Sustainable water supply systems are now part and parcel of urban and rural development plans. Water that is potable and can be used for domestic purposes is required everywhere. Urban areas also need to provide adequate supplies for commercial and industrial purposes, while rural areas have to support agricultural needs.
The social, economic and environmental factors that need to be considered are completely different on the supply as well as demand sides of both urban and rural communities. There are a number of issues under usage and watershed management that vary hugely depending on local conditions such as the climate, natural resources, and population. The common aspect linking all communities is that water is essential for survival.
The most important consideration on the supply side is watershed management. It's a huge and complicated matter that must consider how to maintain the balance of plant, animal and human usage without degrading the quality or depleting the source. Factors to be considered here include land use, water rights, cross-jurisdictional coordination, drainage, stormwater runoff and compliance with environmental laws.
Surface freshwater is a challenge for communities because its distribution is highly unfair across the world. Canada alone hogs more than 50 percent of the world's lake-based freshwater, while the rest of the world makes do with dams built on rivers to create artificial reservoirs. The main source for most people is therefore groundwater, which accounts for more than 50 percent of global freshwater.
None of this is as sustainable as harvesting rainwater. It carries no risk of depleting available supplies of freshwater or groundwater, and is already clean enough to be used for human consumption. Usage is still limited because of system installation costs, and the need to prevent contamination of stored rainwater.
Another possibility is desalination plants that remove salt from seawater using reverse osmosis. It's not as environmentally friendly as harvesting rainwater, but it is a far better option compared to depleting lakes and groundwater or damming up rivers. Wider use is limited because of the high installation cost and energy required. Not to mention the fact that it produces Co2 emissions and several other byproducts that may be harmful to marine life.
On the usage side, one of the best ways to ensure sustainability is to limit wastewater generation. This can be done using new innovations such as waterless car washes, artificial turfs and lawns, dual-flush toilets, etc. Bigger and better wastewater treatment facilities will help, and so will improving the efficiency of municipal distribution network by reducing leakage from pipes.
Everything mentioned above is just the tip of the iceberg, in terms of what must be done to implement sustainable water supply systems. A technological revolution accompanied by serious changes in regulations and cooperation between jurisdictions is needed to ensure sustainability. As per WHO, around 1.8 million people still die every year due to contaminated supplies, and it is getting worse with droughts and floods caused by climate change. A good place to start would therefore be to come up with a plan for an adequate supply of potable water.
The social, economic and environmental factors that need to be considered are completely different on the supply as well as demand sides of both urban and rural communities. There are a number of issues under usage and watershed management that vary hugely depending on local conditions such as the climate, natural resources, and population. The common aspect linking all communities is that water is essential for survival.
The most important consideration on the supply side is watershed management. It's a huge and complicated matter that must consider how to maintain the balance of plant, animal and human usage without degrading the quality or depleting the source. Factors to be considered here include land use, water rights, cross-jurisdictional coordination, drainage, stormwater runoff and compliance with environmental laws.
Surface freshwater is a challenge for communities because its distribution is highly unfair across the world. Canada alone hogs more than 50 percent of the world's lake-based freshwater, while the rest of the world makes do with dams built on rivers to create artificial reservoirs. The main source for most people is therefore groundwater, which accounts for more than 50 percent of global freshwater.
None of this is as sustainable as harvesting rainwater. It carries no risk of depleting available supplies of freshwater or groundwater, and is already clean enough to be used for human consumption. Usage is still limited because of system installation costs, and the need to prevent contamination of stored rainwater.
Another possibility is desalination plants that remove salt from seawater using reverse osmosis. It's not as environmentally friendly as harvesting rainwater, but it is a far better option compared to depleting lakes and groundwater or damming up rivers. Wider use is limited because of the high installation cost and energy required. Not to mention the fact that it produces Co2 emissions and several other byproducts that may be harmful to marine life.
On the usage side, one of the best ways to ensure sustainability is to limit wastewater generation. This can be done using new innovations such as waterless car washes, artificial turfs and lawns, dual-flush toilets, etc. Bigger and better wastewater treatment facilities will help, and so will improving the efficiency of municipal distribution network by reducing leakage from pipes.
Everything mentioned above is just the tip of the iceberg, in terms of what must be done to implement sustainable water supply systems. A technological revolution accompanied by serious changes in regulations and cooperation between jurisdictions is needed to ensure sustainability. As per WHO, around 1.8 million people still die every year due to contaminated supplies, and it is getting worse with droughts and floods caused by climate change. A good place to start would therefore be to come up with a plan for an adequate supply of potable water.
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