A water strait refers to the natural and navigable waterway that connects to large water bodies. It is mainly known as a water channel lying between two land masses, which may not be navigable. The navigability of the water body may be following its depth. At the current age, water is a highly sensitive issue that requires proper management. The governments, individuals, as well as organizations are extremely concerned about the water management and handling. The changes in climatic patterns and conditions may be major contributors to the excessive concern on the water with emphasis on the water bodies. Water straits are considered major elements on the subject of water conservation. Various researchers and authors such as Bellamy, Dehghani, Masson, McDermott, and Zakaras have participated in the execution of the significance of water straits.
The water straits concern different people. As an element dealing with the environment, it attracts the attention of the government in concern for the welfare of the people. It is the duty of the government to ensure proper management of water through the management of the water bodies. The individuals also require assurance for the conservation of water. They need to be sure that they will have enough supply of water when they require it (Masson 02). In general, water is recognized as major commodity required for the navigation of the society in the proper management of the environment.
In consideration of the merits of water straits, it is arguable that the straits are forms of water conservation. The demand for water is likely to remain the same all the time. It means water demand will not change with seasons like during rainy days or sunny days. There will be constant flow for the needs of the water. At some point, the demand may go up as the population continues to grow (Masson 09). As such, the water straits may serve as water reservations to save the world, when more water is required. For example, the Carquinez Strait in California would be highly useful in water reservation to save the region in case of drought.
However, the reservation may not be voluntary since proper plan may not have been established to make the straits. The water straits are usually naturally formed, and it may be extremely hard to define the merits that come with the water body. The natural reservation is a unique way of nature to adapt to proper management of the water for the satisfaction of future needs of water (McDermott 01).
The other merit of the water straits is that they are not likely to dry fast. Such water bodies may exist for exceedingly long time since they are in a midst of two large water bodies. They are likely to have water for a long time since the supply for their water is from two sources. During the proper flow of the water, they offer free flow of water, which enables the water to remain fresh for a long time (Masson 12). As such, the water may be reliable for domestic purposes.
Also, the water straits are less risky compared to other water bodies. Since the straits are small, they are easy to develop and use for domestic purposes (Zakaras 01). Individuals can easily use the straits for personal purposes like piping water for domestic use. Such water may also be highly useful for agricultural purposes. The water straits are exceedingly useful in situations where the demand for water for agricultural and domestic purposes is high in a midst of large water bodies (Bellamy 54).
However, there are demerits that come with the existence of the water straits. There are some dysfunctional elements that would be contributed to water straits upon their existence. As a form of a water body, the water strait may attract some demerits, which may be challenging to the government as well as citizens who are the consumers of the water. The challenges may be extensively damaging to the relevance of water in the society.
The first demerit is that the water straits may contribute to the wastage of water. At some point, the water straits may get more water from one water body for the benefit of the other. It means the supply of water in one region may go down while it rises in another region. As such, the population in the drained region may have to cope with a low supply of water, which may be extremely challenging to the wellbeing of the society. For example, the Lake Lanier water straits in Georgia may have contributed to the low levels of waters in the region (McDermott 01).The straits hold a lot of water, which may deny normal supply of water in the major water bodies denying proper flow of water.
The second disadvantage is that the water strait may influence the wellbeing of the people in a certain region. The neighboring governments are likely to engage in quarrels following the changing levels of water in the water bodies. The governments may be concerned of the situations where the ownership of the water strait is not predetermined. If there are no proper geographical boundaries to tell who owns the water strait, a tag of war may arise as the government may arise in the claim for the water strait (Bellamy 67). Such conflicts may make the water straits useless as they may not benefit any person.
Since water straits are associated with the drainage of water from the large water bodies, they may affect the supply of the water to the public. If a water body has several water straits, they will affect the water levels in the main water body. A lot of water will be held in the water straits, which may not benefit the people in any way (Dehghani 182). The water in the straits may not be essentially useful to the public as it may not reachable or may not relevant for human consumption.
The shortage of water in the large water bodies may be a major cause for drought. Water is highly relevant for agricultural purposes, but water straits may affect the supply of the water leading to improper supply for agricultural purposes. The conflict that may exist as different people claim the ownership of the water straits may prevent usefulness of the water for agricultural purposes (Zakaras 01). The conflict may deny the usefulness of the water since there will not be proper management of the water sources. Such straits in California have been among the main causes of the drought in the region.
Also, if the water does not have an exit in the straits, it may become harmful for consumption. The water may get stale and unfit for use for domestic or agricultural purposes. Such water may be a threat to the wellbeing of the consumers. People are not assured of the safety of such water as it may cause major diseases (Dehghani 187). Such water may contain harmful metals and other elements, which may affect the health of the consumers. The water is harmful for human consumption as it may cause major threat to the health of an individual.
Water straits will remain a major concern if the necessary measures to govern them are not employed. The governments must be careful on how they handle the water straits to avoid conflicts. Also, the management of the water straits must be through consideration of the merits and demerits of the water bodies. Individuals must be assured of the safety of the water for either domestic or agricultural purposes. Equal rights to the water straits should be offered to the owners of the two water bodies contributing to the water strait. However, it will be recommendable to consider water strait as a reliable water conservation strategy. However, the water straits may cause some challenges as they are thought to contribute to harmful water in the straits. Also, the water straits may lead to drought following the fall in the water levels in normal water bodies. The water straits may also be a start of conflict between states.
Works Cited
Bellamy, Elizabeth J. Dire Straits. Toronto [Ont.]: University of Toronto Press, 2013. Print.
Dehghani, Mohsen. "Assessment Of Heavy Metals Concentration In Water And Sediments International Wetland Of Khuran Straits". IJSRES 3.5 (2015): 180-188. Web.
Masson, Diane. "Seasonal Water Mass Analysis For The Straits Of Juan De Fuca And Georgia".Atmosphere-Ocean 44.1 (2006): 1-15. Web.
McDermott, Mat. "Why Is Water Such A Big Issue? Global Water Challenge Pres. Paul Faeth Sets Us Straight (Part 1)". TreeHugger. N.p., 2009. Web. 30 June 2016. < http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/why-is-water-such-a-big-issue-global-water-challenge-pres-paul-faeth-sets-us-straight-part-1.html>
Zakaras, Michael. "Forbes Welcome". Forbes.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 30 June 2016. < http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2015/04/15/why-does-california-let-billions-of-gallons-of-fresh-water-flow-straight-into-the-ocean/#711002761975>
