Reasons for Water Contamination in the Russian Federation - Research Paper Example

Part A. - Case Study Topic: Use of natural resources: “Reasons for water contamination in the Russian Federation” The Russian Federation belongs to one of the 10 states that possess enormous water resources: about 60% of the world’s available freshwater supply (World Business Council for Sustainable development, 2009). According to the statistics, presented in the Little Green Data Book (2010), the Russian Federation has such indicators: 16, 378 thousands of sq.km. - land Area (World Bank 2010, 176); 142 millions - human population (World Bank 2010, 176); 30, 350 cu.m. of internal freshwater resources per capita (World Bank 2010, 176); 88% of rural population and 100% of urban population have access to improved water source (World Bank 2010, 176); 70% of rural population and 93% of urban population have access to improved sanitation (World Bank 2010, 176); About 99% of cities, 82% of towns, 19,5% of rural areas have centralized water supply systems (Mikheev et al. n.d.); Average urban daily water consumption in Russia amounts to 367 - 369 litres per capita (Mikheev et al. n.d.); The volume of irretrievable water consumption average to 35% of the water abstraction from natural water sources (Mikheev et al. n.d.). In spite of the enormous amount of water resources in Russia, about 70% of these reserves are not valuable as drinking-water sources (Prokhorova et.al. 2000). Significant amounts of water resources fail to meet either microbiological standards or sanitary-chemical norms (Prokhorova et.al. 2000). By 1996, only 13% of the reported wastewater flows were treated to meet relatively high quality standards in Russia (National Intelligence Council 1999). One of the most vivid examples of the neglect by the water resources is considered to be the area covering 2/3 of European Russia - the Volga watershed, in which practically all water courses do not meet Russian standards (National Intelligence Council 1999). The main sources of water pollution in the country include municipalities, agriculture and industry (National Intelligence Council 1999). Considering these facts, water pollution became one of the leading environmental concerns in the Russian Federation (National Intelligence Council 1999). Question 1 The major threats facing the resources of potable water in Russia can be referred to the water contamination that leads to the shortage of clear water. The scope of water contamination correlates with the health of nation and the quality of human life. Thus, for example lack of clear water and sewage (National Intelligence Council 1999): Makes people to spend additional money for buying water in bottles Causes distribution of intestinal and gastrointestinal diseases, and hepatitis Increases the impact of carcinogenic and mutagenic factors on the human organism May lead to mass diseases and spread of the epidemic Considering the current legal issues of water contamination, it is necessary to refer to the Water Code of the Russian Federation, which represents a new legal framework (Ganoulis and Nikitina, 2006). The new RF Water Code came into force on 1 January, 2007 as framework national law regulating the protection and use of water resources (Ganoulis and Nikitina, 2006, 1). This legal framework shares a number of common features with the EU Water framework directive (WFD) (Ganoulis and Nikitina, 2006). However, there are also some differences between these two directives; the main differences are based on the separate national law of the Russian Federation, known as the RF Law on the Earth’s interior (Ganoulis and Nikitina, 2006, 1). The Water Code protects 20 water basins including four in the Volga Basin (Ganoulis and Nikitina, 2006). One of the basic provisions of the Water Code is the establishment of the legal framework for public participation (individuals and non-governmental organizations) in decision-making relating to water property rights and to the protection and conservation of water resources (Ganoulis and Nikitina, 2006, 4). According to this Code the major types of stakeholders involved in water issues include: the federation, federal subjects, local municipalities, private persons and legal entities (Ganoulis and Nikitina, 2006, 4). Question 2 Even though the ground water resources are highly polluted by the products of economy and biological activity, rates of consumption patterns of potable water are not decreasing yet (Mikheev et al.n.d.). According to Mikheev et al about 200 km3 of water per year are used for production and social purposes, out of which 70-75 km3 are taken from natural resources (n.d.). The major patterns of consumption of the water resources can be divided into three categories: Domestic use: 19% of water abstracted from natural resources is used for municipal and drinking water supply (Mikheev et al.n.d.); Agricultural use: 18% of water abstracted from natural resources is used for agricultural water supply and irrigation (Mikheev et al.n.d.); Industrial use: 53% of water abstracted from natural sources are used for industries (Mikheev et al.n.d.). a) Consumption patterns in the last 10 years (2000) Domestic use: 18% (Trading Economics, 2000) Agricultural use: 17% (Trading Economics, 2000) Industrial use: 63% (Trading Economics, 2000) b) Present consumption (2007-2010) Domestic use: 18, 75% (Trading Economics, 2007) Agricultural use: 17, 79% (Trading Economics, 2007) Industrial use: 63,46 % (Trading Economics, 2007) c) Forecasted consumption or trends for the near future (5 – 10 years) According to the forecasts of water consumption, presented by the International Foundation for the protection of drinking water (2009), the ratios of water consumption by sectors of economic activity to total consumption by 2025 will be: