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.

Water Resources in the Mediterranean Region

Abstract: Mediterranean environments raise very specific problems for water resources management. Asymmetries of water availability and needs in annual and inter-annual terms and a peculiar relationship among water, soil and environment are some of these problems. In these environments, an integrated approach for water resources management is required. In this paper, a brief review of water needs and water availability in the Mediterranean countries is presented and the most relevant management issues raised by water scarcity are briefly discussed. Data on freshwater resources and on the distribution of different sectoral water uses in 19 countries of the Mediterranean region is presented and discussed. The close relationship between water resources management and land-use management is emphasized as a key issue for the integrated management of water in the region. The consequences of water shortages and the increase of water and land stressed situations may be aggravated in the future by climatic change. ...

Hydrogeochemical characterization of water mineralization in Tebessa-Kasserine karst system (Tuniso-Algerian Transboundry basin)

Abstract: Carbonate aquifers provide large parts of the water supply for more than a quarter of the world’s population. The geochemical assessment of these heterogeneous aquifers is a valuable endeavor to ensure a rational management and protection of groundwater resources. To secure its durability, regard to increasing water demands and climate challenges make the problem of prevalence of water scarcity, vulnerability, and drought conditions extremely complicated. In Tebessa–Kasserine basin (Tuniso-Algerian international border), karst aquifers are receiving increasing interest, as the area has typical karst landscape and the hydrogeological system mostly consists of carbonates formation. Thus, a thorough understanding of aquifer behavior and water mineralization origin using geochemical and statistical tools can lead to relevant information regarding karst processes, groundwater chemistry, and protection. Subsequently, this study represents a pioneer baseline of the hydrogeochemical characterization of karst features in this international border area and it aims to identify the origin of karst water mineralization, its spatial distribution, and factors influencing water composition. The hydrogeochemical assessment of the sampled waters shifts from low mineralized Ca-HCO3 waters to Ca-SO4 and Na–Cl water types. TDS values range from 10 to 490.66 mg/l. A Gibbs diagram indicates that karst waters have been recently recharged by direct rainfall infiltration. Water quality gets modified along pathways and dissolution, formations weathering, and ion exchange processes seem to be the predominant geochemical factors influencing water mineralization. The PCA confirms the spatial variability of water types and indicates that it largely depends on aquifer lithology and on geographical position of water points.

Assessing Options to Increase Water Productivity in Irrigated River Basins Using Remote Sensing and Modelling Tools

Abstract: In regions where water is more scarce than land, the water productivity concept (e.g. crop yield per unit of water utilized) provides a useful framework to analyse crop production increase or water savings in irrigated agriculture. Generic crop and soil models were applied at field and regional scale, together with geographical and satellite data to analyse water productivity in Sirsa District (India). In this district certain parts show a serious decline in groundwater levels and water shortage, while other parts experience a serious rise of groundwater levels, causing waterlogging and salinization. The regional analysis showed a large spatial variability of water productivity, net groundwater recharge and salinization. Scenario analysis showed that improved crop husbandry, reallocation of canal water from fresh to saline groundwater areas and reduction of seepage losses in saline groundwater areas are effective measures to increase the overall water productivity and to attain sustainable irrigation in S...

Analysis of intra-country virtual water trade strategy to alleviate water scarcity in Iran

Abstract: . Increasing water scarcity has posed a major constraint to sustain food production in many parts of the world. To study the situation at the regional level, we took Iran as an example and analyzed how an intra-country "virtual water trade strategy" (VWTS) may help improve cereal production as well as alleviate the water scarcity problem. This strategy calls, in part, for the adjustment of the structure of cropping pattern (ASCP) and interregional food trade where crop yield and crop water productivity as well as local economic and social conditions are taken into account. We constructed a systematic framework to assess ASCP at the provincial level under various driving forces and constraints. A mixed-integer, multi-objective, linear optimization model was developed and solved by linear programming. Data from 1990–2004 were used to account for yearly fluctuations of water availability and food production. Five scenarios were designed aimed at maximizing the national cereal production while meeting certain levels of wheat self-sufficiency under various water and land constraints in individual provinces. The results show that under the baseline scenario, which assumes a continuation of the existing water use and food policy at the national level, some ASCP scenarios could produce more wheat with less water. Based on different scenarios in ASCP, we calculated that 31% to 100% of the total wheat shortage in the deficit provinces could be supplied by the wheat surplus provinces. As a result, wheat deficit provinces would receive 3.5 billion m3 to 5.5 billion m3 of virtual water by importing wheat from surplus provinces.