Understanding Water Scarcity: A Deep Dive into Physical and Economic Aspects
Water scarcity, a critical global challenge, poses an existential threat to our survival. With increasing population and climate change effects, this threat continues to grow. Water scarcity is often defined in two distinct types: physical and economic. This article aims to elucidate these concepts, first introduced in a comprehensive 2007 study conducted by the International Water Management Institute, which explored agricultural water use in the previous 50 years.
Physical Water Scarcity: A Growing Global Threat
Physical water scarcity arises when natural water resources fail to meet all demands, encompassing not only human consumption but also ecosystem functionality. This form of scarcity primarily plagues arid regions, where water has always been a limited commodity. Today, anthropogenic influences on climate have exacerbated water scarcity in such areas, further straining these delicate ecosystems.
Physical water scarcity is also an issue in regions with apparent water abundance, particularly when resources are overcommitted. Overdevelopment of hydraulic infrastructure, often for irrigation or power generation purposes, has resulted in water allocation imbalances favoring certain groups over others. Symptoms of physical water scarcity include severe environmental degradation, declining groundwater levels, and inequitable water allocations.
Another concept, ecological water scarcity, has been proposed, considering factors such as water quantity, quality, and environmental flow requirements. This scarcity type accentuates the water demands of ecosystems, referring to the minimum water quantity and quality necessary for maintaining sustainable and functional ecosystems. There is ongoing debate about whether ecological water scarcity is a third dimension of water scarcity or simply a component of physical water scarcity.
Physical water scarcity is particularly acute in densely populated arid areas like Central and West Asia and North Africa, where projected water availabilities are less than 1000 cubic meters per capita per year. In 2007, a study found that more than 1.2 billion people live in areas of physical water scarcity, with water availability primarily referring to food production rather than drinking water.
Economic Water Scarcity: A Barrier to Access and Development
On the other hand, economic water scarcity occurs when a lack of investment in water infrastructure or technology or inadequate human capacity constrains water availability. This form of scarcity prompts people without reliable water access to travel long distances to fetch often contaminated water from rivers for domestic and agricultural use.
As per the United Nations Development Programme, economic water scarcity is the most common cause of water scarcity, given that most countries or regions have enough water to meet household, industrial, agricultural, and environmental needs but lack the means to provide it in an accessible way. About one-fifth of the world’s population currently live in regions affected by physical water scarcity.
Economic water scarcity affects a quarter of the world’s population. Sub-Saharan Africa is a notable example, characterized by economic water scarcity. Developing water infrastructure in such regions could significantly alleviate poverty, improve health, and boost food production, especially in developing countries that depend on low-yield agriculture.
However, overcoming economic water scarcity demands more than just infrastructural development; it requires socio-economic and socio-political interventions addressing poverty and socio-inequality. As funding is often limited, careful planning is crucial to ensure maximum effectiveness of these interventions.
Ironically, while much emphasis is put on improving water sources for drinking and domestic use, we must remember that water is used extensively for other purposes like bathing, laundry, livestock, and cleaning. Over-focusing on drinking water needs addresses only a small part of the broader issue of water resources, thereby limiting the range of available solutions.
Conclusion
Water scarcity, whether physical or economic, has far-reaching consequences that we cannot ignore. It not only threatens human life but also destabilizes ecosystems, leading to severe environmental degradation. As climate change intensifies
, so too does water scarcity, and our collective response will define our future. We need to take a holistic approach that not only considers drinking water but also other usage areas. Furthermore, we need to embrace the third dimension of water scarcity, ecological water scarcity, and incorporate it into our water management strategies. Only then can we ensure that both our needs and those of our planet are met sustainably.
