Figure 10.1: World Water Map
Figure 10.2: WaterRisk Atlas
As the name suggests, global water sustainability would not be global enough without researches and contributions from international water professionals. Recently I have invited and interviewed environmental and water experts who have taught or worked with me before from 10 countries covering different continents including Asia (Singapore, China, Japan, Korea), Europe (France, Slovakia), Africa (Morocco), Africa-Asia (Egypt), North America (the U.S) and South America (Mexico). This post is also to deliver my respect and appreciation to all my interviewees worldwide for sharing their professional and unique thoughts on this issue. (Names are stated by interviewees’ country names and first initials)
(PLEASE NOTE: Reprint and Reproduction of any content of this post in any form are strictly prohibited. Copyright all preserved by the interviewees and blog author.)
Figure 10.4: Water Resources Sustainability in Your Country
A:
(PLEASE NOTE: Reprint and Reproduction of any content of this post in any form are strictly prohibited. Copyright all preserved by the interviewees and blog author.)
Background of my lovely interviewees:
1. Singapore (S. Seah)
Student of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University College London (UCL)
2. China (C. Li)
Professor of Biogeochemistry at China University of Geosciences (CUG)
China (S. Yuan)
Professor of Environmental Studies at China University of Geosciences (CUG)
China (Z. She)
Professor of Mineralogy and Petrology at China University of Geosciences (CUG)
3. Japan (M. Aichi)
Professor of Environment Systems at The University of Tokyo (UTokyo)
Japan (K. Akitaya)
Student of Environment Systems at The University of Tokyo (UTokyo)
Japan (H. Morigaki)
Student of Environment Systems at The University of Tokyo (UTokyo)
4. Korea (J. Jang)
Professor of Sustainable Technologies at Hannam University (HNU)
5. France (G. Drillet)
President of the World Aquaculture Society Asia Pacific Chapter
6. Slovakia (Z. Drillet)
Researcher at National University of Singapore (NUS)
7. Morocco (A. Ghafri)
Student at ENSAM Casablanca
8. Egypt (Y. Mohamed)
Student of Environmental Engineering at Zewail University of Science and Technology
9. The U.S Los Angeles (D. Johnson)
Student of Environmental Science at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
The U.S Seattle (S. Brown)
Student at McGill University
10. Mexico (D. Zayas)
Student of Environmental Engineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey
Mexico (M. Chavez Okada)
Alumnus of Environment Systems at The University of Tokyo (UTokyo)
Q: What is the main water resource in your country?
1. Singapore (S. Seah)
Imported Water,
2. China (C. Li)
Major rivers for most South China area and ground waters for most North China
China (S. Yuan)
Major rivers and groundwater
China (Z. She)
Major rivers and reservoirs
3. Japan (M. Aichi)
Surface water, mainly river system
Japan (K. Akitaya)
Dams
Japan (H. Morigaki)
Reservoirs
4. Korea (J. Jang)
Major rivers and streams
5. France (G. Drillet)
Oceans (salt water), surface water and ground water (fresh)
6. Slovakia (Z. Drillet)
Major river, reservoirs
7. Morocco (A. Ghafri)
Major rivers originating in Atlas Mountains
8. Egypt (Y. Mohamed)
Nile River, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea
9. The U.S Los Angeles (D. Johnson)
Streams, lakes, reservoirs, aquifers, groundwater, wells, etc
The U.S Seattle (S. Brown)
In Seattle, I believe it is snowmelt.
10. Mexico (D. Zayas)
Groundwater and major lakes
Mexico (M. Chavez Okada)
Rivers and lakes
Q: What is water mainly used for in your country and for which purposes? (multiple answers are applicable)
Figure 10.3: Purposes of Water Usage in Your Country
A:
o Agriculture (15/17 = 88.24%)
o Domestic use (e.g.: drinking water, shower, etc.) (13/17 = 76.47%)
o Industry (10/17 = 58.82%)
o Electricity generation (7/17 = 41.18%)
o Fishery (3/17 = 17.65%)
o Transport (1/17 = 5.88%)
o Tourism (2/17 = 11.76%)
o Other (1/17 = 5.88%)
Q: What do you think is the biggest concern or problem of water in your country?
