5.7C Pressure on water resources

• • The finite water resource faces increasing pressure 

  
• Population growth affecting water:

  • Each person requires about 2 litres of clean drinking water a day to remain in good health
  • In addition 18 litres per person is needed for things like sanitation and cooking
  • As well as an increase in domestic water demand, population growth also increases the use of water for:
  • Energy production
  • Agriculture
  • Industry
• Economic development affecting water:

  • People have more items which use water such as dishwashers, toilets and showers
  • Industry increases and factories use large quantities of water
  • Intensive agriculture is needed as people eat more food, and irrigation systems use large quantities of water
  • As more people move to urban areas the demand for water for drinking and sanitation increases
• The future and water stress:

  • The UN predicts that 5 billion people or two thirds of the world population will face at least one month a year of water shortages
  • The future shortages will be the result of:
  • Climate change
  • Increased demand
  • Pollution 
  • By 2040 Chile, Estonia, Namibia, and Botswana could face a significant increase in water stress