and how the cycle is disturbed by human involvement. The project aims to educate people about the rain water harvesting system, recycling of water reservoirs, waste water treatment and river rehabilitation (Jnf.org, n.p). The programs are funding to build RO purification plant in Israel to fulfill the water scarcity problems. The program funds to improve and develop the green solutions to provide renewable water for rural and urban regions. Conclusion The water resources in the world are depleting day by day due to the impact of human activity. The commercialization of the many of products related to the region and the massive industrialization increases the water consumption. On the other hand, the increase in the population and the misuse of the fresh water resources became a reason for the depletion of the fresh water resources. On the other hand, the development to fresh water conservation and generation methods made it possible for the human race to generate enough ware for the living through sustainable and simple tactics. Rain water harvesting system captures the rain water and utilizes it. Water distillation methods can purify even the worst quality water. RO purification method is the least energy consuming process among all. There is a need to initiate different programs throughout the world to prevent water scarcity. No system except RO is such energy efficient to provide water on the medium and large scale. Thus, governments and NGO’s should emphasize on building RO purification system from sea water. Works Cited Chenje, Munyaradzi. "REGIONAL SYNTHESIS." Print. Howard. "Where is Earth's water? USGS Water-Science School." 2012. Web. 9 Apr 2013. Jnf.org. "Jewish National Fund." 2012. Web. 9 Apr 2013. . Reisner, Marc; Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water, 1993. Print Third World Academy of Sciences -TWAS. Safe Drinking Water The need, the problem, solutions and an action plan. Report of the Third World Academy of Sciences. Third World Academy of Sciences, Trieste Italy, 2002. Print Un.org. "Water scarcity | International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015." 2006. Web. 9 Apr 2013. Webb, Erik K. "Directions in National Water Research Policy and Funding."Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education 134.1, 2006. Print WWF. "Water Stewardship." 2011. Web. 9 Apr 2013. . Read More