A:
1. Singapore (S. Seah)
Reduction of water consumption and reducing the cost of water production
2. China (C. Li)
Coming water shortage for North China and ongoing water pollution for the whole country
China (S. Yuan)
Water contamination
China (Z. She)
Low efficiency in water resource utilisation
3. Japan (M. Aichi)
Climate change
Japan (K. Akitaya)
Supply of water at the time of disaster
Japan (H. Morigaki)
Water shortage in the dam
4. Korea (J. Jang)
It has been raining less over the years because of global warming.
5. France (G. Drillet)
Pollution and water access
6. Slovakia (Z. Drillet)
Ground Water pollution from agriculture and industry (oil refinery)
7. Morocco (A. Ghafri)
Water pollution
8. Egypt (Y. Mohamed)
Well, I think there are mainly 3 problems:
(1) People are not aware of their consumption, they can't quantify how much they use, so they don't feel the issue.
(1) People are not aware of their consumption, they can't quantify how much they use, so they don't feel the issue.
(2) The government doesn't enforce laws regarding water reduction of consumption, or recycling water, or water protection from pollution
(3) There are currently some political problems regarding dam building in Ethiopia which may affect on Egypt's share of Nile water. The results could be disastrous.
9. The U.S Los Angeles (D. Johnson)
I feel like the biggest concern for water is the lack of stringency on regulations that are set or should be set - both from a conservation and safety perspective. There are consistent reports of manufacturers and companies violating policies, but it seems as if little is being done by the government to resolve such issues.
The U.S Seattle (S. Brown)
In Seattle, I believe it is snowmelt.
10. Mexico (D. Zayas)
I believe that saying Mexico has just one water problem is misguided. The level of water pressure in the country is dependent on the geographical location due to Mexico’s wide range of ecosystems and its demographic dynamics.
First of all, Mexico is characterized by uneven water availability. The low availability of water in the north, combined with high demand, leads to significant levels of water stress. Aquifer and groundwater exploitation has a significant impact on water stress in major industrial and urban areas in the center of the country, also known as the Valley of Mexico.
I have had the opportunity to live in the northern city of Monterrey which is known for its very dry and hot weather. The service of water as a commodity is better than in other Mexican cities. For example, tap water is drinkable whereas in my hometown, Cuernavaca, it is not. However, the policies for water control and distribution in Monterrey are stricter than in Cuernavaca which is located in the center of the country.
I also believe that water pollution is a major challenge in Mexico. It is a fact that not many industries treat wastewater before discharge. While the percentage of treated municipal wastewater treatment is higher than that of the industry sector, more than half of it remains untreated. This has many environmental and social effects on the agriculture sector which uses this untreated wastewater for irrigation. For instance, due to the fact that agriculture plays a significant role in the Mexican economy, many farmers and small rural populations are exposed to polluted wastewater which affects their health.
Mexico (M. Chavez Okada)
Wastewater treatment. Approximately only 60% of waste water is treated and several wastewater treatment plants are not operating or not treating the water correctly.
Q: Do you think the water resources in your country are sustainable in both short and long terms? Please specify the reasons for your choice.
Figure 10.4: Water Resources Sustainability in Your Country
o YES in both SHORT term and LONG term. (8/17 = 47.06%)
Singapore (S. Seah): We have a close water loop in Singapore managing both used water and clean water together, and also have a very good integrated water management.
China (S. Yuan): The water resource is huge and the effort in water treatment is increasing, so I have confidence in the water sustainability in China.
Japan (M. Aichi): The total amount of rainfall and importing virtual water is much enough at this moment and in near future. For long term view point, though the climate change will possibly affect the amount of available surface water resources, it will not be a big problem because of the population decrease.
Japan (K. Akitaya): The quality of regenerated water is improving. If the economic problems related to water supply facilities are to be solved, Japan can be self-sufficient.
