Challenges and Solutions for Global Water Scarcity

Abstract

Climate change, global population growth, and rising standards of living have put immense strain on natural resources, resulting in the unsecured availability of water as an existential resource. Access to high-quality drinking water is crucial for daily life, food production, industry, and nature. However, the demand for freshwater resources exceeds the available supply, making it essential to utilize all alternative water resources such as the desalination of brackish water, seawater, and wastewater. Reverse osmosis desalination is a highly efficient method to increase water supplies and make clean, affordable water accessible to millions of people. However, to ensure universal access to water, various measures need to be implemented, including centralized governance, educational campaigns, improvements in water catchment and harvesting technologies, infrastructure development, irrigation and agricultural practices, pollution control, investments in novel water technologies, and transboundary water cooperation. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of measures for utilizing alternative water sources, with particular emphasis on seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation techniques. In particular, membrane-based technologies are critically reviewed, with a focus on their energy consumption, costs, and environmental impacts.

Implementasi Hukum Lingkungan dalam Penegakan Hukum terhadap Pencemaran Sungai di Bandung

“…Aktivitas manusia mengancam ketahanan komponen vital yang saling berhubungan dari sistem bumi kita (Glendell et al 2023). Sungai Bharalu di Guwahati, Assam, adalah contoh utama sumber daya air penting yang telah mengalami degradasi bertahap selama bertahun-tahun (Shemer, Wald, and Semiat 2023).…”

Enhanced properties of PVDF membranes using green Ag-nanoclay composite nanoarchitectonics

“…Water scarcity is increasing owing to climate change, urbanization, and population growth [1]. New water sources, such as desalination and recycled water, are in high demand to address these problems [2].…”

Design and implementation of a Li River water quality monitoring and analysis system based on outlier data analysis

“…Human activities contributing to water quality issues include discharges from septic tanks, improper waste disposal, emissions from garbage, mineral extraction, and the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Human activities have become major contributors to water pollution, with approximately 50% of untreated wastewater being discharged directly into rivers or oceans, leading to severe ecological damage and long-term consequences [ 3 ]. Seasonal rainfall and other natural processes can lead to increased river pollution through surface runoff, which contributes to the deterioration of water quality.…”