More than a bit of a worry |
Today, Friday 22 March is World Water Day, a reminder anniversary set up by the United Nations in 1993. The 2024 theme is 'Water for Peace'. Here's what the opening of the World Water Day site says: 'Water can create peace or spark conflict. 'When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal, or no access, tensions can rise between communities and countries.' |
'As climate change impacts increase, and populations grow, there is an urgent need, within and between countries, to unite around protecting and conserving our most precious resource.'
Public health and prosperity, food and energy systems, economic productivity and environmental integrity all rely on a well-functioning and equitably managed water cycle.'
Water stress increasing
Climate change is exacerbating existing water stress and is already generating a measurable impact on the water cycle, altering the quantity, distribution, timing and quality of water. Moreover, a surge in water demand is unfolding due to new consumption patterns. Indeed, when discussing water, all sectors should be considered, ranging from agriculture to tech industries.
Critical issue
'“Countries across the globe will therefore need to be more creative in the way they manage, conserve and secure water sources in the years to come. Using unconventional water sources wisely, and in harmony with nature, will be essential for accelerated progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”'
A creative instance
'Drive down the dusty roads of Jamaica’s rural Mount Airy district and one will see dozens of black water tanks, many connected with drainpipes to the rooftops of neighbouring houses. The tanks measure two metres tall. They collect rainwater and through a drip irrigation system, channel it to nearby fields brimming with tomatoes, peppers and sweet potatoes. |
'“Everybody I know faces the same challenge of reduced rain and less predictable rainfall,” says farmer Althea Spencer. Having the rainwater harvesting system in place “feels pretty good,” she adds.'
Picture caption and credit: In Jamaica, farmers say newly installed drip irrigation systems are helping to fend off water shortages brought on by climate change. Photo: Thomas Gordon-Martin.
Another way
Infrastructure often a problem
'Nick told the meeting how Wellington region’s water infrastructure is ageing with many assets near or at the end of their operational lives. It’s a symptom of historical underinvestment and means Wellington has a large backlog of repair, maintenance and replacement. The more ageing assets that can be replaced now, the fewer issues we’ll see in the future. But this will be expensive. The investment advice that has gone to councils in metropolitan Wellington is for $7.6 billion over the next 10 years.'
I do hope my city will become one of those cities that becomes 'more creative in the way they manage, conserve and secure water sources in the years to come' – quoted above.
Many ways are being investigated
Many ways of relieving stress on water use are being trialled. Gaining water, such as fog, from the atmosphere; cleaning household waste water to make it fit for drinking; collecting water from foliage and the old trick of 'seeding the clouds' are all under experiment. I think that learning not to be so expansive in our personal water use might be one of the key answers at least in a country like mine where we use water very extravagantly. |
I only wish, that our doing something as simple as being more careful, would help the dry parts of Africa, where people, especially women and children, frequently have to walk for hours to fetch the drinking water they need to have, to live. □
Friday 22 March 2024
Welcome
to my blog !
I live
with my wife Marion
in Wellington
New Zealand.
I'm a father and grandfather.
I used to fish
I used to play croquet
I play lawn bowls - summer
I play indoor bowls - winter
I read.
I pray and meditate.
I write.
Categories
Please just click a label
All
Bits And Pieces
Books
Climate Change
Environment
Hate Terrorism War
Living
Music
Spirituality
Sport
Archives
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018