Showing papers on "Water scarcity published in 2001"

Water Wars : Privatization, Pollution, and Profit

Abstract: Part 1 Theoretical underpinnings of the global water crisis: water rights - the state, the market, the community water cycles vs. market cycles - when ecology clashes with commerce the world on the edge. Part 2 Privatization - the culture of scarcity and water conflicts: intensive irrigation, large dams and water conflicts mining and water conflicts aquaculture and water shortage. Part 3 Sustainable use: converting scarcity into abundance culture and the value of nature - the sea as paradigm. Part 4 Resistance: our vanishing waters.

Managing Water for People and Nature

Abstract: Growing water scarcity and rapid declines in aquatic biodiversity indicate water policies are failing to protect life9s most vital resource. A major reason for growing water scarcity and freshwater ecosystem decline is that water is undervalued the world over. In this Policy Forum, the authors recommend equitable market-oriented mechanisms, including realistic pricing, integrating watershed protection costs into water prices, and charging polluters for their effluents. Science plays an essential role in providing information needed to make these mechanisms work effectively.

Global assessment of current water resources using total runoff integrating pathways

Abstract: The anticipated water scarcity in the first half of this century is one of the international issues of most concern, which needs to be adequately addressed. However, even though the issue has an international impact and worldwide monitoring is critical, there are limited global estimates at present. In this study, annual water availability has been derived from annual runoff estimated by land surface models using total runoff integrating pathways (TRIP) with 0.5° by 0.5° longitude/latitude resolution globally. The global distribution of abstraction was esti- mated for each sector at the same spatial resolution based on country-based statistics of municipal water use, industrial water use, and agricultural intakes, using a global geographical information system with global distribution of population and irrigated crop land area. The total population under water stress estimated for 1995 corresponded very well with earlier estimates. However, the number is highly dependent on how one assumes the volume of water from upstream of a region, which can be considered as "available" water resources within the region. Therefore it is important, even for global scale analysis, to evaluate the regional water quality deterioration and the real consumption of water resources in the upper part of the stream, as well as the accessibility of water. Further studies should be promoted by an integrated approach to improve the accuracy of future projections on both the natural and social aspects of water resources.

Water-efficient management strategies in rice production

Abstract: Food security in Asia is challenged by increasing food demand and threatened by declining water availability. Rice is the most important staple in Asia, where it provides35-80% of total calorie intake (IRRI 1997). More than 75% of the rice supply comes from 79 million ha of irrigated land. Thus, Asia's present and future food security depends largely on the irrigated rice production system. However, the water-use efficiency of rice is low, and growing rice requires large amounts of water. In Asia, irrigated agriculture accounts for 90% of total diverted freshwater, and more than 50% of this isused to irrigate rice. Until recently, this amount of water has been taken for granted, but now the global "water crisis" threatens the sustainability of irrigated rice production. The available amount of water for irrigation is becoming scarce (Gleick 1993, Postel 1997). The reasons for this are diverse and location-specific, but include decreasing quality (chemical pollution, salinization), decreasing resources (e.g., falling groundwater tables, silting of reservoirs), and increased competition from other sectors such as urban and industrial users. Because of the increasing scarcity of water, the costs of its use and resource development are increasing as well. Therefore, farmers and researchers alike are looking for ways to decrease water use in rice production and increase its use efficiency. A fundamental approach is to start at the field level, where water and rice interact. For farmers with no control over the availability or distribution of water beyond their farm gates, thecrucial question to be addressed is "What are the options to cope with decreasing water supply (or the increasing costs of it) at the farm or field inlets?" To answer this question, we have to look at the flow of water in rice fields and understand where reductions in water use can be achieved without impairing yield (Fig. 1).

