Top 19 Solutions to the Global Freshwater Crisis

Water for Humans is employing the latest technologies and working closely with local communities to bring fresh and safe drinking water to communities like the ones described in this important report. Water for Humans fully intends to leverage its expertise in creating sustainable clean-water solutions to under-served populations. We are also committed to convincing governments around the world that clean water is not a commodity to exploit but is a precious resource that must remain available to everyone.

1) Educate to Change Consumption and Lifestyles



In the end, changing the face of this crisis involves education to motivate new behaviors. Coping with the coming era of water scarcity will require major overhaul of all forms of consumption, from individual use to the supply chains of major corporations, like GE. Some regions led by India, Australia and the Southwest U.S., are already facing the freshwater crisis. The most critical task is making sure the problem is much better understood worldwide.



2. Invent New Water Conservation Technologies



In areas where aquifers are drying up and rainwater is increasingly unpredictable, innovation is needed. But as we attempt to cope with freshwater scarcity and develop conservation technologies, energy consumption is an important consideration.



3. Recycle Wastewater



In March, 2010, World Water Day panelists urged a new mindset for wastewater treatment. Some countries, like Singapore, are trying to recycle to cut water imports and become more self-sufficient. The rich East Asian republic is a leader in developing advanced technology that cleanses wastewater for other uses, including drinking.

4. Improve Irrigation and Agricultural Practices



Some 70 percent of the world’s freshwater is used for agriculture. Improving irrigation can help close supply and demand gaps. In certain cases profligate irrigation practices meant for an earlier era has weakened the ability of farmers to provide food and fiber to a growing world. Examples include the Murray-Darling basin in Australia, Central Asia’s Aral Sea, and the American Southwest. Although new technology has become an appealing solution, global water experts like Peter Gleick note that in some cases, such as the agricultural systems in California, success stories can happen by improving what’s already in place.

SOURCE: Circle of Blue WaterNews – Reporting the Global Water Crisis