WATER SCARCITY

Kharla Kaye N. Bilibli

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 02 03
WAYS TO
CAUSES OF
WATER PREVENT
WATER
SCARCITY WATER
SCARCITY
SCARCITY
 WATER
Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical
formula H₂O. It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless,
and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the
main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the
fluids of all known living organisms.
 Water scarcity, both natural and of human origin, is the lack of sufficient
available water resources to meet the demands within a region. Water is
unequally distributed over time and space. Much of it is wasted, polluted and
unsustainably managed.

There is no global water scarcity as such, but a number of places and regions
are chronically short of water because its use at the global level has increased
more than twice as fast as the population over the last century.

What is Water Scarcity?

 Water scarcity is described as a condition where water demand exceeds over available
water supply. A country or a region faces “water scarcity” when the availability of
natural hygienic water falls below 1000 m3 per person per year (Pereira et al.,
2002; Dehghani et al., 2019). Water scarcity is something that is not a concern with only
a single living being at a particular location and time, but it affects a larger population
within a certain geographic region (e.g., country) and pertains to larger timescales
(years or months). It can occur because of natural low water availability as well as
human-imposed activities to degrade the available natural water. The natural water
body has the potential to renew or restore its originality. However, water pollution is the
dominant factor to aggravates water scarcity by degrading the quality of water
resources. The detrimental effect caused by nature and human intervention has led to
severe water challenges and water scarcity, which is elaborated in the upcoming section.
TYPES OF WATER
SCARCITY
Physical Water Scarcity

Physical water scarcity occurs when natural water resources are

insufficient to meet all demands, including that needed for
ecosystems to function effectively. Human influence on climate
has led to increased water scarcity in areas where water was
previously hard to come by. It also occurs where water seems
abundant but where resources are over-committed, such as when
there is overdevelopment of hydraulic infrastructure, often
for irrigation or energy generation. Symptoms of physical water
scarcity include severe environmental degradation, such as water
pollution, and declining groundwater and water allocations that
favor some groups over others.
 Arid regions frequently suffer
from physical water scarcity such
as Central and West Asia, and
North Africa
Economic Water Scarcity

Economic water scarcity is caused by a lack of

investment in infrastructure or technology to draw
water from rivers, aquifers, or other water sources,
or insufficient human capacity to satisfy the
demand for water.  It causes people without reliable
access to water to have to travel long distances to
fetch water, which is often contaminated from
rivers for domestic and agricultural uses.
Sub-Saharan Africa has
much economic water
scarcity.
 Increased
Natural calamities such as
Climate change human
droughts and floods
consumption

Overuse of
Overuse and
A global rise in aquifers and
wastage of
freshwater demand its consequent
water
slow recharge
 WAYS TO PREVENT WATER SCARCITY
Sustainable water
management
Improving water infrastructure must be
a priority, as water conservation and
efficiency are key components of
sustainable water management.
Pollution control & better
sewage treatment
Addressing pollution, measuring and monitoring
water quality is essential. Besides, improving the
sewage systems in specific areas is another way to
prevent water scarcity from becoming any worst.
Reclaimed water
Rainwater harvesting and recycled
wastewater also allow to reduce
scarcity and ease pressures on
groundwater and other natural water
bodies.
Awareness & Education
Education is critical to solve the water crisis.
In fact, in order to cope with future water
scarcity, it is necessary to radically reform
all forms of consumption, from individual
use to the supply chains of large companies.
 TO CONCLUDE,
Water scarcity, both natural and of human origin, is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands
within a region. There is no global water scarcity as such, but a number of places and regions are chronically short of water
because its use at the global level has increased more than twice as fast as the population over the last century. Types of
water scarcity are physical and economic water scarcity. Physical water scarcity occurs when natural water resources are
insufficient to meet all demands, including that needed for ecosystems to function effectively. Human influence on climate
has led to increased water scarcity in areas where water was previously hard to come by. It also occurs where water seems
abundant but where resources are over-committed, such as when there is overdevelopment of hydraulic infrastructure,
often for irrigation or energy generation. Symptoms of physical water scarcity include severe environmental degradation,
such as water pollution, and declining groundwater and water allocations that favor some groups over others. Economic
water scarcity is caused by a lack of investment in infrastructure or technology to draw water from rivers, aquifers, or other
water sources, or insufficient human capacity to satisfy the demand for water. It causes people without reliable access to
water to have to travel long distances to fetch water, which is often contaminated from rivers for domestic and agricultural
uses. The causes of water scarcity are Climate change, Natural calamities such as droughts and floods, Increased human
consumption, Overuse and wastage of water, A global rise in freshwater demand , Overuse of aquifers and its consequent
slow recharge. And ways to prevent water scarcity: Sustainable water management, Pollution control & better sewage
treatment, Awareness & Education, Reclaimed water.