Provision of Fresh Water in Arid Regions - Case Study Example

Provision of Fresh Water in Arid Regions Introduction Water supports nearly every life processes. Besides, livelihood depends on the capacity to accomplish and share water as a rare resource. Today, some parts of Africa, especially in arid zones, experience scarcity of water resources. Scarcity of water resources affects the livelihood of people within such regions as they access little or lack water completely. However, world organizations such as the UNESCO International have created initiatives to assist in controlling water shortage problems around the world, specifically in the arid region (UNEP 2000, p.1). This report entails a study on the feasibility of different techniques for providing fresh water to arid parts of the world. Howard, Mathias, and Xin (2010) suggest that nearly 30 percent of the entire world land area encompasses of inhabited semi- arid and arid areas. Moreover, the report incorporates dams, ground water pumping and pipeline channels as the main techniques used in providing water in arid regions of the world. The report includes the total cost of the different methods for providing fresh water, technology applicable and the need for water quality. The feasibility of Different techniques for providing fresh water to arid regions of the world The main cause of water shortage in arid regions is economic and social challenges within the regions. Lack of progress economically relates to significant water scarcity in the areas. Moreover, most dry areas face the challenge of fresh water since such region lack lakes, rivers, and limited supply of underground water. Consequently, arid regions are increasingly experiencing water shortages by the fact that the limited fresh water available in some of the regions is becoming salty because of persistent interference with aquifers. This report explores the best methods of ensuring the supply of water in the arid areas world and the possible techniques available in safeguarding water available in the arid regions sustainably. Background Water is a natural resource that is mostly scarce in arid areas (Mays 2009, p.12). In solving water problem shortages around the world especially in arid regions, progress has to be made of all the developments of physical and environmental factors. The primary affected countries within the world with water shortage entail countries that have seasonal rivers, lakes, and streams. Additionally, the accumulative demand for freshwater possess challenges for water establishments worldwide, specifically in arid regions. Some of the arid regions facing water shortages affects majority of countries in the North Africa regions. The extremely arid areas within the world include Western Sahara in Africa, Sonoran and Chihuahua regions in North America. The general problems in dry areas include water shortages since there is little or lack of rainfall, limited supply of underground water channels and seasonal of rivers and lakes within the regions limiting the amount of water in the area. Consequently, water shortages within arid regions have caused health, agriculture, and economic problems, affecting the development of these fields. Besides, economic development and Population growth have overcome traditional water management practices. Lack of traditional water management has caused the suffering of people incorporating water pollution problems to varying degrees within arid regions. The problems caused by shortages of water in arid regions create economic and social issues of different arid regions around the world. These problems contribute to the lack of agricultural practices within the areas, raising the levels of food shortages. Moreover, health status of people living in the arid regions deteriorates since lack of water contributes to illnesses and poor sanitation within the regions. Economic activities become impossible since water shortages limit opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop infrastructures and companies for economic activities since water is a valuable resource for economic development. Comparison of options In terms of cost, the feasibility of different techniques for providing fresh water to arid regions of the world varies. According to Kaplan and Heinlein (2009), the construction of dams in the arid regions is expensive such as the three gorges dam construction in China, compared to the development of groundwater pumps that is cheaper and primarily practiced in the arid regions of Kenya. Additionally, the building of pipelines to channel water in the arid regions is averagely more reasonable when compared to construction of dams. China’s three gorges dam estimates were to cost 180 billion Yuan (US $22.5 billion). However, by the end of the year 2008, 148.365 billion yuan had been spent on other activities, 64.613 billion spent on construction and 68.557 spent on relocating affected residents while 15.195 spent on financing the project. Comparing the building of the three gorges dam with ground water pumps by drilling boreholes in Kenya, the drilling of wells is cheaper as compared to the construction of the three Gorges dams in China. For instance, project initiated in Kenya by garden of hope international to drill a borehole, the estimated cost was 765,000 Kenyan Shillings, which is equivalent to $9,225.00. That was affordable compared to the construction of the three gorges dam in