Pramod Manohar - Water Scarcity

          According to NASA, water scarcity will be the most significant environmental issue of the century. Water scarcity is a phenomenon in which the total demand for water exceeds the supply of water, and it has been exacerbated by issues such as overpopulation, global warming, and poor regulation by governments. It detrimentally affects humans and our environment.


          As Americans, we take for granted our accessibility to clean, safe water; this is not a reality in underdeveloped and developing nations. Almost a fifth of the world's population lives in areas of dire water scarcity, and another fifth lives under areas of shortages. Sub-Saharan Africa and pockets of Asia suffer the most. If the current conditions of global warming continue, hundreds of millions of people could potentially be displaced.


          Water scarcity is equally or more detrimental to the environment than it is to humans. The most obvious example of which is the melting of the polar ice caps, which provide a habitat for numerous species. Groundwater depletion has been another major concern, as it has depleted freshwater sources throughout the globe, particularly in mid-latitude regions such as California, the Caspian and Aral Sea, and regions of China. This rapid depletion may be attributed to a lack of government regulation, poor government regulation, and extensive anthropogenic activity.


          Our world, in essence, may face a water crisis within the coming century if no action is taken. This will be disastrous for all life, not just humans. Urgent action must be taken if we are to protect the future of existing species and millions of unborn people.

Questions: 

Would you classify water scarcity as a more global or regional environmental issue?

Do you think water scarcity is a very urgent issue that should be addressed immediately?

What should be our short-term and long-term goals in combating water scarcity?

What practical and idealistic solutions are there to water scarcity?



Sources:
https://www.fluencecorp.com/what-is-water-scarcity/
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/world-water-day-water-crisis-explained/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/16/water-shortages-to-be-key-environmental-challenge-of-the-century-nasa-warns
http://www.unwater.org/water-facts/scarcity/


