As we welcome the dawn of the Asian century, cities like Tokyo, Shanghai, and Delhi stand at the helm, boasting of the largest economies and populations in the world. However, these global mega-cities are grappling with a serious issue – water scarcity. The urban water security in these cities has been found to be steadily declining according to recent findings by scientists in Southeast Asia.
The Underlying Challenges
Among the key issues impacting water security are the shortage of freshwater resources, low water efficiency, and urban pollution. In Asia, there is half the quantity of globally available freshwater. Despite using large amounts of water in agriculture, low efficiency and productivity result in poor crop yields. The problem of water scarcity is further aggravated by unchecked industrial activities and the resultant pollution due to waste discharges into water bodies. Additionally, the consequences of climate change such as extreme weather events further exacerbate the situation.
A Case Study: Challenges in Bangkok, Hanoi, and Madaba
In cities like Bangkok, over-exploitation has reduced groundwater levels and led to subsidence issues. Pollution from direct sewage discharge and inadequate drainage coupled with natural susceptibility to floods compounds the water security problems in the city. A similar case is seen in Hanoi, which is witnessing rapid GDP growth. This growth has led to significant environmental damage reflected in the city’s polluted lakes and rivers due to residential and industrial wastewater discharge. Meanwhile, in the water-scarce city of Madaba in Jordan, residents often have to rely on alternative sources like large tanks or private vendors due to inconsistent supplies.
Policy Interventions and Technological Solutions
The severity of the existing challenges demands proactive policy interventions and technological advancements. Measures like the integrated urban water security assessment framework can be employed to evaluate a city’s overall water situation and the factors influencing it. Innovations like WATSAT, a web-based water security assessment tool developed by Thailand’s Asian Institute of Technology, can assess five aspects of urban water security, including water supply, sanitation, productivity, environment, and governance.
Embracing Local Solutions
Adopting local solutions tailored to the specific needs and context of a city can greatly enhance water management. For instance, Bangkok has encouraged household-level wastewater treatment before its release into public water bodies by offering incentives. The city also plans to regulate water chemical properties and improve cleanliness under its Bangkok Vision 2032 program. Jordan too is planning to supplement water supplies by building decentralized infrastructures such as rainwater harvesting or wastewater treatment facilities.
Planning and Implementation Strategies
It is imperative that strategies to combat water scarcity are effectively planned and implemented. Paramount to these strategies is reducing water losses due to leaks, which can also increase productivity. Other measures include installing metering devices to check unauthorized usage, monitoring systems for early detection of issues, and prioritizing allocation of water for repairing ecosystems. By doing so, the cities will not only be enhancing financial sustainability through water tariffs but also preserving crucial ecosystems like forests, marshes, and rivers. Embracing such nature-based solutions will play an instrumental role in addressing water security challenges in Asian cities.