Water scarcity is a major issue across the globe. According to scientists from Utrecht and McGill University, water scarcity can be reduced by the year 2050.
Some of the key factors that contribute to this universal problem are climate change, residential and industrial habits, and irrigation methods. Scientists from Utrecht and McGill University have proposed six key strategies which can be implemented in various parts of the world to cut down water stress.
These strategies are separated into “soft path" measures and "hard path" measures. The former approach aims to reduce the demand for water, whilst the latter involves the development of more reservoirs and increasing sea water desalination.
Under “soft” measures, new cultivars can be used to reduce water-stressed population by 2% over the next 35 years and water productivity for agricultural activities can be enhanced. Irrigation efficiency can also be enhanced in agricultural basins and flood irrigation can be replaced by drips or sprinklers. However this would involve large capital costs and may also result in soil salinization.
In addition, both industrial and domestic water use can be improved. This can be achieved by enhancing water-recycling facilities and reducing or controlling leakage in the water infrastructure.
Finally, in all water-stressed regions, it would help to restrict the population growth rate. This can be controlled by providing tax incentives and through family planning.
Under “hard” measures", water storage could be increased significantly. This can be achieved by enlarging existing reservoirs or building new ones. This approach requires a considerable capital investment, the social and ecological impact of which could be negative.
Likewise, desalination of seawater can also be increased and it is important to safely dispose the waste water generated. All these measures, if properly implemented, can help to reduce global water scarcity.
The research was published in Nature Geoscience.