China. Moreover, the drilling of boreholes is a common practice in arid areas, because of critical water shortages in these fields. Cheap drilling of holes in dry areas initiates many projects within the arid regions compared to the construction of dams that is expensive (National Academy of Sciences 2001.p. 25). On the other hand, the construction of pipelines to channel water is the most expensive compared to the building of dams or drilling of underground water pumps. For instance, the development of south-to-north water diversion project through pipelines was to channel 44.8 billion cubic meters of fresh water annually at an estimated cost of $62 billion, which was more than twice as the estimated cost for the construction of three the gorges dam (Kaplan & Haenlein 2009, p.17). Therefore, comparing the cost of feasibility of different techniques for the provision of fresh water in arid regions around the world, the use of pipelines is the most expensive method, followed by the construction of dams and finally, underground pumping is the cheapest way to provide fresh water in arid regions. Technology and location in the provision of fresh water in arid regions The construction of dams requires high technology with large-scale engagements of heavy machineries (Shemang & Chaoka 2004, p. 33). Besides, the moving of people to other locations increases the construction cost when calculated together with the use of heavy machineries. On the other hand, groundwater pumping involves local arrangements with low technology as compared to the building of dams. The ability to drill boreholes anywhere within the environment makes groundwater pumping as the most affordable and cheapest technique in the provision of water in arid regions. In contrast, the use of pipelines may cause problems in terms of location or areas, as it is the most expensive technique of water provision in arid regions. The construction of pipelines may cause territorial disputes, such as in Palestine since pipes suffer destruction during the building of the pipelines to arid regions. Therefore, in terms of location and technology, pipelines pose more challenges in the provision of water to arid regions compared to the construction of dams and underground pumping of water. Water quality The construction of dams gives high water quality compared to pipelines and underground pumping of water (Ward & Ostrom 2006, p. 45). For instance, Thames water that operates across London supplies water services to 9 billion customers and 14 million wastewater services. It operates and maintains 30 raw water reservoirs, 100 water treatment works, 288 pumping station, 235 underground service reservoirs, and 32,000 kilometers of mains power. These operations of Thames water enable the company to provide quality water to the arid regions successfully. Ground water quality is compromised by pollution. Highly polluted underground water is not of good quality. On the other hand, pipelines give quality water in arid regions. However, the quality of water can be affected by conflicting nations over the construction of the pipelines channels, comprising the water quality of pipes as a technique for providing fresh water to arid regions. Therefore, dams maintain as the best method for the provision of quality water in the dry areas world (UNEP 2000, p.3) Recommendations Provision of water in arid regions in the world should be encouraged by the construction of dams. Furthermore, barriers give high-quality water with sustainable use. However, it is the most expensive and sophisticated method of water generation and therefore recommended for governments with lots of money and power. Groundwater pumping is the cheapest and small scale with lack of sustainable provision and easily polluted. Therefore, other alternatives for the supply of water in arid regions are highly recommended such as the development of sand dams. Finally, pipelines are dangerous and unreliable in the provision of water in arid regions and, therefore, should be used as the primary technique for providing water in arid regions. Bibliography Howard, W, Mathias, S & Xin, L 2010, Groundwater Modelling In Arid And Semi-Arid Areas, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Mays, L 2009, Integrated Urban Water Management: Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: UNESCO-IHP, Taylor, & Francis, New York. Shemang, S & Chaoka, R 2004, Water Resources Of Arid Areas: Proceedings Of The International Conference On Water Resources Of Arid And Semi-Arid Regions Of Africa, Garborone, Botswana, 3-6 August 2004, Taylor & Francis, New York National Academy of Sciences 2001, More Water for Arid Lands: Promising Technologies and Research Opportunities, the Minerva Group, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii. Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. 2009, Consumer Use and Business Potential of Virtual Worlds: The Case of Second Life, The International Journal On Media Management 11(3). Ward, J. C., & Ostrom, A. L 2006, Complaining To The Masses:The Role Of Protest Framing In Customer-Created Complaint Web Sites, Journal Of Consumer Research, 33(2), 220—230 United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, The Watershed: Water from the Mountains Into The Sea. Lakes And Reservoirs. UNEP Volume 2, 2000. 29 July 2003. Retrieved http://www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/Publications/Short_Series/Lakereservoirs-2/2.ASP Read More