Water Wars
3-Part Series
Part I
Water water everywhere and nary a drop to drink…The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Water, the basis of life, a manage of two hydrogen molecules and one lucky oxygen molecule in perfect harmony. Simple and beautiful in its design, it is an old soul that cannot rest for it has a most important role as the essential element of life.
Throughout history, back to the earliest fossil records, the earth has seen drought and deluge, Ice Ages, and desertization. Yet the earth always seemed to supply enough water to meet its inhabitants’ basic needs. Today, we find ourselves at the precipice of change. Unlike our ancient predecessors, we require much more of water than for simple needs. Population explosions, natural forces, and those accelerated and exacerbated by man, now threaten the balance between what the earth gives and what we require. Today, industrial needs often outweigh the basic needs of man, leaving many desperate for the life sustaining liquid.
The United Nations (UN) declared access to water for basic human needs as a fundamental human right, yet today more than 3 billion people on 5 continents face water shortages that threaten their health, safety, and security. (1)
Often times these shortages aren't a result of changes in water flow or precipitation, but are the result of the transfer of public resources to private interests.
Seventy percent of the earth is covered by water and it is estimated that the earth comprises 326 million trillion gallons of water. Most of the water (>97%) is found in our oceans and seas. Unfortunately the high salt content makes this water non-potable without desalinization. Whereas the remaining 2% comprises fresh water, with 1.6% trapped in polar ice caps and glaciers, and approximately 0.36% found in underground aquifers and wells. (2) Since human survival depends on the availability of water for consumption, agriculture, and hygiene, the ever increasing water shortages in some of the world’s most populous and vulnerable regions may alter the fragile balance between the environment and mankind and between one human to another.
Some say that water is the new oil. There are numerous reports of regions experiencing natural and man-made water shortages as well as reports of escalating conflicts as individuals and nations race to acquire and profit from dwindling resource. According to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, climate change was making an already “bad situation worse” and “a shortage of water resources could spell increased conflicts in the future”. According to the UN, water scarcity is defined as fewer than 1,000 m3 of renewable clean water for each person each year to drink, clean, grow food, and run industry. Using this definition, more than half of the world’s population is currently living in countries affected by water scarcity. (3)
Mr. Ban indicated that the consequences of water scarcity for humanity are severe. Water scarcity threatens many economic and social gains and provides the fuel for wars and conflict. (3) While some may view these comments as an exaggeration or over reaction to a natural ebb and flow in the worlds resources, others such as Anders Berntell, executive director of Stockholm International Water Institute says that there is a “world water crisis” and we also “must meet the water-climate challenge” because “everything could become much more desperate in the future if the proper steps are not taken”. (4)
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Water Shortage Facts:
- Water shortages disproportionately affect the world’s poor and those living along the margins of society; however the crisis is expanding to wealthy nations.
- More than 97% of all water on the planet is salt water and unavailable for consumption. The remaining fresh water is circulated through cycles of evaporation and precipitation. (5)
» Few have invested in ocean and sea-water desalinization projects due to the high cost of such projects
- Agriculture accounts for the majority of fresh water usage by humans (~70%). (3)
» Approximately 10% of all water used (13 gallons of water per day [~50 liters per day)] is consumed for personal purposes (cooking, drinking, bathing, and sanitation).
» Industry accounts for twice the amount of water used for personal purposes (20%) and industry is often the first in line when resources become scarce.
- The demand for water will rise by ~50% by 2030 according to the World Bank
» Demand for water may double by 2050 according to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). (2,3)
- Approximately 46 countries (~2.7 billion people) are at high-risk of water— shortage-related violent conflicts. (6)
» Approximately 56 countries (1.2 billion people) are at high-risk of water— shortage-related political instability. (7)
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Many experts say that there is currently enough fresh water to meet the demands of today’s population’s. However, there are a number of factors that determine who does and does not have access to the water, the quality of the existing water, and the availability of the water at any given time. These factors include, but are not limited to:
- Poor water management
- Drought
- Climate change
- Lack of infrastructure
- Evaporation
- Leakage
- High population growth
- Pollution (chemicals and heavy metals)
- Redistribution of water (dams)
- Floods
- Conflicts
In Part II, we will discuss each of the factors impacting the availability and distribution of water, including the geopolitical, environmental, and industrial factors affecting water shortages and leading to violence.
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