The water shortage debate in 2010
Published: 31 December 2009
Author: Felicia Jackson
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[ 4 ] Comments
We have to understand our consumption patterns, and how they need to change
Incomprehensibly, Copenhagen failed to include problems of fresh water supply. The UN negotiations were focused on solving the critical problems of energy and finance.
However, water provides a thread which connects the different impacts of climate change. While the minutiae of climate science may be complex, it's easy to understand that increasing population, industry, economic growth and urbanisation put additional stress on the provision of clean water from dwindling reserves.
If we are to find a way to address the water issue, 2010 must see water enshrined at the heart of any international climate change treaty
By 2050, according to IPCC reports, 60% of the world's population could experience severe water shortages. More than a 33% of the world is already under water stress, where poor water supplies affect food production, economic development and even human health. Lack of access to water is going to change the economic environment in ways that most of us can’t begin to imagine.
Water also has a critical role to play in energy supply. It is required for many existing energy systems (from boiling water to driving turbines, supplying coolant for nuclear power, even in oil production). According to the International Committee for World Water Contract, 44% of fresh water in France is used by its energy sector, while demand can reach 60% in some countries.
Containing fresh water supply problems?
While developing economies with large agricultural sectors in flood plains (such as Bangladesh) or drought- prone regions (such as Darfur) are likely to see direct impacts, water stress anywhere is going to have a knock-on effect on agriculture, power supply, health and potential conflict.
The interconnected nature of the global economy will ensure that water stress affects the world as a whole. People consume water through drinking, cooking and washing but far more is used in the production of food, clothes, and the trappings of modern living.
The trail your water footprint leaves
For the first time in 2008 the WWF’s Living Planet report highlighted the significance of water traded in the form of commodities – for example a cotton T-shirt, which consumes 2,900 litres of water in the growth of cotton and the shirt's production. According to the report, Japan has a water footprint of 1,150 cubic metres per year per capita, but has about 65% of its total water footprint outside Japan. By comparison China's water footprint is about 700 cubic metres per year per capita but only 7% of this falls outside China.
We're going to need to see wider implementation of a water footprint across all economic activities. We have to understand our consumption patterns, and how they need to change.
Consequences of peak water
One of the most important things that needs to happen in 2010 is that we begin to address the inequity of the global water balance, and develop a mainstream understanding of our responsibility for the wider environment. In the end, peak water could prove to have far more dramatic and immediate consequences than peak oil. It's harder to address, but that means we have to make it a priority.
We have to create a clear regulatory framework within which nations, business and consumers can operate, and it needs to be global. Existing models could be adapted. In Vermont, water is "owned" by the State, with the government responsible for distribution with priority given to people, nature and agriculture first. Industrial use comes behind these needs, and pollution can result in denial of supply.
Take action
- Start measuring the water footprint of what you eat
- 21st century challenges: On water shortage
- Watch a video on the water crisis
Avoiding resources conflicts
There are aspects to water management which are clearly key to a successful adaptive response to climate change. We also know that it is critically important to address trans-boundary water management issues if we are to avoid conflict based on access to resources. We need to integrate water management with land and forest management, and focus on the overall protection and restoration of natural resources.
Prince Charles referred to the need to create a "collective and comprehensive deal" at Copenhagen. Supply of fresh water affects everyone, across every border - it is the one truly global resource and cannot belong to any one group. If we are to find a way to address the water issue, 2010 must see water enshrined at the heart of any international climate change treaty.
SIDEWAYS News for fresh perspectives
Comments
RSS Water Solutions Launched and Supports Agricultural Farm Lands
Rental Solutions & Services (RSS) will provide rental desalination containers in farm and agricultural countries where fresh water is scarce. RSS to offer a complete temporary utility package that includes rental power, temporary cooling and mobile desalination for farmhouse, greenhouse, processed food industry and food depot.
Dubai, Rental Solutions & Services (RSS), a global provider of rental power & cooling has recently launched its latest product offering, temporary desalination or mobile water. Coinciding with the launch of new mobile desalination water, RSS has also opened a new office in Cyprus to serve the Mediterranean market.
According to Milan Balac, Managing Director of Rental Solutions & Services, “The Cyprus office will serve as our hub in for the Mediterranean, Europe, and Africa region. Temporary desalination water for several islands with agricultural and farming activities will now benefit from uninterrupted supply of fresh water. Aside from the Middle East and Asian region, we are confident that our rental power, temporary cooling and mobile desalination plant will benefit the Mediterranean region in particular Cyprus, Montenegro, Gibraltar, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.”
Robert Bagatsing, Group Marketing Manager of RSS explains that rental desalination, or mobile water technology has various applications especially in areas where fresh water is scarce or non-existent. A typical scenario is a recently opened agricultural farmland in Africa with thousands of hectares of fruit bearing trees, vegetables and animal ranch experiencing a water drought, no rain for 3 months. RSS can easily install a containerised mobile water and supply up to 5000 m3 per day to the farm. RSS can supply water for any agricultural, industrial and commercial application in areas that have limited supply of fresh water or no potable water.”