Comments

Anonymous said…
Water scarcity is a problem that harms many place of the earth where the population is very dense. This means that although it may not seem like a major issue to us on the other side of the world from these types of issues, it can have devastating effects on the human population. These types of issues can been proven to have been directly caused by human influences. Climate change is the number one reason that this phenomenon occurs. The drying out of dry places and causing the weather to be less consistent doesn’t allow for many underdeveloped region to successfully adjust to the changing conditions. Even the increased population has an effect on this. This then bring up the question of whether the earth is reaching its carrying capacity for human beings.
February 26, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Anonymous said…
Water scarcity is an issue that is global, despite only affecting certain regions, and it also an issue that is closely related to water purity. As you said, the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia suffer the most. In those hot, arid climates, freshwater is rare and the humans living in those areas are also amongst the poorest in the world. This results in the little water that they do have being unclean for drinking, which just adds more onto the water scarcity problem, as some drinkable water is rendered unusable. If a solution to cheaply and efficently clean fresh water in these regions is found, a small part of the water scarcity problem may be solved. In my opinion, it is imperative that more solutions to water scarcity are found soon, so that humans and the environment both can thrive.
February 26, 2019 at 10:01 AM
Anonymous said…
I like that this blog post brings to light an issue that we may otherwise pay no mind to. Thankfully, we all share the privilege of simply being able to turn on a tap to receive drinkable water. Water scarcity is a global concern, and that means there's even a problem in our own backyard. While it may be difficult to put yourself in the shoes of someone struggling to find fresh water, it's important to understand that water scarcity affects everyone, even here in the United States. I found that some research claims that Lake Mead, which currently supplies water to 22 million people, may be dry by 2021. Water scarcity is not just an issue for those who "never had." It is a problem that faces people where water seemed abundant. Pollution, demand and other factors are ushering in these new problems.
February 26, 2019 at 10:48 AM
Anonymous said…
This was a great post! Water scarcity is a frightening epidemic which already affects billions. It is brought about by inadequate management of resources and over usage of water as well. Sadly by 2030, the United Nations estimates that half of the world’s population will live in areas under high water stress. Already, 1.1 billion people worldwide have no access to water. Thus, it is imperative that we take charge in keeping our waters clean and prevent pollution from reducing the amount of available clean water to humans. It has been suggested that we find ways to recycle rainwater as one alternative. We also need to find ways to protect wetlands which are disappearing rapidly.
February 26, 2019 at 11:38 AM
Anonymous said…
Water scarcity has been a major cause for concern in developing countries as well as western ones. It is somewhat ironic that even though 70% of the earth is covered in water, only 3% is drinkable; not only that, but ⅔ of the Earth’s freshwater is unavailable for human use. Several strategies are in use to combat water scarcity in certain regions: water reuse, groundwater use (through aquifers), desalination, and more. However, even these solutions prove to be temporary fixes. In times of drought, little water is available to replenish pre existing groundwater aquifers, which can cause these supplies to be quickly depleted. Moreover, desalination can be expensive and require about 10 times more energy than pumping well water does. We must address the growing water scarcity crisis in the near future, or else risk an even worse crisis than we already have.
February 26, 2019 at 3:43 PM
Anonymous said…
Water scarcity is definitely a global issue that has an environmental solution. If a significant portion of the world runs out of water, the repercussions would exceed devastating. The only surefire way to combat water scarcity is to combat climate change and unsustainable techniques used by big corporations. By streamlining the way water is used will allow for water to be relocated to the places that need it most. Furthermore, combating climate change will help stabilize the temperatures of the oceans and decrease the loss of groundwater.
February 26, 2019 at 6:57 PM
Anonymous said…
Your blog was pretty eye-opening, because we know that water covers 70% of the Earth and where we live, water scarcity isn’t a huge issue, since we always having running water. But, across the world in general with the melting of the ice caps and ground water pollution, water scarcity is definitely a serious global issue. I looked up more about water scarcity and found that by 2025, 2/3 of the world’s population may face water shortages. Environmental organizations can help combat this issue by protecting wetlands from pollution and drying up. We can help support these organizations by educating ourselves and being aware about how our lifestyles impact the environment from the cars we drive to the waste we produce. We also need to take measures to resist climate change, which is ultimately a driving force in drying up our usable water sources.
February 27, 2019 at 7:16 AM
Anonymous said…