Basin - Level use and productivity of water : examples from South Asia

Abstract: Basin - Level use and productivity of water : examples from South Asia , Basin - Level use and productivity of water : examples from South Asia , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی

China's Regional Water Scarcity and Implications for Grain Supply and Trade:

Abstract: In this paper we highlight the water scarcity and resource depletion in the North China Plain, the ‘breadbasket’ of China. A projection of water demand in the region indicates a continuous aggravation in water deficit in the coming years. Analyses of countermeasures on the supply and demand side suggest that the conventional wisdom of ‘opening up new sources and economising on the use of resources’ may not be an optimal way to deal with water scarcity in the region. Importing water in the form of grain should be taken as an additional measure. This ‘virtual water import’ option needs to be incorporated into the current regional and national agricultural development strategy in which crop structural adjustment is at the core.

Guidelines for assessing the risk to groundwater from on-site sanitation

Abstract: There has been encouraging progress with access to safe drinking water and sanitation in both rural and urban areas since the United Nations Water Decade of the 1980s However, more than 1 billion people around the world still lack access to safe water supplies and more than 24 billion are without adequate sanitation A substantial majority of these people live in Asia where the lack of sanitation provision is particularly acute In Africa, over one third of the population still remains without access to safe water and sanitation, and many of these can only be served by groundwater The need for renewed efforts to improve the situation is recognised in DFID’s recently published water strategy paper – "Addressing the Water Crisis - Healthier and More Productive Lives for Poor People" The health benefits of safe water supply are only properly realised when programmes combine safe water supply with sanitation and the promotion of safe hygiene practice With increasing population, the pressure on land in all cities is becoming intense High levels of pollution are increasing the risk to groundwater from sanitation and drainage facilities These guidelines are an important contribution to risk assessment and the avoidance of the contamination of groundwater supplies from on-site sanitation They have been developed as part of a project funded by DFID through the water component of the Infrastructure and Urban Development Division’s Knowledge and Research Programme

Suffering from water: social origins of bodily distress in a Mexican community.

Abstract: This article is an ethnographic analysis of what it means to "suffer from water." Using a critical medical anthropology approach, the study examines how residents living in a foothill community of the Valley of Mexico experience bodily distress associated with water scarcity. Data for the study come from participant-observation of domestic water use and community drinking water management as well as interviews with local civil and religious officials who monitor the water distribution system. While the community discourse on suffering from water does not correspond to biomedical categories of illness, it does speak to the physical and emotional hardships and the social conditions that limit residents' access to an adequate supply of domestic water. By taking a broad view of water-related suffering, the study reveals some of the efforts made by people to address what they consider to be the social origins of their bodily distress.

Charging for irrigation water: the issues and options, with a case study from Iran

Abstract: Inadequate funding for maintenance of irrigation works and emerging shortages of water are prevalent. The use of water charges to generate resources for maintenance and to reduce demand is widely advocated. Examples from other utilities, and from the domestic/industrial sectors of water supply suggest the approach could be effective. In developing countries, the facilities required for measured and controlled delivery of irrigation are rarely in place, and would require a massive investment in physical, legal and administrative infrastructure. To be effective in curtailing demand, the marginal price of water must be significant. The price levels required to cover operation and maintenance (O&M) costs are too low to have a substantial impact on demand, much less to actually bring supply and demand into balance. On the other hand, the prices required to control demand are unlikely to be within the politically feasible range. Furthermore, water supplied is a proper measure of service in domestic and industrial uses. But in irrigation, and especially as the water resource itself becomes constrained, water consumption is the appropriate unit for water accounting. This is exceptionally difficult to measure. An alternative approach to cope with shortage would focus on assigning volumes to specific uses-effectively rationing water where demand exceeds supply. This approach has a number of potential benefits including simplicity, transparency, and the potential to tailor allocations specifically to hydrological situations, particularly where salinity is a problem. Data from Iran are presented to support these contentions.

