Entering an Era of Water Scarcity: The Challenges Ahead

Abstract

Fresh water is a renewable resource, but it is also finite. Around the world, there are now numerous signs that human water use exceeds sustainable levels. Groundwater depletion, low or nonexistent river flows, and worsening pollution levels are among the more obvious indicators of water stress. In many areas, extracting more water for human uses jeopardizes the health of vital aquatic ecosystems. Satisfying the increased demands for food, water, and material goods of a growing global population while at the same time protecting the ecological services provided by natural water ecosystems requires new approaches to using and managing fresh water. In this article, I propose a global effort (1) to ensure that freshwater ecosystems receive the quantity, quality, and timing of flows needed for them to perform their ecological functions and (2) to work toward a goal of doubling water productivity. Meeting these challenges will require policies that promote rather than discourage water efficiency, as well as new partnerships that cross disciplinary and professional boundaries.

The Future of Freshwater in Shatt Al- Arab River (Southern Iraq)

“…Moreover, distribution of population within the region also plays a major role in the pressure on water resources available (Abughlelesha & Lateh, 2013). Humans already utilized half of the available runoff, either by consumption and agriculture or indirectly in the form of pollution (Postel, 2000).…”

Dynamic Impacts of Climate and Land-Use Changes on Surface Runoff in the Mountainous Region of the Haihe River Basin, China

“…By linking land and oceans, river runoff is an important component of the water resource used for sustainable development and human consumption, and it affects the livelihoods of billions of people [2,3]. In many areas, the volume of river runoff has displayed a decreasing tendency due to excess exploitation by humans and climate change, and water scarcity has become a global environmental problem that hinders human safety and social development [4][5][6][7].…”

Türkiye’de su kıtlığının mekânsal ölçekte değerlendirilmesi

“…Su kaynaklarının dağılımı, toplumun işleyi-şinde kri k bir öneme sahip r. Eskiden beri birçok toplum su sıkın sı problemini çözmek için çeşitli şekillerde mücadele etmiş r. Su kaynaklarının dağılımı doğal süreçlerin ve insan mü-dahalesinin kombinasyonundan etkilenmektedir. Su kıtlığı problemi, su kaynaklarının kirliliği ve aşırı kullanımı sonucu ortaya çıkmaktadır (Postel, 2000;Postel, vd., 1996). Bu sebeple, suyu her açıdan konu alan çok sayıda çalışmalar mevcu ur (Vö-rösmarty, vd., 2000;Gleick, 2003;Burte, vd., 2005;Taddei, vd., 2008;Henrique ve Chaves Suzana, 2007;Vörösmarty, vd., 2010;Mancosu, vd., 2015).…”