IntroductionIntroductionHello ladies and gents. We are the Water Rangers. Im Hello ladies and gents. We are the Water Rangers. Im

Jodi, this is Eli and that’s Ragga. Today, we will be Jodi, this is Eli and that’s Ragga. Today, we will be doing our presentation on water as a resource and doing our presentation on water as a resource and introduce you to the water situation that the world introduce you to the water situation that the world faces today. We will be presenting the following faces today. We will be presenting the following topics:topics:

• Water factsWater facts• Water as a resourceWater as a resource• The world’s situation concerning waterThe world’s situation concerning water• Access to waterAccess to water• Water’s influence on food productionWater’s influence on food production• Water and developmentWater and development• Water, peace and securityWater, peace and security• Water management and the environmentWater management and the environment• Water pollutionWater pollution• HydroelectricityHydroelectricity• The future of the world’s waterThe future of the world’s waterSit back, relax and enjoy the show.Sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

RESOURCESRESOURCESWater As Water As

A ResourceA Resource

Water FactsWater Facts

• Presently, 1.1 billion people lack access to Presently, 1.1 billion people lack access to improved water supply and 2.4 billion to improved improved water supply and 2.4 billion to improved sanitation . Unless action is stepped up, the sanitation . Unless action is stepped up, the number of people who lack access to improved number of people who lack access to improved water supply could increase to 2.3 billion by 2025 . water supply could increase to 2.3 billion by 2025 .

• If all the earth's water fit in a gallon jug, available If all the earth's water fit in a gallon jug, available fresh water would equal just over a tablespoon. fresh water would equal just over a tablespoon.

• A person can live about a month without food, but A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water . only about a week without water .

• A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of water per day to A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of water per day to survive (survive (44, , 55). ).

• The average American individual uses 100 to 176 The average American individual uses 100 to 176 gallons of water at home each day . gallons of water at home each day .

• The average African family uses about 5 gallons of water The average African family uses about 5 gallons of water each day (each day (77).  ). 

• More than 200 million hours are spent each day by women More than 200 million hours are spent each day by women and female children to collect water from distant, often and female children to collect water from distant, often polluted sources (polluted sources (88).  ). 

• Approximately 60 to 70% of the rural population in the Approximately 60 to 70% of the rural population in the developing world have neither access to a safe and developing world have neither access to a safe and convenient source of water nor a satisfactory means of waste convenient source of water nor a satisfactory means of waste disposal (disposal (99).).

• Water systems fail at a rate of 50% or higher Water systems fail at a rate of 50% or higher • According to the UN, 20% of the world's population in 30 According to the UN, 20% of the world's population in 30

countries face water shortages. This number is expected to countries face water shortages. This number is expected to rise to 30% of the world's population in 50 countries in 2025 (rise to 30% of the world's population in 50 countries in 2025 (1212). ).

• Some of the world's largest cities, including Beijing, Buenos Some of the world's largest cities, including Beijing, Buenos Aires, Dhaka, Lima, and Mexico City, depend heavily on Aires, Dhaka, Lima, and Mexico City, depend heavily on groundwater for their water supply. It is unlikely that groundwater for their water supply. It is unlikely that dependence on aquifers, which take many years to recharge, dependence on aquifers, which take many years to recharge, will be sustainable (will be sustainable (1212).).

Water, a precious resource!Water, a precious resource!

• WaterWater is one of the most important of all natural is one of the most important of all natural resources.resources.• It is vital for all living organisms and majorIt is vital for all living organisms and major ecosystems, as well as human health, food ecosystems, as well as human health, food

productionproduction and economic development.and economic development.• Difficult to purify,Difficult to purify, expensive to transport and impossible to substitute,expensive to transport and impossible to substitute, waterwater is essential to life. is essential to life. • It is a precious It is a precious resourceresource that has too long been that has too long been

taken for granted.taken for granted.

Uses of WaterUses of Water

• Domestic purposesDomestic purposes

• Industrial purposesIndustrial purposes

• Agricultural purposesAgricultural purposes

• Recreational purposesRecreational purposes

• Environmental purposesEnvironmental purposes

What’s the situation with the What’s the situation with the world’s water?world’s water?• Clean Clean waterwater is not an infinite is not an infinite resourceresource. .

There is a fixed amount which cannot be There is a fixed amount which cannot be increased, yet it is constantly under threat increased, yet it is constantly under threat from overuse and pollution.from overuse and pollution.

• In the past 100 years the world population In the past 100 years the world population tripled, but tripled, but waterwater use increased six fold. use increased six fold.

