Water scarcity An impending danger to humanity.

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19 Mar 2024

Cultivating efficiency, innovation and better water management

Recognizing a problem is the first step towards solving it. To prevent a crisis tomorrow, there are three concerns related to water that we need to address today.
Every day, we take water for granted. However, if you look closer, you'll find three significant issues.

1. Water security: Will tomorrow's supply of fresh water be sufficient?

The world's rivers are drying up. Due to both natural evaporation and human consumption, the water levels in lakes and reservoirs are decreasing. Due to human water consumption exceeding natural replenishment from sources like rain, groundwater aquifers are also depleting.
Desalination has already replaced groundwater as the primary source of water in the United Arab Emirates. However, there is still a growing need for fresh water.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), over 206 million people have restricted access to water, requiring them to walk over 30 minutes just to fetch it.
Half of all people on Earth will reside in water-stressed areas by 2025.
To get water, 206 million people must travel more than thirty minutes (WHO).

All of our water is disappearing.

Because of the growing population, groundwater is being used more and more in northeastern Saudi Arabia for irrigation and agriculture. Because of the increased demand, many wellsprings are drying up and the aquifers can no longer replenish themselves.

Alternatively, irrigation is done using seawater that has been desalinated. By processing sewage and recycling water that would otherwise be squandered, wastewater treatment plants also play a crucial role in society. The region's natural oasis can be restored and the environment revitalized in this way.

It is anticipated that the MENA water issue will deepen and have an impact on economic growth as global temperatures rise and the climate crisis picks up speed. According to the World Bank, over the next 30 years, water scarcity brought on by climate change might result in financial losses equal to up to 14% of the region's GDP.

Middle Eastern water scarcity mitigation strategies

However state-of-the-art water management systems and technological advancements are helping to lessen the impact. These include the creation of sizable desalination facilities, the adoption of environmentally friendly farming practices, and water recycling initiatives.

Globally, the majority of water is used in agriculture, but keep in mind that 1/3 of all food produced goes to waste. Industries are the next large consumer of water. Businesses are aware of the risks associated with water consumption, but many are only now realizing how crucial it is to use water carefully. Our homes are the last significant locations where water is used domestically.
Photo by: Sven

2. Water quality: Will it still be safe to drink?

Contamination of water is another serious concern around the globe. Aquifers that receive groundwater have seen fertilizers from agriculture that have been washed out to sea. Hazardous waste has found its way into our oceans as a result of poor sanitary systems, malfunctioning equipment, accidents, and bad waste management techniques.
As a result, many water bodies throughout the world now have lower-than-ideal water quality, which affects marine life and entire ecosystems and renders the water unsafe for swimming or even drinking. For instance, toxins like mercury have made their way into fish guts and then onto human food.
According to the WHO, at least 2 billion people acquire their drinking water from tainted sources. Every day, we contribute in minor ways to this issue by flushing non-flushables, cooking oil, and household cleaning chemicals down the toilet.
Easy fixes include...
·       Making the move to green cleaning products
·       Gathering cooking oil to be recycled or disposed of safely
·       and throwing away things like cotton balls, floss, wet wipes, toilet paper, and medications in the trash can.

3. Will fragile marine ecosystems withstand changes to their environment as a result of warmer oceans?

Beyond just increasing sea levels, climate change has a profound effect on the ocean. Oceans get warmer as a result of global warming, and ocean acidification is caused by an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

What effects will this have on marine life?

Across the food chain, alterations to a single component of the marine ecosystem can have a significant effect. Coral bleaching, which affects many small invertebrates and fish that depend on corals for food, shelter, and breeding grounds, can be caused by rising temperatures and ocean acidity. Larger fish, marine life, sea birds, and so forth are impacted by this in turn.
Elevated temperatures may also have detrimental effects on the growth and behaviour of aquatic species. In the meantime, the process of acidification hinders the ability of marine organisms, including corals and shellfish, to generate the calcium carbonate required for the construction of their skeletons and shells.
Warmer seas, however, may be more advantageous for some species. Algal blooms, sometimes known as "red tides," have been observed near the coast, particularly in the Arabian Gulf. Beach closures and fishing prohibitions have already occurred in the UAE due to some of these blooms, which have the potential to be hazardous to nearby marine life as well as humans.

HOW CAN I ASSIST?

We may be the ones with the least influence on our water bodies as people, yet we still have a lot of power, therefore,

Alter your perspective. Water is a valuable resource, and we must treat it accordingly. To protect our future generations, we must continue the work that our predecessors started. (We'll talk about this further in our upcoming piece.)
Go waterless, or use less water overall! Watch this space for advice specific to the United Arab Emirates on conserving water at home and work. There are things you can achieve without water, which will surprise you.
Preserve one-third of food to avoid wastage. A reduction of one-third in food waste worldwide might result in annual water savings of 250 trillion litres! See our earlier Yalla Green articles for suggestions on how to cut down on food waste.
Select food that comes from sustainable sources. Seek for products that are certified organic and made without the use of toxic fertilizers. Both our bodies and our water bodies will benefit from these.
Maintain the cleanliness of our beaches. Utilize the many recycling containers and amenities available on UAE public beaches. Picking up someone else's trash is nothing to be ashamed of—it's for a good cause!

Inspire change at our places of work. Assist your organization in developing water-related sustainable policies for greater impact. If your business has an existing water-saving strategy, encourage participation from staff members.
Recall that you are not working alone to save the environment. A commitment to combat climate change and its effects on the planet has been made by 197 countries. Every helping hand counts and yours is the one that will ensure a safe tomorrow.

To save our water while it is still available, we must act immediately.