Global climate change has been a force influencing natural and biological processes throughout the globe. Unfortunately, human interaction with the environment has been adding serious problems, specifically pollution and excessive consumption of natural resources. As both human interaction and global climate change continue to proceed without efficient regulation, the future generations are likely to face catastrophic events.
According to Fiona Harvey (2013), an environment correspondent from the Guardian, water experts believe that the global water systems are likely to reach a critical point which could result to irreversible changes with consequences that are potentially catastrophic. Harvey claims that fresh water must not be viewed as an endless renewable resource. Most of the communities worldwide are pumping water out from the underground sources at a rate such that it would take several lifetimes to restore the same amount of water. Harvey (2013) also added that about 4.5 billion people are living within 50 kilometers of water sources that are either running dry or polluted. If this threat would continue, eventually the water would not be enough for the population, or so filthy that it cannot support life.
The news article states that within two generations, there would be water shortage due to continuing global climate change, excessive consumption of water by the human population, and pollution by human interaction with the environment. Needless to say, regulations and laws must be imposed such that the threat on water shortage would no longer exist. Although the issue might be difficult to confront head-on, as long as the evidences of the impending water shortage exist, the issue must acquire full public attention.
According to the Observer editorial from the Guardian (2015), the threat of water shortage must be politically addressed. Laws and regulations must be imposed so reduce or counter the issue of water shortage. For example, the state of California has raised mandatory water restrictions focused primarily at urban populations. At Ireland, water tax has been proposed and is going to be implemented this month regardless of the protests. In São Paulo, widespread rationing has been in effect in a state of 41 million people due to lack of water. Moreover, water shortages in cities where electricity if hydro-powered suggests electricity shortages.
The water shortage, as viewed by UNESCO, would continue to progress without any sign of abating if countries would not dramatically change their water consumption. The water shortage would cause war and major migration while global water demand would skyrocket as population increases. Furthermore, diet changes would be critical to water demand.
Although it is safe to assume that laws and regulations would slow the speed of the impending water shortage, science and technology must also address this issue. For example, according to Investigacion y Desarrollo (2015), purifying sea and wastewater can be achieved in just two-and-a-half minutes via the System PQUA. The System PQUA is a specialized methodology of water purification using a mixture of dissociating elements that are capable of separating and removing all contaminants, including organic and inorganic pollutants. Furthermore, the process does not introduce gases, odors nor toxic elements. The researchers have made 50 tests on various types of wastewater at the Mexican Accreditation Agency. The Monterey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, the National Polytechnic Institute, and the College of Mexico have validated all the treated water qualifies the SSA NOM 127 standard, the standard stating that the liquid could be consumed.
Indeed, the issue on water shortage is true. It must be addressed politically to reduce or abate the impending thread. Moreover, science and technology must progress towards ideas that could help solve the issue of water shortage.
References
Harvey, Fiona. (24 May 2013). "Global majority faces water shortages 'within two generations'." the Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/may/24/globalmajoritywatershortagestwogenerations
Investigación y Desarrollo. (201 5, April 1 7). Engineers purify sea and wastewater in 2.5 minutes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150417085212.htm
Observer editorial. (5 April 2015). "The Observer view on water as a global political issue." the Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/05/observerviewonglobalwatershortage
