The paper "The Scientific Implications of the Water Scarcity as a Challenging Issue" is a perfect example of a term paper on environmental studies. There are many challenges that are facing the world today in terms of global sustainability. Some of the major challenges or issues include lack of enough energy, rapid population growth, water scarcity, and deforestation among others (CQ Researcher 2009). Water scarcity can be defined as the lack of enough water quantities or lack of access to safe or quality water. The water scarcity problem is growing every day as cities and populations continue to increase as well as an increase in households, industries, and agriculture.
This report will analyze the scientific implications of water scarcity as a challenging issue, causes for water scarcity, social and economic reasons. It will also analyze how water scarcity is inter-related to the other issues as well as consider why it is considered as a major challenge within economic, social, and environmental contexts. The report will as well summarize the strategies that have been put in place or adopted towards addressing the issue as well as outline measures that can be undertaken in addressing the issues of water scarcity. Scientific implication on Water Scarcity Water scarcity is assessed by hydrologists by looking at the equation of population/water.
According to them, an area usually experiences water stresses in case annual water supplies are less than 1700m3 per person. When the annual water supplies are less than 1000m3 per person, then the population is faced by a situation of water scarcity while in case it is less than 500m3, then the population faces an absolute water scarcity (Luis, Ian & Lacovos 2009).
According to scientists, water scarcity is experienced at the point when the aggregate impact of all users impinges the quality or supply of water whereby the entire sector’ s demands including the environment cannot be fully satisfied. Water scarcity has farther-reaching implications in the future despite being an issue being dealt with currently. The current experienced surging populations throughout the developing world are intensifying pressures on the inadequate water supply. Continued water scarcity continues to force the pumping of underground water at a higher rate than it is being replenished.
This may end draining out all the water or making them move far down the water tables. This triggers a negative impact on the environment and health (Ringler, 2010). Scientists argue that water is life and without water survival for human beings and other organisms in the world would be very difficult. This can strain the survival of various animals including human beings and organisms such as sensitive aquatic animals that might end up dying. Some species are likely to disappear or go to extinction.
The global biodiversity is drastically disappearing due to increasing water scarcity. According to a scientist, the water scarcity has arisen due to changes in the climatic conditions leads to multiple impacts on water (Rubio, 2009) Social and economic reasons Social and economic factors are greatly contributing to water scarcity around the globe. Population growth or increase, as well as economic development, are increasingly driving steady demand for new clean water supplies throughout the world. Population growth rate varies from one arid and semi-arid region to another between 2 and 4percent. This obviously increases the water consumption rate due to population increment.
Population growth also results in the problem of bad sanitation that greatly influences the quality of water (Sabater, 2010). The population increase is inversely related to the fixed supply of water hence straining the water resources.
Bhargava, V. (2006). Global issues for global citizens: an introduction to key development challenges. New York: World Bank Publications.
CQ Researcher. (2009). Global Issues: Selections From CQ Researcher. London: Pine Forge Press.
Food Ethics Council. (2008). Water Scarcity: A threat as big as climate change? A report of the Business Forum meeting 24th January 2008, Retrieved 25 May 2011, from http://www.foodethicscouncil.org/system/files/businessforum240108.pdf
Gregersen, H. et al. (2007). Integrated Watershed Management: connecting people to their land and water. California: CABI.
Luis, S. Ian, C. & Lacovos, L. (2009). Coping with Water Scarcity: Addressing the challenges. Heidelberg: Springer.
Ringler, C et al. (2010). Global Change: Impacts on water and food security. Heidelberg: Springer.
Rubio, J. (2009). Water Scarcity, Land Degradation, and Desertification in the Mediterranean Region. Heidelberg: Springer.
Sabater, S. (2010). Water Scarcity in the Mediterranean: Perspectives under Global Change. Heidelberg: Springer.
Seitz, J. (2002). Global Issues: an introduction. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.
Wolfe, S. & Brooks, D. (2003). Water scarcity: An alternative view and its implications for policy and capacity building. Natural Resources Forum, 27, p. 99-107.