The Future The Future of Waterof Water

Pollution and ScarcityPollution and Scarcity

The Problem The Problem

World population is growing World population is growing exponentiallyexponentially

Water scarcity and widespread water Water scarcity and widespread water pollutionpollution

Death by water-borne diseases Death by water-borne diseases increasingincreasing

Lack of sanitation and increased risk Lack of sanitation and increased risk of drought of drought

World Population World Population GrowthGrowth8.9 billion people

by 2050Two-thirds world

population to live in water-stressed countries by 2025

Water resources to become even more strained

Pollution and ScarcityPollution and Scarcity

Water consumption on Water consumption on the rise as population the rise as population growsgrows

Water pollution getting Water pollution getting worse in some areasworse in some areas

Over 4,000 km3 of water Over 4,000 km3 of water is consumed per year is consumed per year (14+% of it by the U.S.)(14+% of it by the U.S.)

70% of water consumed 70% of water consumed by agriculture by agriculture

DiseasesDiseases

Over 5 million people die every year Over 5 million people die every year from water-borne diseasesfrom water-borne diseases

Lack of Sanitation and Lack of Sanitation and Drought Drought Increase Increase Waste going into World’s water Waste going into World’s water

supplysupplyHealth risk increasing as a resultHealth risk increasing as a resultParts of world lack access to fresh Parts of world lack access to fresh

and safe waterand safe waterDroughts increasing as a result of Droughts increasing as a result of

surge in water use surge in water use

Lack of Sanitation and Lack of Sanitation and Drought Drought Increase (Cont.) Increase (Cont.)

Examples of Examples of the the

ProblemsProblems

Population Population AffectAffectPopulation is having a drastic affect Population is having a drastic affect

on water and its scarcity.on water and its scarcity.More water is needed all over the More water is needed all over the

world as population has doubled in world as population has doubled in the last 40 years.the last 40 years.

As need for water has risen, more As need for water has risen, more water is becoming contaminated.water is becoming contaminated.

Water Water ScarcityScarcity

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

U.S. Botswana

U.S.

Switzerland

Vietnam

Botswana

As result of As result of population and population and wastage of water, wastage of water, water is becoming water is becoming scarce.scarce.

There are a lot of There are a lot of droughts happening droughts happening around the world, around the world, causing rivers and causing rivers and lakes to dry up.lakes to dry up.

Possible Possible FutureFutureA picture of what is A picture of what is

happening and will happening and will happen in other happen in other places… places…

Many places are Many places are already in these already in these dire conditions dire conditions (Africa).(Africa).

With many lands With many lands like these, food will like these, food will be scarce.be scarce.

Water Water PollutionPollutionPollution is probably the main issue Pollution is probably the main issue

involving water.involving water.Every year 14 billions of sewage, Every year 14 billions of sewage,

sludge, and garbage are dumped into sludge, and garbage are dumped into the oceans.the oceans.

19 trillion gallons of waste also enter 19 trillion gallons of waste also enter the water every year.the water every year.

The Causes of Water The Causes of Water PollutionPollution

Main CausesMain Causes

-Oil Pollution--Oil Pollution-

-Littering--Littering-

-Industrial waste--Industrial waste-

-runoffs from agriculture--runoffs from agriculture-

Distribution of pollutionDistribution of pollution

Oil PollutionOil Pollution

Oil Pollution Oil Pollution

Oil spills make up Oil spills make up about 12% of the about 12% of the oil that enters the oil that enters the ocean. The rest ocean. The rest come from come from shipping travel, shipping travel, drains and drains and dumping. dumping.

Oil PollutionOil Pollution

When there’s an oil spill, the oil floats When there’s an oil spill, the oil floats on top of the water, suffocating all the on top of the water, suffocating all the fish living near the top of the ocean.fish living near the top of the ocean.