• Rivers and lakes are stretched to their limits – Rivers and lakes are stretched to their limits – many of them dammed, dried up or polluted. many of them dammed, dried up or polluted.

• With groundwater taking an average of 1400 With groundwater taking an average of 1400 years to be replaced, aquifers are being years to be replaced, aquifers are being drained far fasterdrained far faster than their natural rate of than their natural rate of recharge.recharge.

• Eighty countries, accounting for 40% of the world’s Eighty countries, accounting for 40% of the world’s population, already experience serious population, already experience serious waterwater shortages. shortages.

• Despite improvements, about one-sixth of the Despite improvements, about one-sixth of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe world’s population doesn’t have access to safe waterwater and half of them do not have access to and half of them do not have access to adequate sanitation. adequate sanitation.

• Australians use a million litres of Australians use a million litres of waterwater per person per person per year while those in per year while those in water water scarce places such as scarce places such as the Middle East have access to less than one the Middle East have access to less than one thousand litres per person per year.thousand litres per person per year.

The World’s Water SupplyThe World’s Water Supply

1.1. Oceans 97%Oceans 97%

2.2. Fresh water 3%Fresh water 3%

• From this fresh From this fresh water: water:

• Glaciers 70%Glaciers 70%

• aquifers 29%aquifers 29%

• Lakes, Lakes, rivers,reservoirs, rivers,reservoirs, storange 1%storange 1%

What factors affect people’s What factors affect people’s use and access to water?use and access to water?• Physical factorsPhysical factors Global freshwater supplies are abundant but because Global freshwater supplies are abundant but because

of climate and relief they are unevenly distributed of climate and relief they are unevenly distributed among and within countries.among and within countries.

• Demographic factorsDemographic factors Where there is a large number of people sharing Where there is a large number of people sharing

limited supplies of limited supplies of waterwater, especially in growing cities, , especially in growing cities, some people will not obtain an adequate amount of some people will not obtain an adequate amount of waterwater..

• Economic factorsEconomic factors The amount of The amount of waterwater people use is directly related to people use is directly related to

how easy it is for them to obtain and how affordable it how easy it is for them to obtain and how affordable it is. Affluent lifestyles make heavy demands on is. Affluent lifestyles make heavy demands on waterwater..

• Geopolitical factorsGeopolitical factors Most of the world’s major rivers flow through several Most of the world’s major rivers flow through several

countries so people living downstream depend on the countries so people living downstream depend on the goodwill of goodwill of waterwater users upstream. The Mekong river users upstream. The Mekong river flows through six countries, the Jordan through five and flows through six countries, the Jordan through five and the Danube three.the Danube three.

Women in Sigili village, Tanzania, leave home at Women in Sigili village, Tanzania, leave home at 3 am each day to walk to a trickling spring to 3 am each day to walk to a trickling spring to collect water. Their children are left alone until collect water. Their children are left alone until late morning. There is a water source closer but late morning. There is a water source closer but it is on the land of another villager and he sells it it is on the land of another villager and he sells it for a high price. World Vision is working with the for a high price. World Vision is working with the community to make water more accessible.community to make water more accessible.

World’s Water DistributionWorld’s Water Distribution

How does water affect food How does water affect food production?production?• The supply of The supply of waterwater is critical to the increase in food is critical to the increase in food

production. About 70% of the total freshwater in the production. About 70% of the total freshwater in the world is used to grow food and provide employment to world is used to grow food and provide employment to billions of rural dwellers. billions of rural dwellers.

• Irrigated land is twice as productive as rain fed Irrigated land is twice as productive as rain fed cropland – the one-sixth of the world’s cropland that is cropland – the one-sixth of the world’s cropland that is irrigated produces about a third of the world’s food. irrigated produces about a third of the world’s food. Yet about 10% of the global harvest is being produced Yet about 10% of the global harvest is being produced by depleting ground by depleting ground waterwater supplies. supplies.

• This unsustainable groundwater use is particularly This unsustainable groundwater use is particularly serious in India and China where it creates a false serious in India and China where it creates a false sense of these countries’ ability to produce sufficient sense of these countries’ ability to produce sufficient food.food.

• Loss of arable land through desertification and Loss of arable land through desertification and salination, and increasing demands for food with salination, and increasing demands for food with increased population, add to pressure to manage increased population, add to pressure to manage waterwater resources more effectively. resources more effectively.

• WaterWater use for food production also needs to use for food production also needs to balance needs of small, subsistence farmers with balance needs of small, subsistence farmers with large commercial farmers.large commercial farmers.

