Water

By Lisa, Genesis and

Kathy

A
D I M I N ISHI
RESOURCE

NG

vide
o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkNY78B2Jio&feature=related

The human right to

water entitles everyone to
sufficient, safe,
acceptable, physically
accessible and affordable
water for personal and
Title
domestic uses. An
adequate amount of safe
water is necessary to
prevent death from
dehydration, reduce the
risk of water-related
disease and provide for

Global
Facts
the reality is

more than one out of six people lack access to safe

drinking water;
1.1 billion people
more than two out of six lack adequate sanitation;
2.6 billion people
3900 children die every day from water-borne diseases
Up to half of humanity has one of these six main diseases
1. diarrhea
2. schistosomiasis
3.trachoma
4. infestation with ascaris
5. infestation with guinea worm
6. infestation with hookworm

Social Consequences Globally

China, with 1.26 billion people, "the water table is
dropping one meter per year due to over-pumping, and
the Chinese admit that 300 cities are running short.
In India, home to 1.002 billion people, key aquifers are
being over-pumped, and the soil is growing saltier
through contamination with irrigation water
Israel (population 6.2 million), invented many waterconserving technologies, but water withdrawals still
exceed resupply.
Egypt (population of 68 million), is irrigated by
seasonal floods from the Nile River, and from water
stored behind the Aswan High Dam. Any interference
with water flow by Sudan or Ethiopia could starve
Egypt.
Mexico City (home to 20 million people) is sinking
because the city sucks out underground water faster

Social Consequences (cont.)

More and more areas are becoming
unstable with regards to their water
resources
More and more people are dying
from thirst and water-borne
contaminants

Nations Historical
Background to the
Water Crisis
The 1950s drought severely impacted a 1.1millionkm2 area in the central

US. This drought, along with the famous 1930s drought, was among the
most severe of the 20th century for large areas and is the drought of record
for water supply planning in Texas.
The total annual dependable water supply in Texas is approximately 16.3

million acre-feet.
Texas has had an abundance of natural resources, although it has had some

cases of really severe drought.

95% of the united states fresh water is underground, and farmers in the

Texas High Plains pump groundwater faster than rain fills it, and the water
tables are dropping.

Politics
Over 50 percent of all water projects fail and less than 5 percent of

projects are revisited and far less than one percent are monitored.
New approaches to long-term water planning and management
that incorporate principles of sustainability and equity are required
and are now being explored by national and international water
experts and organizations.
Politicians have proposed many different methods to this major
topic, among these principles are guaranteed access to a basic
amount of water necessary to maintain human health and to
sustain ecosystems, basic protections for the renewability of water
resources, and institutional recommendations for planning,
management, and conflict resolution

Political Consequences (cont.)

W
A
R

Economic
For each one dollar invested in the World Health

Organization it is estimated that $3-$34 of services

are possible in developing countries depending on the
region and technology.

Economic Consequences of
diminishing water resources
Higher food prices at the
supermarket
Loss of businesses (old and new)
Higher cost for water on your utility
bill

Who Suffers?
Us humans of course no water, no life! The more

population the less water. As mentioned, about 1.1 billion

people lack access to clean water, and 2.6 billion do not
have access to improved sanitation facilities
Destruction of aquatic ecosystems and extinction of
species
Growing risks of regional and international conflicts over
scarce or shared water supplies
Businesses- (cost of water); both surface water and
groundwater in response to high market prices

Who Suffers ?

Millions of people worldwide

Agriculture
Ranchers
Businesses
Wildlife
YOU !!

Who benefits
economically?
Government and politicians
Less supply more demands which includes a high price

in markets

Who Benefits from Clean Water?

EVERYONE !!
If ever there was something that
people actually cant live without,
it is water.
Not just any water, but clean,
drinkable water.

What Conditions Help To Promote The Problem ?

Cant happen here mentality;

denial that
there is a problem
Population growth- coupled with
industrialization and urbanization
Climate change
Lack of environmental concern;
pollution
Lack of conservation; misuse

Map of the World showing

water scarcity

Top 10 largest cities by population that have the

greatest chance of running out of water
1. Los Angeles-major water supply Colorado River
Basin
2. Houston- Jasper Aquifer, Lake Houston, Lake
Conroe
3. Phoenix- Colorado River Basin
4. San Antonio, TX- Various groundwater sources
5. San Francisco bay areas- Various, including Lake
Hetch Hetchy
6. Fortworth, TX- Multiple water supplies
7. Las Vegas- Lake Mead/Colorado River
8. Tucson, AZ- Local groundwater
9. Atlanta- Lake Lanier
10. Orlando, FL- Florida Aquifer

