Water Issues in an Urban Context
"We live in urban cities. Water issues cannot affect us" - this was the thought nurtured by the residents who dwelled in urbanized cities across the globe. The situation has now taken a turn for the worse with water industries (operating in these urbanized cities) beginning to charge heavily for tap water. According to them, the vast water resources are being depleted at a faster pace. Hence they are forced to procure water from other sources and hence the hefty prices. Should we believe them? What exactly is occurring to our water supplies?A study was conducted in various cities across to globe; with special emphasis to water utilization strategies. It was determined that the water industries were functioning in an inefficient manner. The improper planning and utilization of the existing water supplies paved the way for all the problems. It is too late now and the results of these studies point out the fact that by 2035, most of the countries will be engaging in warfare to procure potable water. Unless appropriate measures are taken by the water industries, there will be a marked decrease in the availability of fresh water sources in these cities.
The second factor that is causing sleepless nights to many bigwigs in the water industry is the deterioration of the existing sources of fresh water. Pollution is one of the major causes for the degradation of existing fresh water sources. The pollutants released by automobiles and industries will rise to the upper layers of the atmosphere to combine with various other elements. This combination procedure will result in the production of highly toxic materials, which will reach the surface of the earth through frequent rains. This rainwater will merge with the existing sources, which will result to gradual degradation.
A common practice employed by the water industries (especially in the urban cities) is the usage of the freshwater present in the deepest layers of the earth. Ideally, these water resources must not be tampered. Depletion of the water present in these water resources will lead to unconditional heat up of the surface of the earth. Actually, the earth utilizes this water to cool the interiors. The trend is popular in many parts of the globe and as a direct result of the same, natural water resources are being depleted in an augmented manner.
Did you know that theft of water in quite common in many urbanized cities? Approximately, thirty percent of the available water is being wasted like this. Similarly, the leakage in the pipes that supply water to the inhabitants of a particular city is another reason that led to water depletion at an accelerated rate.
Desalination procedures are turning out to be expensive than they were initially thought. Hence, water industries are still concentrating on natural water resources like the lakes and rivers. Recycling procedures were implemented by many water industries - so far, the situation is showing favorable signs. Plans are undertaken to reduce the effects of green house gases, also.
We're a collective of young students, scientists and business people
interested in raising awareness for the challenges our water
industry stands to face in this and the coming twenty decades. We're
concerned, and think you should be so too!The world needs water to run. Let's do it proud!
