Water scarcity

About: Water scarcity is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 11579 publications have been published within this topic receiving 228756 citations. The topic is also known as: water shortage.

The role of ground water in sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract: Although water resources managers speak of a water crisis in Africa, the management of ground water has to date not featured strongly in national and regional African water agendas. Examination of the physical environment of the continent and, in particular, the water resources in relation to the socioeconomic landscape and regional development challenges makes it clear that widely occurring, albeit largely low-yielding, ground water resources will be crucial in the achievement of water security and development. Ground water is important primarily in domestic water and sanitation services, but also for other local productive needs like community gardens, stock watering, and brick-making, all essential to secure a basic livelihood and thus to alleviate poverty. Despite the importance of small-scale farming in Africa, there is little information on the present and potential role of ground water in agriculture. In contrast to its socioeconomic and ecological importance, ground water has remained a poorly understood and managed resource. Widespread contamination of ground water resources is occurring, and the important environmental services of ground water are neglected. There appear to be critical shortcomings in the organizational framework and the building of institutional capacity for ground water. Addressing this challenge will require a much clearer understanding and articulation of ground water's role and contribution to national and regional development objectives and an integrated management framework, with top-down facilitation of local actions.

Water challenge and institutional response (a cross-country perspective)

Abstract: This cross-country evaluation of institutional responses to problems in the water sector shows that changes in the nature of water problems have changed the development paradigm underlying water institutions. There is increasing recognition of how decentralized allocation mechanisms can influence economic forces and stakeholders in water sector decisions. As the notion of water provision as a public good and welfare activity gives way to the concept of water as an economic good and an input of economic activity, there is more policy concern about efficient and equitable use, cost recovery, and financial viability. All of the countries the authors studied (Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, Spain, and Sri Lanka) are committed to changing the policies and institutions that have caused the present water sector crisis, but they are at different stages of institutional reform. Among cases discussed, Australia and Chile (and, in the United States, California and Colorado) are at an advanced (though not ideal) stage of institutional change. Israel, with its technologically advanced water sector, could well be ahead of them when the proposal to allow water transfers and decentralize water development and distribution systems takes practical shape. Tentative conclusions reached by the authors are: 1) Attempts to fix isolated parts of the water sector will influence other dimensions but an integrated approach is best. At the heart of such an approach should be institutional changes aimed at modernizing and strengthening legal, policy, and administrative arrangements for the whole sector. 2) Institutional changes taking place everywhere suggest that the opportunity costs of (and net gain from) institutional change is not uniform, suggesting that opportunity and transaction costs vary. 3) Funding agencies should focus efforts and resources in countries, areas, and subsectors that already have enough critical mass in institution-building to ensure success and lower transaction costs. 4) The sequence and pace of reform should reflect realities of scale economies and political pressures from reform constituencies. When possible, political economy should be exploited to move reform along more quickly.

The dynamics of water scarcity on irrigated landscapes: Mazarrón and Aguilas in south‐eastern Spain

Abstract: The new irrigated lands of Mazarron and Aguilas, south-east Spain, have led to the overexploitation of local aquifers and to seawater intrusion, water salinization and to declining water tables. This paper discusses a dynamic model developed to analyse the key socio-economic and environmental factors driving the whole system. The New Irrigated Lands dynamic model includes five sectors: Irrigated Lands, Profitability, Available Space, Water Resources and Pollution. The dynamic model simulates the environmental effects regarding water consumption by reference to aquifer levels, natural outflows through springs, piezometric levels and aquifer water salinity. The exploration of scenarios shows that current policies based on the increase in water resources do not eliminate the water deficit problem because the feedback loops of the system lead to a further increase in irrigated land and continuation of the water deficit. This demonstrates highly counter-intuitive behaviour. This article constitutes a contribution to the analysis of intensive irrigated lands and water management in Spain, which is mostly lacking a systemic and dynamic approach. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Risk Evaluation of Water Shortage in Source Area of Middle Route Project for South-to-North Water Transfer in China

Abstract: Water diversion causes changes in the downstream flow regime, which may intensify the crisis of water shortage. The effect of the diversion on water shortage depends on the volumes of water transferred and water demand of source area, the upstream inflow and the way the reservoir is operated. This paper reports the findings of a study to assess the impact of water diversion from Danjiangkou reservoir on middle and lower Hanjiang River, part of the source area of South-to-North Water Transfer Project, China. The risk evaluation model consists of four parts, including inflow generation, water demand, simulation, and performance evaluation. Thomas–Fiering model and Mont-Carlo method are utilized to simulate monthly reservoir inflow data and a 12-dimensional random vector is used to describe the 12-month water demand in middle and lower Hanjiang River. A reservoir simulation model is established for optimum operation of Danjiangkou reservoir. Several scenarios including different water diversion scales are run by the risk evaluation model, whose outputs provide valuable information for decision making.