Continent agricultural use industry use domestic use Europe 66.8 4.3 22.3 North America 72.4 6.0 7.5 Africa 60.5 3.4 1.3 Asia 88.4 1.8 4.1 South America 67.4 4.7 8.3 Australia & Oceania 64.1 2.1 6.4 Water shortages have a crucial impact on the agricultural sectors because the process of irrigation requires significant amounts of fresh water (World Business Council for Sustainable development, 2009). Despite the fact that amount of water varies broadly from one type of industry to another, this sector is the second largest user of water after agriculture (World Business Council for Sustainable development, 2009). All businesses and private sectors are dependent in some way on water resources because its usage is required in production and manufacturing processes. Thus, it can be concluded that contamination of potable water impacts not only on the private sector but also on the private, threatening economic instability in the country. Question 3 Using the statistics obtained in the previous question, it is possible to suggest that the current and future water withdrawal in the Russian Federation may have only a little effect on the future of tourism and hospitality industry in a relatively short-term perspective. At the present moment of economic development, the role of tourism in the economy of Russia is not as significant as it is other countries. However, there are few regions that are dependent on tourism, located particularly in Stavropol and Krasnodar Krai (Smith et al. 4). If the government of the Russian Federation will not do the efforts in improvement of the potable water situation in the country, this can negatively impact the areas of economic, social, environmental, political and legal issues. In an economic perspective the sources of potable water are considered to be strategic resources that can be exported to the countries with a threatening shortage of own reserves. On the one hand possession of global water reserves in the Russian Federation provides country with a serious competitive advantage, but on the other hand continuing pollution of water reserves threatens the economic stability of the country. Economic stability in Russia in a long-term perspective could be destabilized in the case of shortage of potable water, because it would result in high prices for food products. Solving the problem of contaminated water reserves demands a huge sum of investment, which is not affordable now for the Russian economy. In a social perspective, lack of potable water may directly impact the life style of Russian citizens because spending more money for food and clear water, people will be interested to spend more sustainable leisure. From an environmentalist point of view, the impact of increasing contaminated water reserves is obvious. In case of progressive water contamination, Russian citizens will not be able anymore to enjoy swimming in the sea, river or lake on the territory of their country; they will prefer to go to another country, spending their money in another country (this factor will also influence economic aspect). Increased rate of diseases and death can be also a result of dangerous environment conditions. From a political perspective, supplying population with clear potable water is one of the main political priorities focused on socio-economic development of the Russian Federation. So as previously Russia was a country with planning economy, the production processes were not concentrated on environmental issues. The main political claims referred to an increased productivity and growth of industrialization. It is important to mention the fact that the fight for strategic resources such as oil, land, coal, etc. was always a background for political conflict. As well the country may have political alliance with other states. However, despite the obvious resolution of the problem, legal structure on the post-soviet territory was hardly changeable until the last decade. As well if the government will considerably restrict the procedures of water contamination from industrial plants’ manufacturing, this measure will decrease economic turnover. Part B Question 5a. The growth of population is considered to be an unavoidable tendency characterized by an increasing amount of people every year. At the beginning of the 20th century, the total world’s population was about 1.5 billion, by 1960 it was approximately 3 billion and by late 1999 it became 6 billion (UNESCO n.d.). According to the data provided by the United Nations World Water Development (2009): The world’s population is growing by about 80 million people a year; By 2050, 22% of the world’s population is expected to be 60 years old, up from 10% in 2005 and nearly half of the world population is under the age of 25; By 2030 the number of urban dwellers is forecasted to grow by 1.8 billion comparing with the indicators of 2005 The urban population in Asia and Africa is forecasted to double between 2000 -2030. One more significant world change of the population is that since 1950 the death rate has been cut by half (UNESCO n.d.). This trend is explained by improved sanitation, medicine, clean drinking water, and some other causes. Considering all these facts and predictions, it is possible to outline the likely impact of the population changes on the environment. To understand more clearly the problem it is necessary to understand that the population size has a direct influence on the environment. The main concern is that the increasing population consumes more resources than it is possible to produce or restore. Thus, while the human needs of natural resources will increase proportionately to the growth of population, such strategic resources as water, land, biodiversity and air will decrease accordingly. This scheme can be vividly demonstrated on the knock-on-effect