WATER WASTE: STATISTICS, CAUSES AND PROBLEMS - ENVIRONMENT - 2024

The d esperdicio of water has been reported by various international agencies as one of the main problems in managing this vital element. For some years now, it has been pointed out that one of the great challenges on the planet will be, shortly, the lack of water.

Up to a third of the countries may run into major problems as they cannot meet the demand for water this century. By 2025, forecasts suggest that two thirds of humanity will live in areas with moderate or severe scarcity.

Most of the water used on a day-to-day basis goes to agriculture. Afterwards, industry is placed and, in third position, domestic consumption. The short-term goal is to cut the numbers. The UN points out that the only way is to improve infrastructure so that nothing is wasted.

According to experts, if the situation is not solved, the consequences could be dramatic. From diseases caused by the use of contaminated water, to deaths due to low harvests. Some authors already point out that the fight for water will be the cause of future wars.

World Statistics

Despite the fact that 70% of the planet is covered in water, only 3% of it is fresh. The rest of the percentage is made up of the oceans, seas and other bodies of salty water and, therefore, not suitable for human consumption.

Of the 3% mentioned, the vast majority (two thirds) are contained in glaciers and perpetual snow at the poles, so it is not possible to use it either. In the end, only 1% of the total planetary water is suitable for use by humans.

Of that amount, the activity that needs the most resources is agriculture, with almost 70%. Then the industry is placed, with 20%. Finally, what the human being spends directly, only 10%.

It is in less developed countries where more water is wasted. It is estimated that up to 50% of the liquid is lost due to poor infrastructure or vandalism.

Apart from that, there is the problem of sewage. These could be reused, but more than 80% return to ecosystems. As they have not been treated, they end up polluting other aquifer deposits.

farming

As previously noted, agriculture is the human activity that uses the most water in its development. Around 70% of fresh water is destined for agricultural fields worldwide, with varying percentages depending on the area.

The main problem with this use is that 60% of that amount is wasted. Various factors, especially deficient infrastructures, cause this phenomenon, to which must be added the environmental risks produced by stagnant waters.

In the cities

The latest study by the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) produced a very disappointing result on the use of water in cities.

To obtain the data, the management of this element was analyzed in 48 cities around the world, measuring the waste of water in each one.

According to the results, all the cities analyzed presented a high percentage of ineffectiveness in this field, which means that, for example, Mexico City wastes 44% of fresh water.

In the ranking of the 5 cities with the most deficit in this matter, after the Mexican capital, were Naples (Italy), with 37%, Glasgow (Scotland) with the same percentage, Montreal (Canada), with 33%, and Rome, with 26%.

It should be noted that the research only took into account the cities of a certain group of countries. According to other studies, the situation is even but in underdeveloped or developing nations.

Contamination

Although it is not a direct waste of water, the contamination of the tanks has a very direct impact on the lack of availability for consumption.

This contamination is produced by various causes and determines that nearly 1800 million people do not have access to drinking water.

By having to use contaminated sources of this element, the risk of diseases increases. It is estimated that more than 800,000 people die each year for this reason.

Causes

The causes of water waste are multiple and closely linked to the sector in question. In general terms, as new elements in the last decades, experts point out a series of considerations that worsen the problem.

The first in the great demographic increase, with more incidence in less developed areas. This causes, apart from the need for more water for human consumption, that the surface area for food crops must also increase. Obviously, the more cultivated area there is, the more water is needed for irrigation.

They also point out that global warming has a very important impact on the water deficit. It is not, strictly, a waste of water, but it does cause less rain and, therefore, a shortage of the element.

Irrigation systems

Since it is the sector that uses the most water, it is also the one that wastes the most total amount. The main cause is the use in much of the planet of obsolete and low-tech irrigation techniques.

Furthermore, much of the infrastructure is seriously deficient. 50% of the water used in irrigation is lost through leaks in canals or pipes. To this must be added that which is produced by evaporation in outdoor tanks.

Industry

The industry also has high water waste figures. Despite the legislation that tries to remedy it, there are still many factories with deficiencies.

A part of this water is lost due to leaks or losses during transport. Furthermore, in this case, a more worrying phenomenon occurs. Discharges of polluted water into nature ends up causing pollution of rivers and groundwater.

In the city

Old and damaged pipes cause a great waste of water in cities. Much of the flow is lost on the way to the houses.

On the other hand, in many localities it is still irrigated with drinking water, with the consequent expense of it. In others, it has begun to be done with treated wastewater, saving valuable water resources.

Lack of awareness

People, as individual entities, also have to waste more water than necessary in their homes. From poorly closed taps to taking baths instead of showers. For many years, there have been simple tips to save water at home.

However, some experts, without underestimating the need for public awareness, point out that too much emphasis is often placed on these behaviors and little on reforms in industries or crops. For them, these activities, which waste much more water, should be the most watched to avoid it.

Problems it causes

Human aspect

Water is the fundamental element for life. The difference in being able to access a quantity of quality water is reflected in food security, energy, health and the environment.

The waste of water has, therefore, a serious impact on humans. First, and most basic, the shortage of drinking causes death in many affected people.

In addition, this shortage means that many have to resort to using contaminated tanks. The infectious diseases that this entails are a major cause of mortality throughout the world. In fact, 80% of ailments in developing countries are due to this cause.

Economic aspect

The waste of water, and its consequent scarcity, is also a great economic problem. As noted, both agriculture and industry need large quantities to function productively.

The data indicate that 90% of economic activities require the use of this element.

Environmental aspect

The problem also affects, and very seriously, the environment. The form water is one of the bases on which the different ecosystems rest, so its waste affects all natural environments.

To try to alleviate some of these problems, an attempt has been made to create a network of desalination plants that collect water from the sea to make them drinkable. So far, however, it is an expensive and unsustainable system.

References

1. Act. Waste of water in cities. Obtained from sustainability.com
2. United Nations. Water. Retrieved from un.org
3. Excelsior drafting. The water situation in the world. Obtained from excelsior.com.mx
4. World Wide Fund For Nature. Environmental own goals: Wasting water. Retrieved from wwf.panda.org
5. Belson, Ken. Water Waste: Going, Going… Retrieved from nytimes.com
6. Hadhazy, Adam. Top 10 Water Wasters: From Washing Dishes to Watering the Desert. Retrieved from scientificamerican.com
7. Wired Staff. Farms waste much of the world's water. Retrieved from wired.com