SCI 301, Lecture 3Water Quantity and Quality

in Iraq and the KRG

Quiz on Readings

ObjectiveAt the end of the day, students will have identified threats to water quality and quantity in Iraq and the KRG.

Thanks to USGS.

Water: We do not have much, and we cannot use most of what we do have.

71% of surface covered in water.Approx. 5% is fresh water.Approx. 80% of water used is for agriculture; remainder is industry and household.

This is use, not necessarily pollution.

Global Water facts

AquiferStorehouse of water located under the ground;

“ground water”They can be replenished by precipitation, but

slowly.What happens if we suck out 10 liters for every

liter that is replaced? USGS: “Pumping too much water too fast draws

down the water in the aquifer and eventually causes a well to yield less and less water and even run dry. In fact, pumping your well too fast can even cause your neighbor's well to run dry if you both are pumping from the same aquifer.”

Plan B 3.0, by Lester BrownBrown is an economist; “Who pays for this?”Discusses climate change, but mostly focuses

on what?“mining water”: use of aquifersUsed for agriculture, industry, and

household.You are a regional governor. You have a

limited amount of water. Farmers and city residents both demand it. What do you do?

In farmers vs. cities, farmers lose. Why?

Plan B 3.0, by Lester BrownIn farmers vs. cities, farmers lose. Why? Industry uses less water than agriculture (p.

78). Cities vote / riot.Why is this bad news for us?Because we eat food.Examples in India, California. What effect will this have on food prices?Where are the business majors? How do

supply and demand affect price?

Plan B 3.0, by Lester Brown

Starred passages in bookAny questions or comments on Brown?

Water in Iraq and KRG: IntroductionThe Tigris and Euphrates provide 98% of Iraq’s water resources.

Consumption Household 5%Industry 8%Agriculture 87% (Global average is . . . What?)

Water in Iraq and KRG: Introduction20% of households use an unsafe drinking water source.

43% in rural areas have access to safe water.

16% report daily problems with supply.

18% of sewage is treated before release.

Close reading of UN Water in Iraq factsheet,

March 2013

Tell me something interesting about

water in Iraq.

WTP: Water Treatment PlantsSewage cannot be stored indefinitely.

Treated Vs. UntreatedTreated sewage has been “cleaned” by gravity, filters, bacteria, and chemicals (e.g. Chlorine)

Another option: Constructed wetlands

Agent: Salmonella typhi, a bacteriumDisease: Symptoms usually develop 1–3 weeks

after exposure, and may include high fever, malaise, headache, constipation or diarrhea, rose-colored spots on the chest, and enlarged liver. Healthy carrier state may follow acute illness. Case-fatality: 10%.

Exposure; transmitted through the ingestion of food or drink contaminated by the faeces or urine of infected people.

Typhoid Fever

the type of agent concerned, the dose,the age or developmental stage of the person exposed (the fetus is most susceptible),

the duration of exposure,the route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact).

When you think about exposure, think about:

We are not all the same. Many of the over one million cases were children. Why is diarrhea more serious for a child than an adult?

“What is the denominator?”

1 Million people were hospitalized in Iraq in 2011 for diarrhea. Does that mean 1 million cases occurred?

The Polluter Pays Principle

New York Times articles“Iraq Suffers as the Euphrates River Dwindles”What is the cause of the scarcity: Drought, Turkey, or poor

water management? What can be done?

Is “sectarian conflict” really about the sectarian identity of the people

involved?

What about ethnic conflict?

Never, ever, ever read a peer-reviewed article.

SCI 301, Lecture 3Water Quantity and Quality

in Iraq and the KRG

Marshlands = Wetlands = Swamp

Watershed = Drainage Basin

Area of land where water from rain and melting snow and ice converges to a single point at a lower elevation, where the waters join another body of water, such as a river or lake

Thank you to Keith Holmes (2010) for

previous slide.

.

Climate Change

Climate ChangeClimate change is a significant and lasting

change in weather over periods ranging from decades to millions of years

Causes: Natural cycles and human activityEffects: Raise temperatures, boost

evaporation, alter rain patterns, and melt glaciers (causing a rise in sea levels)

Climate Change & WaterThis is not going to be pleasant.We worry about direct and indirect effects, such

as . . . ?Direct: Higher temperatures, more severe

storms, floodingIndirect: crop failure, increased evaporation,

expanded range of mosquitoes, lower water quality

Positive feedback: climate change => more pumping from aquifers => more electricity => more coal burning => more climate change =>

Climate Change in the Middle EastThis region is one of the most vulnerable

regions to climate change because of . . . . ?its arid nature andreliance on rain-fed food productionthe endemic nature of many diseasesand poverty.The impact on this region will be greater than

the global average.Arab Forum for Environment and Development

(AFED)

What is the difference between these two groups?

The Eastern Mediterranean Sub-Region (EMR-D), which includes Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, is estimated to lose 213 DALYs per 100,000 people as compared to

14 DALYs/100,000 for EMR sub-region B, which groups Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates.

What can we do?PreventionToo late.MitigationNuclear power, reduce electricity usage,

wind and solar energy, carbon sinks, and what else?

AdaptationBuy a boat.(Kidding.)Build dikes, migration, etc.

HomeworkPlease read Buck, Chapter 3, especially p. 46 – 65.

Please read the Precautionary Principle, posted in Week 2 on Moodle.

Please read pages 179 – 182, and 202 – 205 of Brown.

Return Quiz 2 (TTM)

AUIS is a gym, not a

restaurant.

ThemesScience informs policy.Policy can improve human health.Environmental degradation is reversible.Environmental problems are social problems. Who pays for this?Law of Unintended ConsequencesPrecautionary Principle