One of your examples of water scarcity, with the Aral Sea, is definitely a potent example of what may be to come. I remember back in 8th grade when we watched in a time lapse of the Aral Sea slowly depleting, and its pretty depressing. The longer people go on with ignoring these problems, the more glaring they become. While we can water and filter it to become fresh water, we are also destroying habitats when places like the Aral Sea dry up. This is an issue tacked on to global warming to further increase the direty of our impact on the Earth. We must change.
February 27, 2019 at 7:26 AM
Anonymous said…
As has been noted by my colleagues, this is indeed a problem worth the valuable time to address. Yesterday in public speaking we watched a video on water scarcity in the Middle East, and a large caravan of massive water tanks brought only a days supply. We don’t often think about all of the water we use on a daily basis, and it is of the utmost importance that we find a way to empathize with the unnamed thousands who struggle with this issue. I wonder (as has been observed by previous comments) what can be done to leverage the oceans in this water shortage debacle. Food for thought. (Drink for debate? Nah, that does not work...)
February 27, 2019 at 7:27 AM
Anonymous said…
The water supply crisis should be treated as it truly is- a global one. Even ignoring its status as something we must drink to survive, it fulfills a multitude of roles necessary in our world that should be acknowledged. It is necessary for agriculture and irrigation, manufacturing, cleansing/purifying goods and ourselves, diluting chemicals, and that’s just naming a few. If we don’t begin to take immediate action, both the human population and the global economy will begin to collapse slowly but surely as these essential functions cannot be carried out.
February 27, 2019 at 7:51 AM
Anonymous said…
As the water supply crisis continues, it becomes more important for us to take measures to conserve our water supply. One of the best ways to do this is to educate ourselves. By educating those who are not dealing with water scarcity, they can be in a position to help. Those who are dealing with it can get educated on how they can prevent the problem from becoming even worse in the future. Additionally, farming and irrigation are often a huge culprit when it comes to water scarcity. Because of that, we need to improve practices so that we don’t use as much water and those who are using water are using it to its fullest potential. If we all move to take action, we can prevent this issue from getting worse.
February 27, 2019 at 1:07 PM
Anonymous said…
This post was a good reminder to us that while we (as Americans) have fresh water running from our sinks, this is not so much the case everywhere else in the world. Clearly, water scarcity is a global issue: even though struggles regarding obtaining drinkable water may be more pronounced in certain areas, this issue affects all humans throughout the world. Though many of the solutions that would make a greater impact are left up to officials (such as strictly enforcing laws that prohibit potential pollutants of water sources), we can work to educate and reduce in smaller ways. Many of us take the fact that we have running water for granted, and it would do us well to make sure people understand that others do not have the same comfort. In our daily lives, we can simply avoid wasting water: this alone would make a large difference.
February 27, 2019 at 8:25 PM
Anonymous said…
Water supply has always been a big issue that has been talked about for a few years now. However, over time the supply and demand of clean running water has decreased as it isn’t available to all humans in the world. Many of us take many things such as clean running water for granted and could all benefit in the end by regulating, educating and reducing our usage. The waste of our water is a big issue, especially in a developed country like the US. Along with that, farming and agriculture use much water in the easiest way possible, so if we could take more into consideration the way our water is being used in the grand scheme of things, we could preserve and help many of those around us.
February 28, 2019 at 8:35 AM
Anonymous said…
The example of water scarcity around the world exemplifies the rapid depletion of water resources by humans, but also how humans are unable to comprehend how to use water efficiently. Personally, I see water scarcity as more of a global issue, than a regional one, for it presents consequences that spread out of reach of just one country or region. For instance, water scarcity usually accompanies various problems, such as water pollution or even diseases spread through the passage of water. The problem of water scarcity should be controlled and monitored by international organizations where they can gather different groups of people to resolve the problem and improve water conditions around the world, rather than a single federal government within nation.
March 1, 2019 at 6:44 AM
Anonymous said…
Your post did a good job of addressing an issue that does not seem apparent or pressing in the daily life of an American. Personally, I knew that eventually the demand for fresh water would exceed what the Earth could provide for humans, but I never realized the extent of that issue around the world currently. I agree with your statement that we Americans take our plentitude of clean, safe water for granted. Although certain countries and regions suffer from consequences of water scarcity, I believe that this problem is a global issue. It should be a global responsibility to acknowledge and work towards reducing the impact of water scarcity for the benefit of the affected undeveloped regions, and to reduce the possibility of water scarcity impacting future generations in developed countries.