Oil spills are very difficult and Oil spills are very difficult and expensive to clean up and can take up expensive to clean up and can take up weeks to clean up, and it is impossible weeks to clean up, and it is impossible

LitteringLittering

LitteringLittering

Recently, littering became a huge Recently, littering became a huge problem.problem.

Instead of the garbage being Instead of the garbage being recycled or put in a landfill, it ends recycled or put in a landfill, it ends up floating in the water.up floating in the water.

The problem is that this trash can The problem is that this trash can take centuries to degrade. take centuries to degrade.

Some of the common items:Some of the common items:

Newspaper – Takes 6 weeks to degrade. Newspaper – Takes 6 weeks to degrade. Photodegradable packaging – 6 weeksPhotodegradable packaging – 6 weeksFoam – Takes 50 years to degrade. Foam – Takes 50 years to degrade. Styrofoam – Takes 80 years to degrade. Styrofoam – Takes 80 years to degrade. Aluminum – Takes 200 years to degrade. Aluminum – Takes 200 years to degrade. Plastic packaging – Takes 400 years to Plastic packaging – Takes 400 years to

degrade. degrade. Glass – practically never.Glass – practically never.

Industrial WasteIndustrial Waste

Industrial WasteIndustrial Waste

Many factories dump their chemical Many factories dump their chemical waste into nearby rivers and oceans.waste into nearby rivers and oceans.

The Chemicals Include:The Chemicals Include:

Asbestos -Asbestos fibers can cause Asbestos -Asbestos fibers can cause illnesses such as asbestosis, intestinal illnesses such as asbestosis, intestinal cancer and liver cancer. cancer and liver cancer.

Lead – Very harmful for humans and Lead – Very harmful for humans and animals. Lead is non-biodegradable and animals. Lead is non-biodegradable and lead pollution is very hard to clean uplead pollution is very hard to clean up

Mercury – Can lead to poisoning. It is Mercury – Can lead to poisoning. It is also non-biodegradable and almost also non-biodegradable and almost impossible clean up completely.impossible clean up completely.

The Chemicals Include:The Chemicals Include:

Sulfur – sulfur is one of the most harmful Sulfur – sulfur is one of the most harmful chemicals for marine life.chemicals for marine life.

Different types of oil, which form a layer Different types of oil, which form a layer over the water, and prevents the access over the water, and prevents the access of sunlight and oxygen for all of sunlight and oxygen for all underwater living thingsunderwater living things

Agricultural WasteAgricultural Waste

Pesticides and fertilizers Pesticides and fertilizers are used to grow almost are used to grow almost all crops in the US and all crops in the US and other nations.other nations.

when it rains, or the when it rains, or the crops get watered, all of crops get watered, all of those chemicals go into those chemicals go into the earth. Once they go the earth. Once they go underground, the end underground, the end up in the groundwater, up in the groundwater, which eventually fall which eventually fall into rivers.into rivers.

Agricultural WasteAgricultural Waste

The most common types of The most common types of chemicals contained in the fertilizers chemicals contained in the fertilizers are phosphates and nitrates.are phosphates and nitrates.

The phosphates and nitrates The phosphates and nitrates dramatically increase the amount of dramatically increase the amount of life in the water. Because of such a life in the water. Because of such a vast increase, this leads to shortage vast increase, this leads to shortage of food and oxygen.of food and oxygen.

Solutions To Water Solutions To Water PollutionPollution

And And ScarcityScarcity

Sewage and industrial waste enters America through Mexican Sewage and industrial waste enters America through Mexican border.border.

Water Scarcity OptionsWater Scarcity Options

As the population and economy begin to grow even more rapidly, there is a need for better management options.

Some of these options include: improving irrigation and farming practices, storing water for future use, getting rid of all water pollution , reusing water, and limit or conserve the amount of water each person is allowed to use.