Water shortage, deforestation and development: South Africa's `Working for Water' programme

Abstract: In the post-apartheid era, South Africa is experiencing a serious water supply crisis as demand increases from both rural areas and rapidly growing towns and cities. New dams and water transfer schemes are being constructed, but they are both controversial and unlikely to fully satisfy demand. Alien species of trees and plants have invaded many parts of the country, taking over land from indigenous species. These alien species consume much more water than the indigenous vegetation, as well as threatening biodiversity and constituting a significant fire hazard. The Working for Water Programme, established in 1995, and working in partnership with local communities, aims to clear invasive alien species and thus increase water supply. The programme is examined in terms of its impact on environment and the livelihoods of predominantly poor rural communities. Questions are raised about the future sustainability of the programme. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of Climatic Change on a Water Dependent Regional Economy: A Study of the Texas Edwards Aquifer

Abstract: Global climate change portends shifts in water demand and availability which may damage or cause intersectoral water reallocation in water short regions. This study investigates effects of climatic change on regional water demand and supply as well as the economy in the San Antonio Texas Edwards Aquifer region. This is done using a regional model which portrays both hydrological and economic activities. The overall results indicate that changes in climatic conditions reduce water resource availability and increase water demand. Specifically, a regional welfare loss of $2.2–$6.8million per year may occur as a result of climatic change. Additionally, if springflows are to be maintained at the currently desired level to protect endangered species, pumping must be reduced by 9–20% at an additional costof $0.5 to $2 million per year.

Access to Natural Resources and the Fertility Decision of Women: The Case of South Africa

Abstract: Previous studies have examined the impact of an exogenous increase in population on the local resource base. In some recent theoretical work it has been proposed that resource scarcity, in turn, may affect fertility, and hence population growth rates. However, the sign and magnitude of this effect remains an open empirical question. In this paper we examine the impact of fuelwood and water scarcity on fertility rates using household data from rural South Africa. An individual choice model of fertility is estimated in which resource scarcity affects the demand for children through its effect on child mortality and productivity of children as resource collectors. Several alternative measures of resource scarcity are used, such as average distance traveled and time per trip for collecting water and fuelwood. We find wood scarcity to have a positive and significant effect on fertility. The effect of water scarcity is also positive, but not significant in general.

Water Margins: Competing Paradigms in China

Abstract: A global water crisis is widely predicted to occur in this century. China is both water-poor – in per capita terms one of the world's twelve most deprived (and increasingly water-polluted) countries – and, at the same time, also water-rich. This “blue gold” wealth makes China a potential water-power of “Saudi-Arabia” dimensions. While China's potential remains largely undeveloped, the country faces growing water pressures: highly uneven distribution between North and South, urbanization, population increase, degradation of the environment, and rapidly rising demands for energy, irrigation, and town water. The Three Gorges Dam project is the largest hydro-development project in the world and possibly the largest civil engineering project in history. This paper looks at less well-known development projects for the major rivers of China's South and Southwest including the Lancang (Mekong) and the Upper Yangzi. It also discusses the plans for a “Cascade” of dams on the Lancang, which will have a significant i...

Does efficient water management matter? physical and economic efficiency of water use in the river basin

Abstract: With growing water scarcity and increasing competition across water-using sectors, the need for water savings and more efficient water use has increased in importance in water resources management. Improvement in the physical efficiency of water use is related to water conservation through increasing the fraction of water beneficially used over water applied, while enhancing economic efficiency is a broader concept seeking the highest economic value of water use through both physical and managerial measures. Physical and economic efficiency measures are both useful indicators for water management at the irrigation system and river basin level. However, the relationship between physical efficiency and economic efficiency is not always clear and the values of these measures may indicate different directions for water policy and investments in irrigation. Open research questions include, for example: does enhancement of physical water use efficiency always lead to improved economic water use efficiency? How does the change in responsiveness of water allocation and irrigation technology to economic incentives affect physical and economic irrigation efficiency? What is the impact on physical and economic efficiency of various structural and nonstructural improvements? To explore these issues, an integrated economic-hydrologic river basin model is applied to the Maipo River Basin in Chile. A series of modeling scenarios are defined and policy implications from physical and economic efficiencies for basin-wide irrigation water management are analyzed.