Japan (H. Morigaki): Japan is surrounded by seas, and water clean-up system has been established in Japan.
Korea (J. Jang): For now our water resources is ok and sufficient. However we are not sure in the future (Interviewer: But hopefully it is enough? Jang: Yes.)
Slovakia (Z. Drillet): Slovakia is rich in ground water as well as surface water.
The U.S Seattle (S. Brown): In Seattle reservoirs are mostly filled with rain water or snowmelt, so they are not depleting any lakes.
o YES in SHORT term; NO in LONG term. (6/17 = 35.29%)
China (C. Li): Coming water shortage for north China and ongoing water pollution for the whole country.
China (Z. She): With the development of economy and rise of living standards in the future, there will be an ever increasing demand for water resources in China. Therefore I think water resources in China are not sustainable in the long term.
France (G. Drillet): Pollution and increase use for agriculture.
Morocco (A. Ghafri): Global warming is a major factor for the limited water; also it had not rained much during the rainy seasons of the previous few years in Morocco.
Mexico (M. Chavez Okada): Mexico has plenty of water sources from lakes and rivers, also pumping from wells is not as exploited as in other countries (e.g. Japan) so it still has a lot of amount of water in the short term.
In the long term if we keep discharging wastewater to the water bodies or soil, these resources would get polluted and would become expensive (e.g. additional treatments) to use as fresh water.
o NO in both SHORT term and LONG term. (3/17 = 17.65%)
Egypt (Y. Mohamed): I guess the answer is the same as the previous question.
The U.S Los Angeles (D. Johnson): I personally cannot speak for the whole country so I am answering in relation to Los Angeles, California, the city and state that I live in. Los Angeles County imports a whopping 60% of its water supplies from external sources. Water supplies are diminishing, land subsidence increasing, and if you look at places like the San Joaquin Bay Delta, ecosystems are diminishing (i.e. Delta Smelt suffering from saltwater intrusion). We need to push our focus to local water supplies and conservation measures before it is too late.
Mexico (D. Zayas): I believe water resource management is unsustainable in both the short and the long term. Mexico City, one of the world’s most populated cities, has been facing an ongoing water crisis for several decades. The overexploitation of underground aquifers below the city has not only led to a world-famous case of land subsidence, but also to unsustainable economic impacts. In order to face a depleting aquifer challenge, the city obtains water from remote resources. This system of water transportation and management is inefficient due to unavoidable leaks that occur along the miles of pipelines as well as the high energetic cost.
This issue is worsened by the unavoidable effects of climate change. More heat and drought means more evaporation and more demand for water, leading to pressure to exploit distant reservoirs and contributing to a sinking city. Mexico City has to shift to a new sustainable system of water management in order to prevent alarming outcomes in the long term.
However, not all is grey. Outside of the capital and to the south of Mexico lies the state of Chiapas. It is a state rich in freshwater, aquifers, rivers and lagoons due to the tropical ecosystem that surrounds the region. In the summer of 2014 I traveled to the south on vacation and learned that these water resources are highly protected by the locals. They give great importance to the protection of natural resources and therefore monitor the availability and quality of water in the region. I am certain that water resources in the southern part of the country are sustainable in both the short and long term as long as the traditional system of water management is respected and preserved.
Q: How can we manage our limited water resources worldwide scientifically and wisely? Any suggestions?
A:
1. Singapore (S. Seah)
(1) Change of water consumption patterns
(2) Better improve of water technology
(3) Public education on water conservation
(3) Public education on water conservation
2. China (C. Li)
First, we need to teach people to know the importance of water sustainability and second, we need to act scientifically to deal with water resources by using new technologies and scientific management skills. Hope these help.
China (S. Yuan)
Reduce the contamination from the source, improve the treatment efficiency.
China (Z. She)
(1) We should advocate a green lifestyle.
(2) We need to improve water resource utilisation efficiency in industry and agriculture.
