The Global Water Scarcity Challenges and Solutions

The purpose of this report is to discuss one of the most challenging global problems that we are facing nowadays, which is ‘The Global Water Scarcity’. This report will investigate the main sectors that highly consume and waste water and propose strategies to address high consumption rates. Throughout this report, two intervention strategies to tackle water scarcity are discussed: one focusing on educational intervention and the other on technical solutions. The first intervention is the World Bank's website dedicated to water scarcity solutions, while the second examines an innovative irrigation method used in corn farms in Italy, which has successfully reduced water consumption by 22%.

Methodology

This report primarily utilized desktop research to gain comprehensive insights into the water scarcity problem, its causes, proposed solutions by international researchers, and the best global practices and interventions. A wide range of relevant scientific articles and books were accessed to support this research. The search terms used included ‘The global water scarcity issue’, ‘Agriculture water consumption’, and ‘Water scarcity solutions’. These searches yielded numerous results, which were then filtered for relevance to the study. In total, three articles were consulted in detail.

Introduction

Water scarcity is one of the most pressing challenges facing the world today, affecting social, economic, political, and environmental dimensions. As the global population continues to grow, so does the demand for water, placing immense pressure on this finite resource. Despite covering 71% of the Earth's surface, only 4% is freshwater, and a mere 0.5% of that is suitable for human consumption. According to the United Nations, more than 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, and about 40% of the global population faces water scarcity. This situation calls for urgent action to manage water resources sustainably and develop appropriate infrastructure.

Global Water Consumption

Global water consumption is primarily divided into three main sectors: agricultural, municipal, and industrial. As depicted in Figure 2, agriculture consumes the largest share, accounting for 38% of total water consumption worldwide. Additionally, agriculture produces 32% of global wastewater, making its total contribution a staggering 70%. In contrast, municipal and industrial sectors collectively account for only 6% of water consumption and 24% of wastewater production. Consequently, agriculture emerges as the primary driver of water consumption globally.

Challenges

Daily water consumption through food production far exceeds direct drinking water usage. It takes between 2,000 to 5,000 liters of water to produce the food consumed by one person each day. This significant consumption underscores the need for more efficient water use strategies, particularly in agriculture.

Agriculture

Agriculture is both a major contributor to and victim of water scarcity. Farming accounts for nearly 70% of global water consumption and even up to 95% in some developing countries. However, significant improvements can still be made in optimizing water use in agriculture and food production.

Intervention Strategies

Industries worldwide are striving to optimize their water usage through planning, production practices, and innovative business models. According to a Sustainability Survey Poll on Water, more than 1,200 sustainability experts identified key areas for addressing water shortages over the next decade:

• Education for optimized water consumption.
• Invention of new water conservation technologies.
• Wastewater recycling.
• Improved irrigation and agricultural practices.
• Appropriate water pricing.

This report focuses on two primary solutions: water education to change consumption and lifestyles, and improvements in irrigation and agricultural processes.

Case Study 1: Educational Intervention

Education and awareness about water consumption optimization play a crucial role in addressing water scarcity. The World Bank Group has created a website called Water Scarcity Solutions, which provides clear, written, and visual illustrations of the water scarcity problem. The website offers visualized data on managing water use in scarce environments and presents various global solutions. By sharing and discussing the latest techniques and interventions, this platform effectively spreads knowledge about optimizing water usage.

Case Study 2: Technical Intervention in Italy's Corn Farms

As previously discussed, agriculture is the most water-consuming and wasteful sector. In Italy, corn production has been vital to the agricultural economy for decades. However, it faces challenges due to limited and expensive water supplies. Annual precipitation averages 920mm, but variable weather conditions during the corn growing season and rising water costs pose significant obstacles. Approximately 75% of Italian corn farms rely on municipal water, which constitutes 30% of their annual costs.

Intervention Strategy

In search of improved irrigation solutions, three farms near Milan implemented a drip irrigation system coupled with soil moisture monitoring.

Objectives

The system allows farmers to irrigate only when necessary, preventing plant stress from over- or under-watering. It also provides precise fertilizer application (fertigation), minimizing nutrient leaching into the ground.

System Features

The system comprises:

• Drip irrigation systems.
• Fertigation systems.
• Soil moisture content monitoring.
• Remote monitoring and sensing capabilities.

System Mechanism

Drip irrigation, combined with soil moisture sensors, is the core of this system. Automatic soil moisture analysis, facilitated by specialized software, optimizes irrigation. Fertilizers are delivered through the drip system, improving crop yield and reducing nutrient absorbance into the soil.

Project Main Cores

1. Soil Moisture Monitoring and Drip Irrigation System: The primary component is the soil moisture monitoring system and irrigation management software. Data is transmitted every 10 minutes, guiding irrigation decisions, reducing plant stress, and increasing crop yield.
2. Fertilization through Drip Irrigation: The fertigation system accurately delivers fertilizers to plant roots, offering cost savings and minimizing soil nutrient absorption.
3. Partnership: This system was developed through collaboration between Monsanto, NETAFIM™ (a leader in drip irrigation products), crop monitoring specialists, and the University of Milan. Extension services were provided to farmers to assess the system's benefits. The initial installation cost is approximately $1,200 per hectare.

Outcomes

Drip irrigation and soil moisture monitoring yielded remarkable results:

• Water withdrawals decreased by approximately 22%, from 16,900m³/yr to 13,100m³/yr.
• Crop yield increased by 124%, from 19.31 kg of dried matter per m³ of water with drum irrigation to 43.18 kg/m³ with AquaTEK™.
• Reduced evaporation losses, decreased return flows, and increased evapotranspiration were observed.

Conclusion

Addressing water scarcity requires diverse strategies tailored to specific challenges and regions. This report examined two intervention strategies: the World Bank's educational initiative (Water Scarcity Solutions) for global knowledge exchange and a technical solution for reducing water consumption in Italy's corn farms. The latter, a drip irrigation system with soil moisture monitoring, demonstrated significant water savings of 22%. By combining educational and technical approaches, we can make substantial progress in mitigating the global water scarcity crisis.

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