March 1, 2019 at 7:08 AM
Anonymous said…
Water supply and cleanliness has always been an issue. Humans, animals, and plants need water to survive. Some people speculate that the water redirection in California was a cause of the recent large fires. The plants were so dry that it didn’t take a lot for them to catch fire. The earth is made up of 70% water, and only 2.5% of that is appropriate to drink. Among all other resources, we need to make conscious decisions on how to allocate essential resources because every time humans tamper with the environment, there are ripples of consequences. There is not enough clean water to continue as we have before, so we need to take action to ensure that there is water left for future generations.
March 1, 2019 at 7:24 AM
Anonymous said…
Water scarcity is definitely a global issue. Even if we here in the U.S. do not experience water shortages, we can’t be complacent. I think our short term goals for combating water scarcity should focus on reducing water consumption in areas that have an adequate water supply and perhaps even allocate a portion of the water resources to transport to deficient areas. These short term solutions are intended to prolong the amount of time we can survive on our limited potable water supply so that we may have more time to refine our water filtration and desalination technologies. Unfortunately, the latter still poses the threat of brine and its disposal. The quest for accessible drinking water on its own will be a challenge, and it will also pose a variety of environmental issues from the measures we take to find a solution.
March 1, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Anonymous said…
Although I knew this problem was going to occur, I never knew the extent of this problem. I would consider water scarcity a global condition because it related directly back to climate change. As we know, about 70% of the world is covered in water. As you are reading this, icecaps are melting and groundwater as well. Our safe water is running out and it is running out fast. Through my own research I found that by the year 2025, 2/3 of the worlds population could face water shortages if actions are not properly taken. The longer we hold off on this problem, the less time we have to enjoy fresh and clean water. There are sanctions such as desalinization plants, but these are too expensive for people to afford. To solve this problem we need an easy, cheap, and efficient way to prevent water scarcity.
March 1, 2019 at 6:21 PM
Anonymous said…
I didn't expect that water scarcity would be such a prevalent issue throughout the world. It's hard to imagine and comprehend the struggles of areas in other parts of the world that don't have access to the same resources and luxuries that we as Americans highly consume. I think that water scarcity is more of a global, rather than a regional, issue because it is up to countries that are less threatened by water crises, like America, to give aid to regions with at higher risks, like pockets of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Although not all countries are affected significantly by water scarcity, it will take a united global effort to take action and help out those in need.
March 2, 2019 at 1:43 AM
Anonymous said…
This post was very interesting and shocking! It's scary to think that one day we won't have water as easily accessible as we do today. It's definetly crucial to resolving this issue before it becomes a reality worldwide. I did some research to find some simple steps that could lead to the solution. Education and awareness play a big part in the growth of the problem. The more people that understand the extent of the urgency, the more will be inclined to take helping measures. Additionally, if we could improve irrigation and agricultural practices to conserve freshwater, the abundance wouldn't be as much at stake.
March 2, 2019 at 3:00 PM
Anonymous said…
This was a really interesting and informative post! Water scarcity is not only a problem for developing nations but also developed ones. It is definitely very important to stop this issue before it evolves into an even larger one. There are several ways to limit this issue. First, we can develop new water conservation technologies and implement them in developing nations. In developed nations, this technology is already implemented and it is mainly the developing and underdeveloped nations that need our help. We can also educate the public on better ways of water conservation and lifestyles that can help limit this issue. I feel that if these steps are implemented the issue of water scarcity will be greatly decreased.
March 2, 2019 at 7:09 PM
Anonymous said…
Water scarcity is an international issue, that we must all tackle for our future generations. After doing further research, I found that in the year 2005, 1.8 billion people will be plagued by water scarcity. As well as, two-thirds of the entire world's population will be living in a water-stressed area. Already, one-third of Africa's population lacks proper drinking water. Right now, we take advantage of the clean drinking water that is provided for us, and we don't help our future generations with the depleting water on our planet. Hopefully, we can work together to prevent a scarcity of water in the near future.
March 2, 2019 at 10:23 PM
Anonymous said…
Personally, I would classify water scarcity as more of a regional environmental issue, because, as you said, water scarcity is prevalent in only second/third world countries. However, I do believe, global powers, such as the US, should lead the vanguard in solving this issue. “Charity: Water” is a nonprofit organization that is bringing clean and safe water to thousands of people in need every single month. More importantly, they are putting maintenance teams to work so they can ensure that water keeps flowing for years to come. You can donate today and give as little as a dollar to this extraordinary organization @ https://www.charitywater.org/donate