scheme: Increase of population leads to the increased demand for food Increased demand for food leads to the increased withdrawal of potable water for irritation and cattle farming Increased demand for food and water rises the prices for products Expensiveness of food and water makes people to alter their lifestyles, etc. Strategic natural resources on the territory of a certain country or region arouse political conflicts and wars, etc. Thus, the most likely environmental impacts caused by the growing population in the world are suggested to be: strategic shortage of potable water and food, overexploitation of most natural resources, including forests, fish, extinction of many thousands of animal species and plant, and global climate change as a result of increasing greenhouse emissions (Hinrichsen and Robey 2000). Question 5b. The environmental challenges facing the Russian Federation in relation to the factor of growing urban population Industrial age is considered to be one of the main incentives for an increased urbanization and thus for an intensified migration of human resources. Concentration of economic and business activity in urban areas provides both opportunities and challenges for the every country. After the dissolution of Soviet Union, Russia became an independent state, characterized by the growing per cent of total population classified as urban (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 2005). For the last 20 years this rate grew by almost 7%, and is forecasted to grow more dramatically in the future years. For more evidence, see the table below (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 2005, p.65): 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 74.0 75.9 77.7 79.3 80.7 82.0 83.1 84.2 85.2 The main environmental challenges facing the Russian Federation in relation to growing urban population include: poor air quality with the most polluted centers on heavy industry, water pollution, lack of potable water and water borne diseases among others (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 2005, p.83). Poor air quality is a result of both gas emissions and increased amount of factories and plants. Considering the fact that during the Soviet Union an overriding goal of the government was to build strong economics by opening new factories and plants, it is not difficult to imagine the consequences of these strategic plans on the environment scales for the country. Concentration of the huge population in large cities, resulting in growing amount of vehicle also influences the quality of air in Russian industrial cities. Water pollution and lack of potable water is one more serious problem of the Russian Federation; the current government makes some efforts to resolve the problem of depreciated communication systems and equipment for water supply. However, the rivers, lakes and seas are permanently contaminated by the products of manufacturing waste and chemicals. References: Euromonitor Global Market Research Blog (2010). Global water shortages will pose major challenges. Eiromonitor International. Sept 13, 2010. Retrieved from http://blog.euromonitor.com/2010/09/special-report-global-water-shortages-will-pose-major-challenges.html Ganoulis J. and Nikitina E.(2006). RF Water Code and EU Water Framework Directive. New Approaches and Policies to Water Management. Pp.1-6. Retrieved from http://www.cabri-volga.org/DOC/Cherepovets/AllEGs/RF_EUWater%20Directives_rev_01.doc Hinrichsen D. and Robey B. (2000). Population and the Environment: The Global Challenge. The American Institute of Biological Sciences. Center for Communication Programs. Retrieved from http://www.actionbioscience.org/environment/hinrichsen_robey.html National Intelligence Council (1999). The Environmental Outlook in Russia. Retrieved from http://www.dni.gov/nic/special_russianoutlook.html# Prokhorova N., Chernyaev A. and Pozdina Y. (2000). Economic and legal aspects of drinking water supply in Russia. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Drinking water Risk Assessment and Management. Pp. 167-170. Retrieved from http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-11390.html Trading Economics (2000-2007). Annual freshwater withdrawals; industry/agriculture/domestic (% of total freshwater withdrawal) in Russia. Retrieved from: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/russia/annual-freshwater-withdrawals-domestic-percent-of-total-freshwater-withdrawal-wb-data.html http://www.tradingeconomics.com/russia/annual-freshwater-withdrawals-agriculture-percent-of-total-freshwater-withdrawal-wb-data.html http://www.tradingeconomics.com/russia/annual-freshwater-withdrawals-industry-percent-of-total-freshwater-withdrawal-wb-data.html The International Foundation for the Protection of Drinking Water (2009). The ratio of water consumption by sectors of economic activity to total water consumption (in %) by continents. Retrieved from http://www.protectwater.org/t_10.html Smith S., Tatarinov A., Trehleb P. (n.d.). Measuring the regional tourism product in an economy in transition: the Russian experience. Retrieved from: http://fama2.us.es:8080/turismo/turismonet1/economia%20del%20turismo/economia%20del%20turismo/measuring%20regional%20tourism%20in%20a%20transition%20economics%20Ru.pdf The United Nations World Water Development (2009). Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (2005). Urban Environmental Governance for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: A regional Overview. P.8. Retrieved from http://www.unescap.org/esd/environment/publications/Urban_Environment/UEG.pdf UNESCO (n.d.) Global population patterns and trends. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/TLSF/theme_c/mod13/uncom13t01.htm World Bank (2010). The Little Green Data Book, Russian Federation. P.176 Read More