• Many agencies are involved in projects to improve Many agencies are involved in projects to improve the use of the use of waterwater available. These include available. These include terracing, tree planting, slow drip irrigation and terracing, tree planting, slow drip irrigation and planting of low planting of low waterwater- use crops.- use crops.

Case StudiesCase Studies Floods in Duchang, Floods in Duchang,

China 1998 meant people China 1998 meant people could only access could only access contaminated water. contaminated water. World Vision’s flood relief World Vision’s flood relief and rehabilitation has and rehabilitation has provided clean water provided clean water supplies, improved supplies, improved sanitation, literacy and sanitation, literacy and health education health education programs. programs. Schistosomiasis has been Schistosomiasis has been reduced through the reduced through the introduction of earlier introduction of earlier maturing varieties of maturing varieties of rice, as farmers are not rice, as farmers are not standing in infected standing in infected water and methane water and methane generation which generation which associations in associations in Gikongoro.Gikongoro.

Rwanda have worked Rwanda have worked closely with technical closely with technical assistance from World assistance from World Vision to transform their Vision to transform their land to increase crop land to increase crop yields. The steep, dry hills yields. The steep, dry hills have been terraced to have been terraced to reduce soil erosion. A reduce soil erosion. A reservoir has been carved reservoir has been carved out on the hill top and out on the hill top and bamboo pipes carry the bamboo pipes carry the water to the pots four-arm water to the pots four-arm clay pots used to drip clay pots used to drip potters mould water potters mould water directly onto the roots.directly onto the roots.

How does access to water How does access to water affect water development?affect water development?• Access to Access to waterwater can be viewed as a human right, can be viewed as a human right,

In as much as it is crucial for all aspects of human In as much as it is crucial for all aspects of human life.life.

• Introduction of “user pays” to encourage more Introduction of “user pays” to encourage more efficientefficient water water-use disadvantages those who -use disadvantages those who cannot afford to pay, while those who can, may cannot afford to pay, while those who can, may not change their inefficient habits. The poor in not change their inefficient habits. The poor in cities often pay more than the rich for cities often pay more than the rich for waterwater. They . They are least able to afford increased costs for are least able to afford increased costs for waterwater supply, improved equipment or treatment forsupply, improved equipment or treatment for waterwater’s ill effects. ’s ill effects.

• Women and children spend many hours a day Women and children spend many hours a day carting carting waterwater and so have less time and energy to and so have less time and energy to grow food, earn an income or gain an education.grow food, earn an income or gain an education.

How does water affect How does water affect peace and security?peace and security?

• River basins do not coincide with national River basins do not coincide with national boundaries. Use of upstream boundaries. Use of upstream waterwater affects quality affects quality and quantity downstream. Likewise, downstream and quantity downstream. Likewise, downstream dams can block fish from migrating upstream. With dams can block fish from migrating upstream. With population putting increasing demands on population putting increasing demands on water water there are possibilities of conflict between countries there are possibilities of conflict between countries and between the rural and urban areas within and between the rural and urban areas within countries. In a global community, countries. In a global community, waterwater shortages shortages threaten us all.threaten us all.

• Creating international or national Creating international or national waterwater commissions to manage shared commissions to manage shared waterwater resources can resources can reduce the threat of conflict and promote equitable reduce the threat of conflict and promote equitable waterwater sharing. sharing.

How does water How does water management affect the management affect the environment?environment?• Poor Poor waterwater management in urban and industrial areas management in urban and industrial areas

allows rivers to be a convenient place to dump wastes.allows rivers to be a convenient place to dump wastes.• WaterWater pollution, untreated sewage, industrial pollution, untreated sewage, industrial

discharges, leaching from mine waste, and drainage discharges, leaching from mine waste, and drainage from the residues of agricultural fertilizers and from the residues of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides seriously degrade pesticides seriously degrade waterwater quality. quality.

• Plant and aquatic life is affected, which in turn affects Plant and aquatic life is affected, which in turn affects human consumption. human consumption.

• The pollution threat is particularly serious when it The pollution threat is particularly serious when it affects groundwater, where contamination is slow to affects groundwater, where contamination is slow to dilute and purification measures are costly. dilute and purification measures are costly.

• Regulations in developed countries are changing Regulations in developed countries are changing attitudes and practice but developing attitudes and practice but developing countries need countries need support to implement improvements support to implement improvements

Something to think about...Something to think about...

• Lack of Lack of water has water has been tied been tied directly to directly to food food insecurity in insecurity in e.g. Sudan.e.g. Sudan.

