WATER IS A DEPLETING RESOURCE THAT MUST BE PROTECTED

In the future, it is feared that the planet will face a water shortage.

Billions of people may face water scarcity in the future. To date, some people already live in areas where the water demand exceeds its supply.

The question is who is to blame and how to mitigate this depletion of water and protect this essential natural resource as best we can.

Climate change and excessive water consumption are to blame. Now that we are fully aware of everyone’s responsibility, from the individual to the corporate and political level, what can we do to protect this depleting resource?

1. REDUCE WATER WASTE

The challenge of water scarcity is not limited to climate change. Despite increasing pressure on water resources, extensive, unsustainable and inefficient water consumption is growing at twice the rate of the overall world population. One approach to the problem is to invest fully in water-saving technologies.

Demand-side measures should be preferred to simply increase water supply, while supply-side measures should be considered only after exhausting the possibilities of more efficient water use, better demand management, and educational measures.

Long-distance water transfers should not be the solution to water scarcity, and the issue of transboundary transfers should be strictly the responsibility of each member state.

2. INFORM, EDUCATE AND RAISE AWARENESS

Given the magnitude of the problem, there is a significant lack of information and a real awareness campaign.

From the values inculcated by the family, from nursery school to corporate training, there is an urgent need to raise awareness of priority areas for action.

Providing the public with targeted information on water consumption and sustainable water management practices is a good start.

3. PROTECT AND RESTORE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS

By protecting aquatic environments, you participate in the restoration of ecological continuity, renaturation, and restoration and maintenance of aquatic environments. Moreover, it integrates the restoration or conservation of biodiversity for a synergy between water and biodiversity and a better resilience of territories to climate change thus reducing water depletion.

4. BRING THE ISSUE OF WATER DEPLETION TO THE POLITICAL TABLE

Water depletion is a global issue that needs to be addressed at a higher level, i.e. the political level. While individual actions are encouraged and do make a difference, the political levels (national, regional and local) should be involved in the process as they have the power to create a greater impact and more importantly to make things happen in terms of infrastructure and financial actions to address water scarcity.

Finally, the problem of water scarcity and drought has international implications. There are already many international conflicts related to water and the risk of their multiplication is growing. A broader approach to the depletion of water resources is needed.

5. SAVE AND REUSE WATER

At the individual level, reduce water consumption and recover rainwater for example. Then, fight against leaks by mapping, monitoring, maintaining and renewing drinking water networks and you can also set up water resource management plans.

At the economic and industrial level, one solution is to map water uses and make them more efficient in production processes. Industries could reduce water withdrawals and also reuse rainwater.

At the agricultural level, reduce irrigation requirements by adapting varieties and cropping patterns. Instead, optimize irrigation systems and turn to more sustainable farming practices.

If water is renewed thanks to the water cycle, climate change and the acceleration of human consumption are increasingly depleting the exploitable quantity!

Some regions of the world have unequal access to water, and the higher the standard of living, the greater the consumption.

It could become dramatically scarce for part of the world’s population if no urgent measures are implemented.

Inform yourself and, in turn, inform, educate and encourage those around you to adopt eco-responsible practices to protect water, a resource that is running out.

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