Reservoirs
One of the solutions, although rather palliative, is the construction of reservoirs. The 20th century was a breakthrough in this regard. Over the past 50-70 years, the number of reservoirs has increased tenfold. Over these years, an average of two reservoirs were put into operation every day. In total, more than 60,000 reservoirs have been created in the world, the total volume of which (6,500 cubic km) is 3.5 times greater than the one-time volume of water in all the rivers of the globe.
New technologies for salt water desalination and wastewater treatment
The world leader in this regard is Israel, where up to 70% of dirty water is treated. A significant share of the total number of water treatment facilities is in the oil refining industry. Saudi Arabia, which is one of the main oil producers in the world and at the same time a champion in water consumption per capita, produces 5.5 million cubic meters daily. m of drinking water, but for this it is necessary to burn about 350,000 barrels of oil. Let us remember that to produce 1 barrel of oil, 159 liters of water are required.
Alternative solutions
Some absolutely fantastic ideas are being put forward, for example, the idea of influencing rain clouds to regulate water exchange or using fog to extract water condensate from it.
The extraction of fresh water from icebergs and glaciers is also discussed. But besides the fact that at the moment this is technically not feasible, it is unknown what consequences such projects could have on the ecology of the planet. But global problems are called global because one way or another, directly or indirectly, they affect all inhabitants of the planet without exception. Therefore, countries that are not experiencing water shortages today should remember that sooner or later they may face the devastating consequences of this problem in other countries located near and even far abroad.
Blend smart water management with climate change policies.
Climate change is affecting rainfall patterns, aquatic habitats and the availability of good quality water. At the same time, peatlands and other watery carbon warehouses are being degraded, causing planet-warming emissions to spike and compounding climate change. To manage this destructive feedback loop, countries must emphasize the protection and restoration of carbon sinks
In Kenya, Margaret, 45, operates a pedal pump to irrigate her field with help from Isaac.
Their community benefits from a borehole, pipeline, and water kiosk system World Vision installed in 2013. Before the water system, she made a meager living by farming a half-acre field; now she grows lush crops on six acres. World Vision is the leading humanitarian provider of clean drinking water in the developing world. In 2018, more than 4 million people received clean water thanks to World Vision projects. That's one new person every 10 seconds. More than 700 World Vision water, sanitation and hygiene experts work together to create long-term solutions.
Track water quality.
Often, water is plentiful but is too polluted to be useful for drinking, manufacturing or recreation. Measuring water quality can help policymakers prioritize actions to clean up water sources. This evaluation can be complemented by satellite data, artificial intelligence and even citizen science. UNEP’s Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer provides decision-makers with water quality data, helping to spur action to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems.
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