(3) We must prevent further water pollution by developing renewable and green materials and reducing paper consumption, etc.
3. Japan (M. Aichi)
(1) The enhancement of water recycle in urban areas. The current technique in Japan can make sewage water potable within a reasonable cost though there remain some barriers in legal aspects and people's minds.
(2) The change of meal to reduce meat consumption is helpful to reduce agricultural water consumption. Insects can be an alternative source of protein though there remain some barriers in people's minds.
(3) Saltwater (seawater or salty groundwater) desalinisation using solar & wind energy may be a future option in arid regions. However, the disposal or utilization of bi-product, i.e., super-saline water or salts, is a problem to be considered.
Japan (K. Akitaya)
Increase usage fee of tap water supply in developed countries and make incentive to use regenerated water.
Japan (H. Morigaki)
Construct a system that circulates water in a narrow range, which requires clean water technique, efficient piping and other things.
4. Korea (J. Jang)
(1) Build and make use of dams
(2) Establish and manage water recycle system
5. France (G. Drillet)
(1) Increase food production in oceans (aquaculture)
(2) Improve agriculture practices
(3) Increase education and awareness
6. Slovakia (Z. Drillet)
(1) Raise public awareness
(2) Enhance sustainable development practices and technologies
7. Morocco (A. Ghafri)
We should prevent polluting water, and use it effectively. For example we can exploit rain water and recycled water for special uses like flushing toilets, etc.
8. Egypt (Y. Mohamed)
I think that people should be aware of the problem, to know that they are a part of it and a part of the solution. This is done through awareness.
The second thing I guess is to promote water recycling and reduction of consumption.
The third thing I guess is utilise scientific research to minimize water need in industry for example, or find alternatives for processes which need a lot of water.
9. The U.S Los Angeles (D. Johnson)
(1) Research and advancement in water capture and treatment technology
(2) Applicable regulation to implement conservation measures
The U.S Seattle (S. Brown)
Spreading awareness of water conservation and taking steps against climate change, which affects areas that depend on snow for fresh water.
10. Mexico (D. Zayas)
Personally, I believe that efforts should be placed on solving water problems in cities. The traditional, and often unsustainable, system of water resource management has to be rethought. I think rainwater capture has great potential in urban areas due to its multiple uses, thus research in this area should be strengthened.
Also, constant monitoring of recharge rates in critical areas gives valuable information for the long term of water resources.
Mexico (M. Chavez Okada)
I believe a better water management system would help greatly to mitigate and reduce concern on this issue.
In Mexico there is no such thing as a water management system, therefore anyone can use as much amount of water as they please as long as they pay for it.
If we know the amount of resource and we know the amount of water required for domestic use, industry, agriculture, etc. it should be possible through thorough research to determine a max amount (reasonably) of water that is required by each specific category and putting high tax costs in case of exceeding that amount. With this we could prevent wasting great amounts of fresh water.
Also implementation and correct operation of wastewater treatment plants to prevent pollution to our water resources would also help greatly to maintain these resources for the long term.
To wrap up:
Fellow readers (if you are still here with me, perfect)! I hope the interview with these water professionals above has given you all a better insight of water resources and sustainability in their respective home countries around the world. Although the origins and sources of water vary in each country and their methods of water management also differ, the majority of them have confidence that water resources are at least sufficient in the short term (e.g.: 50 years), but less certain for a longer future to come. I personally agree that for the global water resources and hold some concerns for what future has to offer for us. What do you think? Feel free to let me know your thoughts about water resources in your country by commenting below!
To wrap up:
Fellow readers (if you are still here with me, perfect)! I hope the interview with these water professionals above has given you all a better insight of water resources and sustainability in their respective home countries around the world. Although the origins and sources of water vary in each country and their methods of water management also differ, the majority of them have confidence that water resources are at least sufficient in the short term (e.g.: 50 years), but less certain for a longer future to come. I personally agree that for the global water resources and hold some concerns for what future has to offer for us. What do you think? Feel free to let me know your thoughts about water resources in your country by commenting below!
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