Challenges to Integrated Water Resources Management

Question 1

What are the main challenges to water security?

Answer 1

1. Water related disasters: drought, flooding
2. Water and sanitation: drinking water, water pollution and human health
3. Water for energy: hydro-electricity
4. Water for ecosystems: quality and quantity
5. Water for food production
6. Water related migration and conflicts

Question 2

What are the main issues with water supply and demand?

Answer 2

• Demand > supply
• When supply is low (drought), demand is even higher - domestic and agriculture

Question 3

What are the global water resources and how are these affected by climate change?

Question 4

What are the major water related disasters and diseases that affect people?

Answer 4

Water security is related to three water-related challenges: water scarcity (too little water), water
pollution (dirty water) and flood risk (too much water).

Drought (info on drought flash card)

Flooding
- Heavy rains causing flood
- Sea flood: inundation from the sea
- Increase in potential risk
> Climate change (more extreme rainfall)
> Increase in surface area of delta, coastal areas and river systems
> Mega-cities: expansion of the urban fabric
> Slums often located in risky areas (flood-prone, landslides, close to sea…); unequal
within the city
- Unequal distribution of people at risk, more in global south

Question 5

Discuss the different types of drought

Answer 5

• Meteorological drought = less than average precipitation.
• Agricultural drought = evapotranspiration > precipitation, rootzone is too dry for crops
• Hydrological drought = water reserves in aquifers and surface sources fall or are too low for normal extraction
• Ecological drought
• Prolonged drought leads to
  desertification

Question 6

What is meant by “more crop per drop” and how can this objective be realised?

Answer 6

Definition: increasing productivity per unit of water.

Improved water management may increase crop yield by:
- Drip irrigation system: water is allowed to drop slowly to the roots of plants either from
above the soil or buried below the surface.
- Sprinkler irrigation system: water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by
pumping. It is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers.

These irrigation systems are important since they enhance saving of water due to:
- Deficit irrigation
- Scheduling (Most important factor)
- Technology improvement

Question 7

Discuss water and sanitation in terms of safety for humans and environment.

Answer 7

• Sanitation/ toilets = safer for people as it reduces the spread of disease. However without adequate treatment it is bad for the environment/ecosystems -> the waste discharges into water systems and bacteria digest it leading to low oxygen content and eutrophication = bad for aquatic life
• Also increase in nutrient loading to coastal waters leads to algal blooms
• Untreated wastewater can lead to contamination of drinking water sources = bad for humans

Question 8

What are the challenges with water for energy? (hydropower, energy crops, …)

Answer 8

-Global demand for energy (esp renewable energy) = more hydropower and energy crops
- Lots of planned hydropower in amazon and congo river basin
- Dams displace people, disrupt flow of sediment + nutrients and migration of fish
- If we want to preserve ecological quality we often lose power potential - trade off
- Also using land, water for producing energy crops instead of food when there are food shortages

Question 9

How can water resources management help improve ecological quality and aquatic ecosystems?

Answer 9

• Restoration of wetlands
• Utilizing natural ecosystems for coastal and river flood protection
• Reuse of nutrients and improvement in wastewater treatment
• Application of ecological criteria for location + management of hydropower
• More efficient use of water and nutrients for agriculture