Unit 7 Natural resources
7a Solving the water problem
Solving
the water problem
Conservation
This is perhaps the
simplest and most
cost-effective solution.
Moreover, everyone
can contribute, from
the water companies to
the end-user. The water
companies can make
sure that they minimise
waste by repairing cracked pipes and by imposing
restrictions on water usage – not allowing people to use
hosepipes has been one traditional method. But more
significantly, they can also limit water consumption by
making people pay for what they use, rather than for
their connection to the water supply. If everyone had a
water meter, they would think more carefully when they
turned on the tap. With metered water, the market for
water-saving devices – low-flush toilets, efficient washing
machines and dishwashers, and water butts for collecting
rainwater – will grow by itself.
Desalination
In many parts of the world, there is not enough fresh water
but an abundance of salt water. This has encouraged
the building of desalination plants. On the face of it, this
seems to be a very neat solution. However, these plants are
incredibly expensive to build – a recent project in Hawaii
cost US $35 million. This is why not many plants have been
built in poorer regions. Also, their ecological footprint is
heavy. The process requires huge amounts of electricity.
There is also growing evidence that the high concentrations
of salt which are returned to the earth or the sea have a very
damaging effect on plant and wildlife.
New technologies
‘Cloud seeding’ is a new ‘weather modification’ technology
that scientists are developing to solve global climate change.
In this process, the clouds are sprinkled with tiny crystals
of silver iodide, which encourage moisture to collect and
condense, causing rainfall. Some sceptics wonder whether
this technology will be effective and ask what use it is going
to be in countries where there is very little cloud. Others
worry that no one has properly researched the possible
harmful effects of a concentration of silver on human health.
As one scientist amusingly put it, ‘Sometimes not every
cloud has a silver lining.’
The conclusion would seem to be that new technologies
are a long way from solving our water problems,
particularly in poorer countries. For the moment,
conservation still seems to be our best hope.
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Reading water
1 Look at the solutions for solving the water
problem. Read the text and tick (✓) the solutions
that are mentioned.
repairing broken water pipes
stopping climate change
reusing rainwater
having fewer showers and baths
turning salt water into fresh water
making artificial rainclouds
2 Read the article and choose the best option (a–c).
1 Probably the most effective way for water
companies to reduce water consumption is:
a to fix broken water pipes.
b to limit how much water people are
allowed to use.
c to charge people according to how much
water they consume.
2 According to the author, people will buy
water-saving devices:
a if the devices are more efficient.
b if they see there is financial benefit.
c whether they have a meter or not.
3 Desalination plants have … main
disadvantages.
a two
b three
c four
4 ‘Cloud seeding’ is a technology that:
a manipulates natural weather patterns.
b uses the natural elements in a cloud
to produce rainfall.
c encourages cloud formation.
5 The author says that new technologies:
a will soon be able to provide a solution.
b will never provide a solution.
c cannot provide a solution at the moment.
Glossary
moisture (n) /ˈmɔɪstʃə/ water in the air or on the surface
of something
restriction (n) /rɪˈstrɪkʃ(ə)n/ limit
sprinkle (v) /ˈsprɪŋkl/ to cover with little pieces of a thing
25/04/12 9:41 AM