Present and potential future vulnerability of eastern and southern Africa's hydrology and water resources : START Regional Syntheses

Abstract: Eastern and southern Africa is a region beset with often unique climatic and developmental problems as well as with a high agricultural water usage. This paper presents a synthesis of water as a vulnerable and variable natural resource in space and time under present climatic conditions by assessing various rainfall, evaporation and runoff indices in the region. Further uncertainties regarding this already high-risk natural environment are compounded by superimposing elements of potential climate change for a year 2050 scenario over the region. To the hazards of present and potential future climates the human dimension is added by assessing water demand as well as water availability for present and assumed future conditions. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for more detailed secondary and higher-order impact studies of climate change on water resources.

The Semi-Arid Integrated Model (SIM), a Regional Integrated Model Assessing Water Availability, Vulnerability of Ecosystems and Society in NE-Brazil

Abstract: Northeastern Brazil, an example of vulnerable semi-arid regions on the earth, is characterised by water scarcity and vulnerability of natural resources, pronounced climatic variability and social stress situations. Integrated studies involving hydrology, ecology, meteorology, climatology, pedology, agronomy, and social and economic sciences are required not only for analysing consequences of the adverse natural conditions but also to assess possible strategies to make semi-arid regions less vulnerable to the present and changing climate. Integrated modelling of the relationships between water availability, quality of life and migration, including aspects of global change processes, in the Semi-arid Integrated Model (SIM) serves to understand the dynamics of the system. An overview of the concept, structure and application results of the integrated model are given. A sensitivity study on climate change illustrates potentially significant adverse effects on the region. Moreover, it shows that a regional integrated model is a suitable tool for complex and interdisciplinary studies. The present version of SIM still is in a development phase, especially in its representation of socio-economic processes.

Overcoming water scarcity a nd quality constraints

Abstract: CONTENTS: Brief 1. Overview / Ruth S. Meinzen-Dick and Mark W. Rosegrant Brief 2. Water for Food Production / Mark W. Rosegrant and Ximing Cai Brief 3. Domestic Water Supply, Hygiene, and Sanitation / Hans van Damme Brief 4. Emerging Water Quality Problems in Developing Countries / Wim van der Hoeck - -Brief 5. Water and Rural Livelihoods / Linden Vincent Brief 6. Water and the Environment / Elro Bos and Ger Bergkamp Brief 7. Dams and Water Storage / Jeremy Bird and Pamela Wallace Brief 8. Groundwater: Potential and Constraints / Marcus Moench Brief 9. Water Harvesting and Watershed Management / John Kerr and Ganesh Pangare Brief 10. Water Pricing: Potential and Problems / R. Maria Saleth Brief 11. Markets for Tradable Water Rights / Karin E. Kemper Brief 12. Recognizing Water Rights / Franz and Keebet von Benda-Beckmann Brief 12. Integrated Management of Water in River Basins / Mark Svendsen Brief 13.Water, Conflict, and Cooperation / Aaron T. Wolf

Unconventional Water Supply Options in South Africa: A Review of Possible Solutions

Abstract: South Africa faces escalating freshwater problems and will experience prolonged water deficits within the next 25 to30 years if current patterns of water use continue unchanged. The level of conventional water resources utilization in the country is very high and new approaches are necessary to stretch the limited water supplies available to meet projected demands for water. Significant research into new technologies and sources of supply has been carried out in South Africa and abroad during the past few decades. This has resulted in the development and evaluation of a number of innovative concepts and methodologies, as well as novel adaptations to existing approaches. These concepts and methodologies include: integration of surface water transfers into a national water grid, transfers of untapped surface water resources from countries located to the north of South Africa, exploitation of deep groundwater and the use of aquifers for storage of surplus water, atmospheric water (fog and cloud) har...