Showing papers on "Water scarcity published in 1987"

Water scarcity : impacts on western agriculture

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Monitoring and study program of an inter-regional wastewater reclamation system for agriculture

Abstract: Maximum reuse of wastewater is required in arid and semiarid areas such as Israel because the severe water shortage limits agri cultural activities as well as some branches of industry. To maintain the present level of agricultural production, the irri gation water supply should not be significantly reduced. Water consumption in Israel exceeds the national potential for renewing fresh water sources (safe yield), and because municipal and in dustrial consumption steadily increases, the gap between the safe yield and the total water supply is widening (Fig. 1). To balance the deficit a wide national program of wastewater rec lamation has been established and several regional and inter regional reclamation systems are being introduced. In many of these systems reclaimed wastewater effluent will replace fresh water.

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Water Conservation in Southern Texas

Abstract: The Edwards Underground Water District and the city of San Antonio, Texas, conducted a regionwide conservation program during the summer and fall of 1984. The program's goals were to educate the public about the potential water scarcity problem and to promote largely voluntary conservation measures. To evaluate acceptance of the program by the public, a regional survey was administered that included questions regarding knowledge about and attitudes toward water resources development and conservation, the types of information sources people use and prefer to use about conservation practices, and the conservation measures people actually implemented under the impetus of the program. Some considerations relevant to conservation programs throughout the state and elsewhere are discussed. Many institutional and economic factors affect water conservation policy in general, and it was concluded that water conservation must be assigned full resource status in order to implement effective institutional policy options.

An Australian perspective on drought and water management objectives for regional development

Abstract: Urban and rural water shortages during the late 1970s and early 1980s created severe management and distributional difficulties for many water supply authorities throughout eastern Australia. In the case study selected, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, water consumers experienced a wide range of effects which varied by sector and location. Concepts and perceptions of ‘drought’ are analysed with reference to water supply policies and objectives of major water suppliers in the region. The effectiveness of water planning and administration is retrospectively examined for the 1979–84 drought. A number of lessons are given for future water resources planning and specifically demand management during drought but also throughout the variability of the water cycle.

Source of drinking water supply and transmission of guinea worm disease in Nigeria.

Abstract: During 1982, ecological factors associated with freshwater pollution were investigated in Idere, a rural Nigerian community with endemic guinea worm infection. Data were collected on the quality of all pond water sources, and on rainfall patterns and potable piped water available in the community. Pond water provided 76% of the total water used in Idere. This source of drinking water provided the classical ecological environment for the transmission of Dracunculus medinensis, other helminth parasites and bacterial enteric infections. The bacteriological analysis of drinking water from the ponds reflects the absence of sanitary arrangements for human waste disposal in the community, as the ponds are collectors of storm run-offs. Okina, the spring-fed pond which was nearest to the households, was the most reliable year-round source of water to the community; however, Okina also contained the highest density of infective Thermocyclops and the highest faecal coliform (FC) to faecal Streptococcus (FS) ratio (FC/FS), thus providing a central reservoir for guinea worm and bacterial infections. The transmission season of guinea worm infection corresponded with the period of greatest water scarcity in Idere. The amount of portable water available to Idere residents in 1981 was 3.6 litres per person per day. Frequent mechanical breakdowns, electric power failures, lack of fuel to run the water pumping engines and the direct link of the water pipeline supplying water to Idere with a water pipeline serving another major city in the same district were some of the reasons for potable water shortage in the community.

A Large International River: The Danube. Summary of Hydrological Conditions and Water Management Problems in the Danube Basin

Abstract: The demand of policy makers and managers to find environmentally sound and sustainable economic development is obvious. At the same time, various branches of sciences dealing with environmental issues have become more and more specialized. The solution to problems -- often of a global character -- requires the interdisciplinary analysis of versatile systems consisting of natural, economic and social elements of the environment. Within the long series of water related topics of IIASA's Environment Program, a new project "Decision Support Systems for Managing Large International Rivers" (LIR) was recently launched. The formulation of environmentally sound management policy for land-use and water resources development requires the reliable prediction of the impacts of different human interventions in order to eliminate conflicts between different interest groups, and to preserve the quality of life in both the biosphere and society. Several models for the assessment of various environmental impacts already exist, but the large scale of river basins and the amount of data -- the availability of which is even limited in some cases -- require the development of aggregated systems of models that can provide decision makers with easily understandable information at various hierarchical levels. Considering this requirement, the objective of the project is to construct a computer-based interactive data and information system to facilitate the effective participation of policy making authorities in determining current conditions and expected changes in hydrological systems. The outline of LIR emphasizes the importance of the preparation of case studies. Their role is not only to check the applicability on the system for solving actually occurring problems, but the analysis of the basins as cases will assist in selecting the crucial questions that should be answered by the Decision Support System. The Danube basin was chosen as the first case study to be investigated in the framework of LIR. The reason for this choice is partly that IIASA is located in the basin, and, thus all information easily accessible. The international character of the river (there are 8 riparian countries and 3 others sharing a small part of the catchment), the rapidly developing problems of the utilization of water (canalization, increasing transboundary pollution, seasonal water shortage), and the efforts of the riparian countries to improve the conditions of water resources development within the basin (which is clearly indicated by the fact that a joint declaration was signed) are also reasons supporting the selection of the Danube as the first case study. Naturally, the hydrological conditions of the river system and the water management problems occurring within the catchment are well known for the experts in water sciences working in the riparian countries. For experts participating in the project and coming from other countries, or, representing other scientific disciplines, it is necessary, however, to summarize the most important information describing the water regime of the river system and the obstacles hindering the development of water resources in the basin. This working paper and the detailed list of references provide more information on water management in the Danube basin.

Political and legal implications of water scarcity in Southwestern United States and alternatives of its proper utilization

Abstract: The significance of this study has been to give an overall view of the use of water in the arid western United States and to evaluate the key geographical, political, and legal factors that affect the water resource development in the region. This study includes the availability of water resources; usage of water, especially for irrigation, industry, urban, and household consumption; and methods of conservation to meet the growing demands for scarce water resources. The solutions for conservation are interbasin transfers with appropriate apportionment among western states; conserving water through drip irrigation; desalination of saline water; decreasing demand through increasing efficiency; and establishing cooperation among the western states for equitable distribution of water. The western states have to realize that scarce water in the West should be used judiciously and conservation practices have to be followed strictly to meet the future need for water. In recent years, the federal government is becoming hesitant to extend large amount of money for water projects in the West because of growing federal deficits. Water may play an important role in maintaining the standard of living for the fast growing population in the sunbelt and in accelerating the pace of economic development in the western United States.