Local Perspective
A Brief History of Water in San
Antonio.
Edwards Aquifer Authority
Established
Tom Gallier, Bx. Mets Interim Gen.
Mngr. said, There is no single land
issue that is more critical than
water.
Top 200 water users in June 2011

How Does the Aquifer Work

2011 Edwards Aquifer Authority

Water Recycling Treatment

Process

2011 San Antonio Water System: Recycling Process

SAWS Storage & Recovery

System

_______________________________________________________________________

Coming Soon Desalination Plant***

***

Possible Solutions
1st step to any solution is in getting
people to understand that there is a
problem
Need to work to keep the water we
do have clean; reduce contaminants

Possible Solutions
(cont.)!!!
Water conservation methods such as replacing existing toilets with

low-flow toilets
The use of grey water (all the waste water that drains out of your

washing machine and sinks), it can be easily treated and recycled.

Still more possible

solutions:
1. Hard path

- building of dams, pipelines & environmentallydestructive infrastructure

- government run and owned with no personal
ownership
2. Soft path
- Reuse of wastewater ~ storm runoff, gray water &
reclaimed wastewater are well-suited to irrigate
landscaping
- water agency or company personnel to interact
closely with water users & to engage community
groups in water management.
- governments, companies, & individuals to meet the
needs of peoples & businesses, instead of just
supplying water
3. Privately funded companies
4. Desalination - the removal of salt from salt water -would be the ultimate solution to water woes -- if it

CONSERVE
TO
PRESERVE
Individual Actions Matter

References

Anderson, T. L. (1983). Water crisis: Ending the policy drought. Retrieved

from
http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=5044922
BBC News. World Water Crisis . Retrieved from
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2000/world_water_cris
is/
default.stm
Burchett., Rettman., & Boning. (1986). Edwards aquifer. Retrieved from
http://libweb.lib.utsa.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/
19075288?accountid=7122
Griffin, R., & Boadu, F. (1992). Water marketing in texas: Opportunities for
reform. Retrieved from
http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.j
ournals/narj32&div=23&id=&page
Linscomb, Steve. (2011, Sept. 21). SAWS pouring millions into desalination
plant. Retrieved from
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/saws-pouring-millions-into-desalinati
on-plant/9
...

References (cont.)

Maclay, RW. (1995). Geology and hydrology of the Edwards aquifer in the
San Antonio area, Texas. Retrieved from google scholar website:
http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.pho?requester=gs&collection=EN
V&recid=3857...
Martinez, M. (2011). San Antonio Water Rights and Usage. Retrieved from
http://sanantonio.about.com/od/historyandlandmarks/a/waterrights.htm=
1
McDonald, Colin. (2011). A green lawn at any price. Retrieved from
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/environment/article/A-GREEN-LAWNAT-ANY-P
...
McDonald, Colin. (2011). BexarMet bets on getting water rights: Record
drought could choke utility. San Antonio Express-News, pp. A1, A12.
Pacific Institute. (2009). Global Water Crisis. Retrieved from
http://www.pacinst.org/topics/water_and_sustainability/global_water_crisis
/

References (cont.)

Postel, S. (2011, July 14). Conservation in San Antonio is Saving more than
Water. National Geographic Daily News. Retrieved from
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/07/14/conservation-in-sanantonio-is-savi...
SAWS.org. (2011). Twin Oaks Aquifer Storage & Recovery. Retrieved from
http://www.saws.org/our_water/waterresources/projects/asr.shtml
SAWS.org. (2011). Water Recycling Treatment Process. Retrieved from
http://www.saws.org/our_water/recycling/centers/treatment.shtml
Schaefer, M. (2008). Water technologies and the environment: Ramping up
by scaling down. (Vol. 30, pp. 3-4). UK: Elsevier Science, The Boulevard
Langford Lane Kidlington Oxford OX51GB UK. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.libweb.lib.utsa.edu/waterresources/docview
/20235078/132A3A6AA15173A2506/8?accountid-7122
Stockdale, C., Sauter, M., & McIntire, D. (2010, November 1). The ten
biggest american cities that are running out of water. Retrieved from
http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/111186/the-ten-biggestamerican-cities-that-are-running-out-of-water

References (cont.)

Tlc what is grey water. (2011, october 24). Retrieved from

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/grey-water.htm
United Nations Human Rights. (2011). International Human Rights
Law. Retrieved from
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/InternationalLaw.
aspx
Water Woes. (2001, APR 26). Wheres the water? Retrieved from
http://whyfiles.org/131fresh_water/index.html
World Water Availability. Retrieved from
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_maps/water_availability_1980_2
015.jpg
World Water Council. (2010). The Right to Water, a human right.
Retrieved from http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/index.php?id=1748

Questions
What would you suggest as a
possible solution for the equitable
distribution of the worlds water
resources?
What things can you as an individual
do to help preserve our worlds water
supplies?