Water PollutionWater Pollution

• Water pollution is one of the many concerns of Water pollution is one of the many concerns of the world today. World governments have the world today. World governments have strived to find solutions to reduce this problem. strived to find solutions to reduce this problem. Many pollutants threaten water supplies, but the Many pollutants threaten water supplies, but the most widespread, especially in underdeveloped most widespread, especially in underdeveloped countries, is the discharge of raw sewage into countries, is the discharge of raw sewage into natural waters; this method of sewage disposal natural waters; this method of sewage disposal is the most common method in underdeveloped is the most common method in underdeveloped countries, but also is prevalent in quasi-countries, but also is prevalent in quasi-developed countries such as China, India and developed countries such as China, India and Iran.Iran.

Water PollutionWater Pollution

What is hydroelectric What is hydroelectric energy?energy?

Hydroelectric energy is a renewable energy Hydroelectric energy is a renewable energy source that is based on the hydrological source that is based on the hydrological cycle.  This cycle is driven by solar energy cycle.  This cycle is driven by solar energy and involves evaporation, precipitation, and and involves evaporation, precipitation, and runoff.  The resultant of this cycle is runoff.  The resultant of this cycle is hydroelectric power.  Hydro-electric power hydroelectric power.  Hydro-electric power plants convert the kinetic energy contained plants convert the kinetic energy contained in falling water into electricity. The energy in in falling water into electricity. The energy in flowing water is ultimately derived from the flowing water is ultimately derived from the sun, and is therefore constantly being sun, and is therefore constantly being renewed. renewed.

Hydropower factsHydropower facts

• About 20% of all electricity is About 20% of all electricity is generated by hydropowergenerated by hydropower

• The United States is the second The United States is the second largest producer of hydropower largest producer of hydropower after .Canada after .Canada

• Norway produces more than 99% of Norway produces more than 99% of its electricity with hydropower its electricity with hydropower

Hydropower In The FutureHydropower In The Future

• The world can increase its The world can increase its hydropower by four times, however, hydropower by four times, however, this is unlikely to happen concidering this is unlikely to happen concidering the environmental concerns and the the environmental concerns and the economic concerns (e.g. it costs a lot economic concerns (e.g. it costs a lot to build a dam)to build a dam)

Can future water demands be Can future water demands be met?met?• Major changes in attitudes to Major changes in attitudes to waterwater and the way and the way

waterwater is managed are necessary to achieve is managed are necessary to achieve sustainable sustainable waterwater use in the future. use in the future.

• Many conferences have issued ambitious statements Many conferences have issued ambitious statements but change is slow. During the United Nations but change is slow. During the United Nations International Drinking International Drinking WaterWater and Sanitation Decade and Sanitation Decade (1981-1990) access to safe (1981-1990) access to safe waterwater supply rose from supply rose from 44% to 69%. However, these improvements did not 44% to 69%. However, these improvements did not keep up with population growth and have not keep up with population growth and have not continued in the next 10 years. continued in the next 10 years.

• Much of the progress was due to the rediscovery and Much of the progress was due to the rediscovery and improvement of various simple and low-cost improvement of various simple and low-cost waterwater and sanitation technologies and promotion of and sanitation technologies and promotion of community participation especially the role of women.community participation especially the role of women.

Irrigation Project in SenegalIrrigation Project in Senegal

• The World Bank has estimated that the financial and The World Bank has estimated that the financial and environmental costs of tapping new supplies will be, environmental costs of tapping new supplies will be, on average, two or three times those of existing on average, two or three times those of existing investments, because most of the low-cost, investments, because most of the low-cost, accessible accessible waterwater reserves have already been reserves have already been implemented.implemented.

Senegalese womenSenegalese women are pleased to have3-5 are pleased to have3-5 hours freed uphours freed up each day. Their vegetable each day. Their vegetable gardensgardens now produce excessnow produce excess for sale at thefor sale at the market.market. World Vision hasWorld Vision has drilled more than 600drilled more than 600 boreholes in Senegal.boreholes in Senegal. Most bores haveMost bores have manual manual pumps,pumps, othershave pumpsothershave pumps powered by wind,powered by wind, solar or petrol. Localsolar or petrol. Local people are trained topeople are trained to maintain and repairmaintain and repair pumps and makepumps and make decisions decisions about waterabout water management.management.

Water must be generally acknowledged to be aWater must be generally acknowledged to be a precious resource, one no-one can do without.precious resource, one no-one can do without.