The prospect of unconventional water sources is becoming an increasingly pertinent topic in the face of global water scarcity. According to a new book compiled by experts at the United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), these unconventional sources could play a crucial part in addressing the world’s growing freshwater demand.
Understanding Unconventional Water Sources
So, what exactly are unconventional water sources? These include methods such as cloud-seeding, fog harvesting, micro-catchment rainwater harvesting, usage of icebergs, ballast water, municipal wastewater, drainage water, and brackish water.
Cloud-seeding technology can potentially increase precipitation up to 15% of the annual norm. Meanwhile, fog harvesting systems collect moisture in fog using rocks, flora, or mesh nets, offering a yield within 20 litres per square metre per day for a decade. However, these technologies require further research on their variability across different geographical areas.
Icebergs and Ballast Water
Icebergs have also been studied as a large potential source of freshwater. As climate change causes polar ice caps to melt and break, plans to “tow” them to countries facing water shortages have been proposed. Additionally, ballast water, which is either freshwater or saltwater contained in ships’ tanks for stability during journeys, offers another transportable resource. This water needs to be desalinated to render it usable for public water supply and irrigation.
Utilizing Wastewater and Drainage Water
Municipal wastewater treatment, already in practice in several countries, offers a significant source of water for agriculture. Similarly, while drainage water used in irrigation has high salinity, it too shows potential for reuse with careful management. The promotion of salt-resistant crops could mitigate this issue.
Brackish Water Resource
Continental shelves contain an estimated 5 million cubic km brackish water and 300,000-500,000 cubic km freshwater within sedimentary deposits. The development of these resources is currently ongoing in countries in West Asia, Africa, Europe, and the US.
Current State of Global Water Scarcity
Out of all the world’s water, only 3% is freshwater, with two-thirds of that locked in frozen glaciers or otherwise inaccessible. With 87 countries projected to become water-scarce by 2050, one in four humans on earth faces a shortage of water for vital needs like drinking, sanitation, agriculture, and economic development.
India’s Water Crisis
India, home to 16% of the world’s population, only possesses 4% of global freshwater resources. As per the Central Ground Water Board data from 2017, 256 out of 700 districts have reported ‘critical’ or ‘overexploited’ groundwater levels. The country is currently the largest extractor of global groundwater, leading to significant contamination and pollution of water sources.
To combat this crisis, India has launched several initiatives including Jal Kranti Abhiyan, National Water Mission, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, NITI Aayog Composite Water Management Index, Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and Atal Bhujal Yojana.
Recommendations for Utilization of Unconventional Waters
Experts recommend promoting further research on unconventional water resources, ensuring they provide environmental benefits, positioning them as reliable sources in uncertain times, and supporting multidimensional approaches such as addressing water scarcity and climate change simultaneously.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Question Analysis
The article concludes with an analysis of a UPSC Civil Services Examination question related to the National Water Mission. The mission looks at water conservation, reducing wastage, ensuring equitable distribution and capacity building in areas like water resources management, exploring new sources, desalinization and recycling of water.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024