By April Day, Director of Publishing for Save The Water™ | June 13, 2019
The worldwide water demand is expected to increase by 55%. According to a study by the Organization for Economic and Cooperative Development (OECD), the three leading reasons for the increase will be manufacturing, thermal electricity, and domestic use between 2000 and 2050. Emerging economies and developing countries will drive the increase in global demand.1 If we don’t change our approach to water, many will be without water by 2050. Now, there are at least four solutions: water trade, water recycling, desalination, and water capture. We can look for safe ways so that there will be contamination-free water for all.
Visual representation of OECD Environmental Outlook to 20501
Three activities will contribute to the overall 55 percent increase in water demand:
- Manufacturing, with a 400 percent increase
- Thermal electricity generation, with a 140 percent increase
- Domestic use, with a 130 percent increase1
Even though many people will have access to usable water by 2050, not all of that water will be safe for humans to drink. On top of that, not everyone will have access to water in 2050. Unless new water policies are introduced, more than 240 million people worldwide won’t have access to safe water by 2050.1 That is to say, we won’t meet world goals for helping people access safe water, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.1
Water Now: Demands Lower Water Levels
Today, agriculture drives much of the world’s water demand—specifically, about 70 percent of the world’s freshwater supply. This agricultural demand shows no signs of stopping. As the world’s population continues to grow, food production must increase by 69 percent to feed everyone.2
Agricultural demands aren’t the only reason that water demands will increase; populations in cities contribute, too. According to a study led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), freshwater supplies are being used faster than they are being replaced.2 Specifically, freshwater levels in aquifers—underground areas that hold water—are decreasing in many locations. The world has major aquifers in places like India, China, France, and the United States. Of the 37 aquifers across the world, 21 are getting smaller.2
According to NASA’s Senior Water Scientist Jay Famiglietti, “the water table is dropping all over the world. There’s not an infinite supply of water.”2 A water table is the upper surface of the aquifer—the underground area that holds water.3
“llustration of seasonal fluctuations in the water table.” Fiveless, Wikimedia Commons, no changes made, no endorsement.
For example, Mexico City and California have water tables that are dropping. Mexico City has always been built on lakes. Now, however, people use more water than the amount that goes back into the underground lakes. As a result, some areas of the city are sinking by as many as nine inches per year.2
The dropping water table is also evident in California. In 2011-2016, California suffered its worst drought in 1,200 years. Although the drought ended with massive periods of rain, the water table was still not fully replenished. According to NASA scientist Famiglietti, it would take four years of above-average rain just to get the water table back to its normal level.2
Where Do We Go From Here? Four Examples of Solutions
To adapt to growing water demands, we can look to areas of the globe that regularly experience droughts and dry conditions. Examples include four solutions:
- water trade, meaning allowing people to trade water for money
- water recycling, meaning reusing wastewater
- desalination, meaning taking salt out of water
- water capture, meaning collecting rainwater
These solutions aren’t one-size-fits-all. That is to say, not every region can use these solutions.
First, Australia adapted to its “Millenium Drought” from 1997 to 2009 by creating a water trade. The water trading market allows people to trade it as a resource. For example, someone who grows a low-income commodity like wheat could sell water to another farmer growing a higher-income commodity like grapes. In other words, water is used for its most economically valued purpose because of market factors.2
Other countries rely on water recycling. For example, Israel views water as a national security issue. To avoid wasting water, It uses effluent to water crops. Effluent is water that has already been used such as household sewage. Thanks to water recycling, effluent serves 40 percent of Israel’s agricultural needs.2 You can read more about water recycling here.
Also, countries rely on the removal of salt from saltwater, called desalination. Water desalination might be a solution, but it would be limited because of its cost, energy needs, and impact on marine life. You can read more about desalination here.
Last, rainwater capture could also be a solution, but it’s naturally less reliable as it depends on naturally-occurring rainfall.2
To sum up, world water demands will likely increase by 55 percent. We must change how we think of water. We must also commit to finding solutions.
References
- OECD. “OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050: The Consequences of Inaction – Key Facts and Figures.” https://www.oecd.org/env/indicators-modelling-outlooks/oecdenvironmentaloutlookto2050theconsequencesofinaction-keyfactsandfigures.htm
- Tim Smedley. April 12, 2017. “Is the world running out of fresh water?” BBC: futurenow. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170412-is-the-world-running-out-of-fresh-water
- United States Geological Survey. “Aquifers and Groundwater.” https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/aquifers-and-groundwater?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
