Water being the foremost necessity of life requires timely and efficient measures and policies, also known as water management. As the world population is experiencing exponential growth leading to more water consumption, states around the world must draft water management policies. Water management has come into the spotlight following the depletion of water bodies around the world impacted by climate change. The world is exposed to a potential water crisis that can be countered by a combination of social and technological change.
Water resources are under extreme pressure from climate change and the growing demand generated by the domestic, agriculture, and industrial sectors. Major sources of fresh water for much of the world’s population from the Yellow River in northern China to the Colorado River in the United States are in decline as researchers found an overall drop in the amount of water flowing into the world’s oceans. Human activities such as the diversion of water for agriculture have been attributed largely to the reduction, though climate change was the biggest reason as rising temperatures were altering rainfall patterns and increasing rates of evaporation. Meanwhile, the world’s supply of water is rapidly dwindling primarily due to mismanagement of water resources, although over-pumping and pollution are also significant contributors. It is often felt that the availability of cheap water to the agricultural sector has tended to encourage its pre-emption for a low-value, large-scale use, and has made it profligate. The world is lacking proper water management systems, while the groundwater is disappearing and river bodies are turning into makeshift sewers.
If not aptly addressed, water scarcity has the potential to disrupt economic performance at every level, as economic growth requires greater water resources. This, in turn, hinders poverty alleviation, which is highly dependent on economic growth. Similarly, water scarcity has damaging effects on agricultural production, food security, and commodity prices, all of which directly affect human livelihoods and contribute to cycles of poverty. This is especially true for approximately 60% of the people worldwide that depend on agriculture for survival. Moreover, if water supplies are restricted, societal tensions over access to resources can intensify and potentially become violent. This is especially likely in states that have a history of conflict and in areas where control over water resources has been politicized.
The governments around the world need to adopt plausible solutions to this awaiting water crisis. One option is to reuse as much water as possible. For example, the water that we use but don’t drink may be used to wash our hands, dishes, and clothes. Although it is no longer drinkable, it can still be collected and used to water lawns, wash cars, or flush toilets. Reusing water prevents fresh drinking water from being depleted too quickly. Another way to help prevent water shortages is to collect rainwater. Rainwater is collected and stored in large water containers, such as 50-gallon water barrels designed specifically for this purpose. This rainwater can then be used to water gardens and lawns, as well as for other non-drinking purposes. Another very important solution to this problem could be to keep an eye on related infrastructure and make sure water channels are looked after and any leaks are repaired.
Water being the primary means of sustenance for humans all around the globe is faced with a potential crisis. This crisis revolves around human disobedience against nature in a quest for human mutiny. The ever-growing water shortage and water mismanagement will affect all spheres of human life from economic to social to individual. To deliver the world away from this potential crisis the worldly powers will unanimously have to take responsibility and police the necessary measures under this alarming situation.