Water Shortage

Intro

I. Arguable, water is the most important chemical compound on the face of the earth. In fact, it covers 70 percent of the earth, giving the planet the beautiful blue color seen from outer space. A child’s body is about 75 percent water, and adult’s bodies are approximately 50-60 percent water. Water is the most important aspect to human life; so important scientists base theories about life on other planets, primarily on whether water is present. Basically, water is essential to all living species, and currently the planet is running out of fresh drinkable water. This paper explores the demand for fresh drinking water globally. This paper will consider past and present conditions of water worldwide and a solution on how to improve drinkable water sources.

Background

II. “Ever person has a right to clean drinking water”, a statement written by Frances S. Sterrett places a perspective on how important freshwater is. “Worldwide, as many as two billion people drink water extracted from shallow wells or polluted lakes and river…” (Lougheed. T, 2006, p.A245). The lack of freshwater isn’t just a third world problem, it’s a global concern that has dated back as early as the fifteen century. Recent, water droughts in the United States has sharpened awareness and added a sense of urgency to the global concern.
III. The demand of fresh drinkable water has been evident for years. News coverage reports multiple countries suffering from unsafe drinking water supplies quite often. Recently, many Americans are becoming aware of this crisis. At least thirty-six US States face water shortage problems. States include California, Florida, and Arizona. Many US Rivers and streams are being polluted which is now resulting to the decline of clean drinkable water in the United States. This decline is from climate change, which impacts our drinkable water.

Body

IV. While scientists do not fully understand the concept of climate change environments and water resources are being affected. Climate change is a natural condition that the earth goes through. People associate climate change as a gradual process that occurs over hundreds and hundreds of years. Actually, it’s happening faster than people expect. Heighten awareness about climate change is evident, due to how it can affect humans. However, the impact is already being observed in changes to the quality of drinking water. Climate Change is occurring rapidly. Implications are already being felt in many parts of the US and other countries. These changes can be seen in the earth’s environment and freshwater resources. Signs include rising sea levels and increasing temperature of the earth. These examples get overlooked. Climate change is huge conquences on how humans damage the earth.
V. Sea levels are important because as the land’s atmosphere warms, heat is transferred into the ocean. Rising sea temperatures are caused by buildup carbon dioxide and other emissions in the atmosphere. The problem becomes fresh drinking water, because the extra salt (from the ocean) will contaminant the river and aquifers that supply drinkable water. “In addition rainfall patterns will shift, some areas will get more precipitation, some less, causing major changes to river flow patterns, making less available water during warmer and drier summer months” (Sterrett. F, 1977, 571). In simple terms, as the earth warms, water supplies will decrease.
VI. Engineers, have numerous tools to make educated decisions about weather change, but lack the necessary advance equipment to meet different challenges climate conditions present. “Research observed that with certain exceptions, there is a large gap between the climate predictions tools that water managers use and what is available” (Jacobs. K, Garfin. G, & Buizer. J, 2009, p.795). Scientist believe improvements of climate tools for various officials are needed to accurately predict vastly changing climate conditions.

Solution

VII. Fresh drinkable water is a limited resource. Only three percent of the earth’s water is drinkable. Seventy percent of water is glaciers, snow covered, or ice not available for human consumption. A desalination plant provides a quick fix to communities suffering from fresh drinkable water shortage. As the United States faces impending shortages of fresh drinking water a proposed construction of a desalination plant, that can turn seawater into fresh drinking water. Desalination plant refers to the process that removes salt and other minerals from water. The idea of a desalination plant is a method used throughout the world most commonly in wealthy Middle Eastern countries. Typically, these plants produce five billion gallons of freshwater each day by a process better known as reverse osmosis. Reverse Osmosis is a muti-level filter that removes salt and minerals from seawater making it safe drinkable water. Desalination plants will reduce surface and groundwater withdrawals allowing river systems, lakes and overdrawn aquifers to replenish themselves. “A desalination plant is a high priced solution that can address water emergency” (Yuhas. E, & Daniels. T, 2006).

Conclusion

VIII. In my conclusion fresh drinkable water will continue to be a limited resource. Desalination facilities have the potential to create unlimited freshwater sources, but hidden expensive and uncertain ecosystem effects, due to chemical usage, are too risky. Also desalination plants are energy intensive “pumping, treating, and heating water are among the highest demand in the US” (Jacobs. K, Garfin. G, & Buizer. J, 2009). Water conservation seems to be the most environment friendly alternative to fresh drinkable water. “Water conservation provides a low-cost, socially acceptable benefit in terms of both water and energy” (Jacobs. K, Garfin. G, & Buizer. J, 2009, p796).

Reference

Lougheed, T. (2006). A Clear Solution for Dirty Water. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(7), A424-A427.

Jacobs, K., Garfin, G., & Buizer, J. (2009). The science-policy interface: experience of a workshop for climate change researchers and water managers. Science & Public Policy (SPP), 36(10), 791-798.

Sterrett, F. (1977). DRINKABLE, BUT .. Environment, 19(9), 28.

Yuhas, E., & Daniels, T. (2006). The US freshwater supply shortage: Experiences with desalination as part of the solution. Journal of Environmental Planning & Management, 49(4), 571-585.