Pollution of Rivers and Oceans are mainly Pollution of Rivers and Oceans are mainly caused by…caused by…

Water Pollution SolutionsWater Pollution Solutions

Although people think industries contribute to the Although people think industries contribute to the most water pollution, most of it is sewage, most water pollution, most of it is sewage, agricultural, and about ten percent is from agricultural, and about ten percent is from industrial factories. industrial factories.

Many ways can help agricultural pollutants from Many ways can help agricultural pollutants from being extracted into the water. being extracted into the water.

These are the ways we can help reduce nonpoint These are the ways we can help reduce nonpoint pollution:pollution:

Reduce the need for fertilizer by planting crops Reduce the need for fertilizer by planting crops that absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere. that absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere. Legumes such as soybeans contain specialized Legumes such as soybeans contain specialized bacteria that "fix" atmospheric nitrogen, bacteria that "fix" atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into usable nitrates. These legumes converting it into usable nitrates. These legumes can be planted alternately with normal crops.can be planted alternately with normal crops.

Water Pollution SolutionsWater Pollution Solutions

Plant buffer zones between agricultural Plant buffer zones between agricultural fields and nearby surface water. These fields and nearby surface water. These zones prevent fertilizer from entering the zones prevent fertilizer from entering the water and causing eutrophication. water and causing eutrophication.

Reduce harmful pesticide runoff by Reduce harmful pesticide runoff by applying pesticides as sparingly as possible. applying pesticides as sparingly as possible.

Control runoff of animal wastes by locating Control runoff of animal wastes by locating grazing areas on flat land that is removed grazing areas on flat land that is removed from surface water and flood zones. from surface water and flood zones.

Reduce soil erosion and flooding through Reduce soil erosion and flooding through reforestation of watersheds reforestation of watersheds

Water Pollution SolutionsWater Pollution Solutions

Point pollution can be defined as the major sources of Point pollution can be defined as the major sources of pollution from mechanical, chemical, and natural pollution from mechanical, chemical, and natural methods. methods.

Point pollution can be controlled by:Point pollution can be controlled by: Requiring industries to remove all hazardous wastes Requiring industries to remove all hazardous wastes

from water sent to sewage treatment plants. from water sent to sewage treatment plants. Encourage industries to reduce toxic chemical use and Encourage industries to reduce toxic chemical use and

waste through cleaner production. waste through cleaner production. Encourage the use of less harmful household Encourage the use of less harmful household

chemicals. chemicals.

What is currently What is currently happening to our rivers happening to our rivers

and streams.and streams.

The U.N. roleThe U.N. role

The U.N. has hosted several forums to The U.N. has hosted several forums to try to find solutions to the current try to find solutions to the current water crisiswater crisis

Recommends that people use 50 liters Recommends that people use 50 liters of water per dayof water per day

Has made publications of works Has made publications of works concerning what should be doneconcerning what should be done

Has tried to make several initiatives to Has tried to make several initiatives to try to solve water crisis try to solve water crisis

Personal Personal SolutionsSolutions

What We Can What We Can DoDoWe can take shorter showers.We can take shorter showers.We can water our lawns less.We can water our lawns less.Try not to waste any type of drink Try not to waste any type of drink

(Water, Juice, etc.).(Water, Juice, etc.).Keep hands cleaner, to not waste as Keep hands cleaner, to not waste as

much water.much water.We use six times more water per We use six times more water per

person here in the U.S., than in person here in the U.S., than in Switzerland and nearly nine times more Switzerland and nearly nine times more than Botswana!than Botswana!

Personal SolutionsPersonal Solutions

Avoid drinking more than what is Avoid drinking more than what is necessary as defined by the U.N.necessary as defined by the U.N.

Grow drought-resistant cropsGrow drought-resistant cropsDemand reduction of water pollutionDemand reduction of water pollutionRestore wetlands Restore wetlands Use low-pressure sprinklersUse low-pressure sprinklersDrip irrigationDrip irrigationTrapping rainfall, shower water, etc. in Trapping rainfall, shower water, etc. in

large containerslarge containers