March 3, 2019 at 8:49 AM
Anonymous said…
Water scarcity is both a regional and global problem. While it isn't an issue in first world countries, these nations have the obligation of assisting the countries that are plagued by water scarcity. Without helping these nations overcome these problems, we will never be able to allow them to prosper to our own level. Water scarcity should be addressed as quickly as possible, although other problems like water pollution should be addressed first, because if we can purify more salt water with the consequence of simply adding to the pollution of it, there isn't really a point of doing that. Short term goals should be to simply spread current methods used to clean and purify water to poorer nations to help them gain access to a drinkable water supply. In the long term, we should try to improve methods of water purification to use less energy and purify more water to maximize efficiency. There have been many solutions to water scarcity proposed, although the most practical would be simply to try to budget more to environmental safety and water purification processes and try to help poorer countries gain more water for their citizens.
March 3, 2019 at 6:48 PM
Anonymous said…
Water scarcity is a very bad problem, and this is evident in many countries. For example, South Africa is in the middle of a severe drought, and they are nearing Day Zero. Day Zero is the day that many analysts predict that South Africa will run out of water. The lack of water in this country is causing people to ration to almost unbearable amounts. Moreover, water scarcity raises the price of water in these areas, making it unaffordable to many of the poor. This will soon become a n international issues, and already, billions of people are already plagued by this issue. We need to use the clean water that is available to us sparingly and prepare for the future with desalination plants.
March 3, 2019 at 11:14 PM
Anonymous said…
Water scarcity has been and will continue to be a prevalent issue in the world, especially in developing countries. I feel like we as Americans take fresh water for granted as we have right at our fingertips. I never had to think about wether or not I would be able to have acces to water, it’s always juts been a given. I think a reality check is needed for people living in developed countries such as America, because there are millions of people who go without water everyday or have to walk miles and miles just to get it. Water scarcity is a real problem, and soon the entire world will witness its effects, not just developing countries.
March 4, 2019 at 4:44 AM
Anonymous said…
If I want water, I can grab a glass and fill it instantly. If I need to take a shower, all I must do is turn a knob. These are luxuries that we take for granted every day, luxuries that so many people on this planet don’t have. Though it may not affect us, water scarcity is a global issue; the developing countries who still lack access to reliable, clean water need our help. We, as a country, cannot pour all of our money into supporting those in need of water, but, as individuals, any donation or mission work that we can provide to those in need goes a long way. Eventually, we will all need help, and— as a global family— we must unite to give everyone water everywhere.
March 4, 2019 at 4:58 PM
Anonymous said…
I learned a lot from your blog post. I had no idea that water scarcity was such a big problem currently. I did some research on ways to solve the global water crisis. Experts say that we must educate to change consumption and lifestyles of people, recycle wastewater, develop better regulations and develop new ways to conserve water in aquifers. This issue is very important since water is essential for all living things. This crisis needs to be dealt with immediately and quickly so the effects of this crisis are not too great.
March 4, 2019 at 6:37 PM
Anonymous said…
As someone living in an affluent area in the United States, I don’t worry about having clean water. I have enough water to shower, wash my face, and drink. When I’m thirsty, I don’t have to worry about not having clean water to drink. But I’m living a privileged life. It’s sad to imagine not having enough water even to drink, but it’s a reality for millions of people. These people go without enough water to drink, much less take a clean shower. The fact that NASA rated water scarcity as a number one issue this century is terrifying. Many developing nations face corruption, economic crisis, or war that leads to water scarcity. The people in these regions suffer, and as Americans, we don’t understand. Water scarcity is an extremely important issue that we must all take seriously and act on immediately. Without clean water, humans can not live. It’s a fundamental need for all living organisms.
March 4, 2019 at 6:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Your post was really interesting and disheartening to read. I think most of us can agree that we often take easily accessible water and just water in general for granted. We have clean water right when we need it and don’t have to worry about ever going thirsty when in some parts of the world that’s something they dream of having. Also, learning that NASA had rated water scarcity as number one problem in this century was disheartening. I hope that we are able to educate more people about issues like this so actions can be taken but also that water is an absolute necessity for all life on this planet.
March 4, 2019 at 8:31 PM
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