Water getting scarce as summer turns cruel

Summer has descended upon Asia with all its fury. As temperatures rise across the world’s largest continent water scarcity is worsening. The search for water has become a daily ordeal, mainly for womenfolk. They are trudging across long distances in scorching heat and risking their lives to procure water from deep and drying wells and treacherous water sources.    

But the summer, as usual, is causing loss of water through evaporation and transpiration from plants. This means that more water is needed to quench parched throats and maintain the same level of vegetation even as water resources get depleted faster.

Warmer temperatures are increasing the demand for water for agricultural, industrial, and domestic uses. Limited water resources are under greater pressure. At the same time, higher temperatures are exacerbating pollution and nutrient runoff in water bodies, leading to reduced water quality and increased treatment costs.

In areas where snowmelt is an important source of water, rising temperatures can lead to earlier and faster melting, which can result in reduced water availability later in the season. It is the same sorry state of affairs wherever summer has stepped in. Water scarcity is a global issue which displays its most fearsome face when the mercury starts soaring during summer months.

Scary times not that far 

With climate change and global warming becoming existential realities, the planet is headed for scary times. 

A study published in the journal ‘Nature Climate Change’ in 2016 analysed the impact of climate change on water scarcity in the Mediterranean region. The study found that climate change is likely to increase water scarcity in the region by 4-30% by the end of the century, depending on the severity of the warming.

Another study published in the ‘Journal of Hydrology’ in 2019 revealed that climate change and rising heat are likely to reduce water availability in the Indus River Basin in South Asia by 6-28% by the end of the century.

But some of the regions are more prone to water scarcity.

Women and girls queue up for the daily quota of water

South Asia: This region is highly dependent on agriculture and has a rapidly growing population, which puts pressure on already limited water resources. Countries such as India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have been facing water scarcity and groundwater depletion issues in recent years.

Central Asia: This region is prone to arid and semi-arid conditions, and has limited water resources. Countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan have been facing water scarcity and desertification over the years.

Women compelled to use polluted water for daily chores

Middle East and North Africa: This region has the lowest per capita availability of fresh water in the world, and is highly dependent on non-renewable sources of water such as groundwater. Countries such as Egypt, Yemen, and Syria have been confronting severe water scarcity over the recent past.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Many countries in this region are prone to drought and desertification, and have limited access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Countries such as Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia have fallen prey to acute water shortage and droughts during the recent past, many a time consecutively over years.

Western United States: This region has been facing severe drought conditions in recent years, which have impacted water availability for agriculture, urban areas, and natural ecosystems. States such as California, Nevada, and Arizona have been particularly affected.

Even muddy water will do

How to cut water use 

We need to curtail use of water. It is our most precious need. One can foresee major conflicts over water within countries and amongst them. In fact, that is already happening in various parts of the planet. Taking water’s availability for granted can prove to be a folly with scarce solutions.

Agricultural water reduction: Agricultural water use accounts for around 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, making it a key area for reducing water consumption. Improvements in irrigation efficiency, such as using drip irrigation or soil moisture sensors, can result in water savings of 20-50% compared to traditional flood irrigation methods.

Industrial water reduction: Industrial processes, such as power generation and manufacturing, also require significant amounts of water. Improvements in water efficiency and reuse, such as implementing closed-loop cooling systems, can result in water savings of up to 90% compared to traditional open-loop systems.

Domestic water reduction: In households, simple changes in behaviour and technology can lead to significant water savings. For example, fixing leaky faucets and using low-flow showerheads and toilets can reduce water use by 25-60%.

Municipal water reduction: Municipalities can also implement water conservation measures, such as using reclaimed water for irrigation and landscaping, and promoting xeriscaping (low-water landscaping). These measures can result in water savings of 30-50% compared to traditional irrigation and landscaping practices.

National water reduction: Countries can implement policies and programmes to reduce water consumption at the national level. For example, Singapore has implemented a comprehensive water management plan that includes water recycling, desalination, and rainwater harvesting, which has reduced the country’s reliance on imported water and reduced per capita water consumption by 30%.