Reduction of Water Scarcity

How are people reducing water scarcity?

 There is some good news. One study found that water scarcity can be significantly reduced by 2050 if we commit to making big, yet practical changes. 




Developing water filtration systems

It’s one thing to have access to water, and it’s another to have access to water that is safe to drink. Effective water filtration systems help ensure freshwater can be put to good use—not making us sick. That’s one of the reasons why companies worldwide are committed to developing sophisticated water filtration systems that produce purified water free from bacteria, microbes, and other contaminants, and bringing this clean drinking water to as many schools, hospitals, workplaces, and homes as possible.

Promoting water stewardship

It takes every community in the world to reduce the threat of water scarcity. Now more than ever, the world needs water stewards in all forms. Whether that means taking shorter showers, installing low-flow toilets, collecting rainwater for garden use at home; reusing greywater and eradicating leaks and other water inefficiencies at schools and offices; or investing in sustainable energy and water reduction initiatives by companies, water stewardship is a big part of the puzzle when it comes to limiting water scarcity.

Protecting wetlands

Remember when we mentioned that wetlands are natural water filtration systems? Well, that means they have a big role in collecting and purifying water. Wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, but conserving wetlands could have a major payoff. Currently, an international treaty called the Ramsar Convention has helped protect more than 2,000 wetlands. More aggressive conservation measures are required if we want wetlands to assist our efforts to reduce water scarcity.

Improving irrigation efficiency

Industrial agriculture is one of the biggest drains on water resources. Simply switching from flood irrigation systems to sprinklers or drip irrigation systems could help the agricultural sector save a tremendous amount of water. When combined with better soil management practices such as no-till or limited tillage and mulching, which reduces evaporation from the soil, more efficient irrigation systems can significantly reduce water usage.

Increasing water storage in reservoirs

Climate change increases the frequency of droughts and floods. By expanding the reservoir capacity we can capture and store floodwater, to prevent its loss to the ocean, where it becomes salinated and more difficult to treat. This stored water can be used to provide water during times of drought. In the U.S, many states (such as California and Wyoming) are considering enlarging existing reservoirs or building new ones.

Desalinating seawater

The technologies involved in seawater desalinization are new but promising. The process involves converting seawater into fresh water suitable for drinking, cooking, bathing, and more. The researchers of the study predict that increasing the number of seawater desalinization plants by 50-fold would make a big impact when it comes to reducing water scarcity. The biggest downside is that desalinization requires huge amounts of energy; these energy sources must be sustainable so they don’t contribute to more water scarcity

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