Lee Cox, General Manager for Southern Gulf says, “RSS can also provide a packaged temporary desalination water solutions for many applications such as construction, district cooling plants, military & municipal government, power plants, refineries, pulp & paper, steel, food & beverage, semiconductor, textile, laundry, agricultural-nurseries & green houses, water supply distributors, healthcare such as hospitals, laboratories & pharmaceuticals, hospitality such as hotels and resorts. RSS products and services have a wide spectrum of business applications in the Gulf region as well as in Central Asia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Emirates in UAE as well as in Oman, Yemen, India and Pakistan all of which benefit from our temporary turnkey engineered solutions”
Colin Cave, General Manager for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait also commented that “RSS will not only provide fresh water to several Gulf countries but in any countries that requires mobile desalination water especially in the event of natural calamities like earth quakes or any form of disasters. RSS can quickly respond and provide rental water solutions for whole communities. RSS understands that every emergency related call is critical… we should be swift, organized and reliable. That is why we are committed to provide excellence in everything that we offer.
Simon Urquhart, Group Technical Manager for RSS mobile desalination division explains that “RSS mobile desalination system uses the most advanced reverse osmosis technology available in the market. In layman’s terms, we can convert brackish water from a river, lake or bore hole to potable water, and we can also convert sea-water to potable fresh water (complying with all European potable water standards). The potable water can be consumed for drinking, cleaning, irrigation or other applications. If a company or a community has limited fresh water supply, RSS can provide fresh potable water anywhere, anytime, any weather conditions or any situations. Our containerized reverse osmosis containers can be transported by trailer or barge and can be skid mounted for longer hire”
ABOUT RSS
Rental Solutions & Services (RSS) is an award winning company that globally provides temporary power, cooling and water solutions, offering reliable equipment, flexible services and exceptional engineering services, at a moments notice.
RSS Temporary Power Solutions: includes full range of acoustically containerized generators; distribution boards, load banks, change-over panels and junction boxes; RSS also offer an extended range of environmentally safe fuel tanks and high current flexible power cables for extreme ambient conditions.
RSS Temporary Cooling Solutions: includes high efficiency air-cooled chillers, water-cooled modules, Air handling units, packaged cooling applications cooling towers and integral VFD pumps. Our products also include a wide range of fluid pumps for various applications, a variety of certified high pressure flexible hoses, a large inventory of fluid line components including double regulating valves, non-return valves, strainers and associated equipment. Also available are automatic make-up water and chemical treatment systems, in-house fabrication facilities for project-specific installation requirements such as headers, reducers and connection points. Remote monitoring options are also available for all temporary chiller installations.
RSS Temporary Water Solutions: includes reverse osmosis membranes for brackish and sea-water available in 20ft or 40 ft containers each with a capacity of up to1000 m3 per day. Mobile desalination technology includes pre treatment, low and high pressure pumps, reverse osmosis membranes and all associated chemical dosing pumps and control equipment. All units are ‘plug and play’, with only power supply, inlet water, product water and brine discharge connections required.
RSS Turnkey Solutions: flexibility, rapid response and understanding the requirements of our customers are successful elements in providing turnkey solutions in power and cooling projects. Customers trust RSS because of our proven ability to provide reliable and realistic solutions for any situation.
RSS in-house engineering and fabrication facility enables us to fully support, manage and operate any temporary power, cooling and water application.
Press Contact:
Robert Bagatsing
Group Marketing
Email: roberto.bagatsing @ rss.ae
Web: www.rss.ae
Dubai Contact:
Suite Office 100
European Business Centre Building
Dubai Investment Park
P.O. Box 53220, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: + 971 4 8135100
Fax: + 971 4 8135109
Limassol Contact:
3, John Kennedy & Araouzos Corner
Stefel Court, 4th Floor
Limassol
3106
Cyprus
Tel: +357 25 814062
Fax: +357 25 814063
PR Agency Contact:
Mark Beyer
The Marketing Boulevard
New York, USA
Email: ny @themarketingboulevard.com
Web: www.themarketingboulevard.com
The oceans are full of water all you have to do is remove the salt. When the sun heats the salt water the h20 is released. All that is required is to capture the h20
before it evaporates into the air. By capturing the water vapour and condensing it into h20 you have a vast supply of water in hot countries beside the sea. At low cost .
WTF???
DID U RITE????
WAT IS THAT EVEN SUPPOSSED TO MEAN??
There is no shortage of sea water. If you are in a hot climate you can have a pool of sea water the water will evaporate off leaving the salt behind. Instead of letting the water go into the upper atmosphere. Condense the water vapour This will
give a supply of water to anyone near sea water.