Global Stressors on Water Quality and Quantity

Abstract

Growing population and wealth will impact sustainability, technology selection, and governance strategies related to water issues. JULIE BETH ZIMMERMAN YALE UNIVERSITY JAMES R. MIHELCIC MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY JAMES SMITH UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIAThis inequality is especially critical for Asia, which has 60% of the world's population but only 36% of the world's water. Water quality in terms of pollutant loading also is not distributed equally and is related to the type of use and a country's level of development (Figure 2). Developing countries often have less capacity to improve water quality and depend on lower-quality water for a variety of uses, including drinking water.To capture an overall picture of a nation's water use, researchers calculate the national water footprint; this represents the total volume of freshwater used to produce the goods and services consumed by a population and the impact of globalization by F or more than a decade, the scientific community as well as nongovernmental organizations have sought to raise an alarm concerning the unsustainable use of the planet's available water resources (1). Rising world populations and consumption are inexorably increasing human demand for domestic, industrial, and agricultural water. Population and wealth along with other global stressors will have a direct and significant impact on the sustainability goals, technology selection, and governance strategies that are related to water quality and quantity.On a global basis, ~70% of freshwater is currently used for crop irrigation, ~20% for industrial purposes, and ~10% for domestic purposes (2). However, water use varies dramatically from one part of the world to another. Egypt, for example, uses 98% of its water for irrigation, leaving only ~27 L/capita-day for domestic use. In contrast, the U.S. uses 40% of its water for irrigation, and domestic water use exceeds 410 L/ capita-day. In refugee camps in Africa and Asia, residents may receive only 15 L/capita-day for both consumption and hygiene. For comparison, the World Health Organization defines reasonable access as the availability of at least 20 L/capita-day from a source within 1 km of the user's dwelling (3).Although the quantity of water used varies by region, water is not distributed equally (Figure 1).

Mobility of ibuprofen, a persistent active drug, in soils irrigated with reclaimed water

“…Due to the water scarcity, increasing attention has been focused on the reuse of reclaimed urban wastewater for agricultural purposes since around 70% of freshwater is currently used for crop irrigation (Zimmerman et al 2008). However, application of wastewater in agriculture may pose potential risks to the environment, as wastewater treatment plants have a limited capacity to remove organic chemicals (Bueno et al 2012).…”

Modeling integrated urban water systems in developing countries: case study of Port Vila, Vanuatu

“…Previous studies have suggested that the conventional approaches to wastewater management are not the most economical or ecologically sensitive options both generally (Daigger 2009;Zimmerman et al 2008) and in developing country contexts (Engin and Demir 2006;Massoud et al 2009). Parkinson and Taylor (2003) propose theoretically the use of decentralized wastewater in urban and peri-urban contexts in South Asia.…”

Elemental Iron (Fe0) for Better Drinking Water in Rural Areas of Developing Countries

“…A generalization trend exists within the international community suggesting that water in developing countries is of poor quality (e.g., Zimmerman et al 2008). Thereby, despite remarkable progress in environmental instrumental analytical chemistry, the water quality is rarely determined.…”