It is worrisome that we would be talking of water crisis, scarcity or problems when two-third of our world is composed of water. Of the whole bulk of water on earth, only 2.5 per cent is fresh and suitable for human and agricultural use. This makes usable water a finite resource. Of this 2.5 percent, 99 per cent is held up in icebergs, glaciers or underground. Only 1 per cent of freshwater is therefore available to the nearly 7 billion human population and a countless other forms of life.
The Rise of Demand in California As California has continued to grow, the demand for potable water has radically increased. This is not simply for drinking, as industry, farming, and recreation all require vast amounts of H2O. Lush and green golf courses, gardens and landscapes all demand extensive watering, especially when they use plants that are not native to California's arid conditions.
In terms of the use of H2O, while the total percentages have varied depending on the analyzing authority and date, the following is a rough approximation of overall H2O use in California: i) H2O Utilized for Industrial purposes: 33 percent. ii) H2O utilized for residential purposes, including gardens and internal use: 39 percent. iii) H2O utilized for agriculture purposes, including crops and livestock: 28 percent.
However, the over all supply of water has remained relatively static and is even declining as California's population increases. For example, snow pack levels have consistently been lower than predicted, which in turn reduces the amount of water available from runoff. More importantly, increasing population growth in other Southwestern states has reduced the amount of surplus Colorado River water available for California's use, aggravating the California water crisis.
Smart Water Use and Beating the Crisis With the inability to increase supply, California must reduce its demand, especially in the face of a growing urban and rural population. The most effective way this can be achieved is by the use of various water conservation strategies in order to meet the California water crisis head-on.
Water Crisis Facts 43% of water-related deaths are due to diarrhea. 84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0 - 14. 98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world. 884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately one in eight people. The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.
Trans-boundary Cooperation As far as trans-boundary conflicts are concerned, regional economic development and cultural preservation can all be strengthened by states cooperating on water-related issues. Instead of a trend towards war, water management can be viewed as a trend towards cooperation and peace. Many initiatives are launched to avoid crises. Institutional commitments like in the Senegal River are created.
The Rise of Demand in California As California has continued to grow, the demand for potable water has radically increased. This is not simply for drinking, as industry, farming, and recreation all require vast amounts of H2O. Lush and green golf courses, gardens and landscapes all demand extensive watering, especially when they use plants that are not native to California's arid conditions.
In terms of the use of H2O, while the total percentages have varied depending on the analyzing authority and date, the following is a rough approximation of overall H2O use in California: i) H2O Utilized for Industrial purposes: 33 percent. ii) H2O utilized for residential purposes, including gardens and internal use: 39 percent. iii) H2O utilized for agriculture purposes, including crops and livestock: 28 percent.
However, the over all supply of water has remained relatively static and is even declining as California's population increases. For example, snow pack levels have consistently been lower than predicted, which in turn reduces the amount of water available from runoff. More importantly, increasing population growth in other Southwestern states has reduced the amount of surplus Colorado River water available for California's use, aggravating the California water crisis.
Smart Water Use and Beating the Crisis With the inability to increase supply, California must reduce its demand, especially in the face of a growing urban and rural population. The most effective way this can be achieved is by the use of various water conservation strategies in order to meet the California water crisis head-on.
Water Crisis Facts 43% of water-related deaths are due to diarrhea. 84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0 - 14. 98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world. 884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately one in eight people. The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.
Trans-boundary Cooperation As far as trans-boundary conflicts are concerned, regional economic development and cultural preservation can all be strengthened by states cooperating on water-related issues. Instead of a trend towards war, water management can be viewed as a trend towards cooperation and peace. Many initiatives are launched to avoid crises. Institutional commitments like in the Senegal River are created.
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