Running Head: WATER SCARCITY

Methods for Reducing Water Scarcity

Edgar E. Solis
University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract
Planet Earth is running out of fresh water, which is essential for human life. The situation has
prompted scientists and researchers to find ways to minimize the global water scarcity. Through
deep research I have come across what are suggested to be the most prominent processes they are
using to deal with the problem. The implemented methods such as water effective irrigation
techniques as well as the process of Desalination and Waste-Water Treatment are deduced to be
the most widely used procedures.

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Methods for Reducing Water Scarcity

Like many things on Earth, water is not unlimited and it is becoming clear more and
more each day. Water scarcity is a problem that affects many under-developed nations but also
great powers such as the United States. (McGill University, 2014) With this in mind, scientists
and researchers have been working to find ways to reduce the problem of potable water scarcity
that is occurring in many parts of the world. Irrigation techniques as well as the process of
Desalination and Waste-Water Treatment are proving to be the leading methods in reducing water
scarcity on a global scale.
Of all the water found on earth, 3.5% is fresh water (Matt William, 2014), this precious
resource is slowly depleting at an alarming rate. Many factors have contributed to this problem
including overpopulation and abusive irrigation methods among other. (Tara Lohan, 2010) As a
result of this as many as 1.1 billion people around the world dont have access to potable water,
and some 2.7 billion face water stress at least a month a year. (World Wild Fund for Nature, n.d)
Fresh water is such an important resource for humans as we need it to survive, and therefore
scientists and researchers have taken note and began addressing the issue by elaborating different
methods to aid in the problem. One of the leading procedures is water efficient irrigation
methods.
Flood or furrow irrigation has been around for thousands of years and it is one the most
used methods for irrigating crops in the modern day. It is used in countries like United States as
well as under-developed countries. This is most likely due to it being a simple and inexpensive
way to water crops. In this procedure water is taken or pumped to the crop fields where it flows
among the floor where the crops are planted. (USGS, 2015) While its a cheap procedure, it is
not a water efficient method as the water cannot be reused. This is due to the fact that after the

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procedure is completed most of the water evaporates and transpires in the grounds. (USGS,
2015)
Water inefficiency has prompted many farmers to move from flood irrigation to much
more water efficient alternatives like Drip irrigation. Introduced in the 1930s by Simcha Blass,
Drip irrigation began to be adopted by people in the 1950s. (Alliance for Water Efficiency, n.d).
The process involves water moving through pipes with holes that are place along aisles of crops
or buried next to the plants roots. (USGS, 2015) This method is considered the most water
efficient as it minimizes evaporation and saves a fourth of the water being used. (USGS, 2015)
Since water is more widely dispersed, there is no need to over water certain parts of the crop
field to reach difficult parts of the grounds, thus saving water. (Clint Shock, 2014) Researchers
and scientists have also found ways to create fresh water such as through Desalination.
The Earths low levels of fresh water are running out while there is an abundance of salt
water on the planet. With so much more salt water to spare scientist have found a way to make
salt water drinkable through Desalination. The method which essentially involves removing the
excess of salt in salt-water to adapt it for human consumption and use. (USGS, 2015) The United
States as well as many other countries already have and are opening desalination plants such as
the Tampa Bay Sea Water Desalination Plant, located in Tampa, Florida. (USGS, 2015) The
Tampa Bay Plant, like many other desalination plants, use a process called Reverse Osmosis. The
procedure (pictured in figure .1) has High pressure forces th[at] pretreat water through semipermeable membranes to separate the freshwater, leaving twice-as-salty seawater and other
minerals behind. (Tampa Bay Water, n.d) There are different kinds of desalination plants around
the globe such as nuclear powered plants in Argentina, China and South Korea among others.
(Nuclear Energy Institute, n.d) These plants have more power to carry out the process at a larger

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scale and produce larger amounts of fresh water. Through desalination, more and more fresh
water is becoming available and minimizing the overall water scarcity around the world. Along
the same lines the treatment of waste-water has proven to be a leading method for minimizing
water scarcity.
Waste-water treatment is the process of
essentially cleaning water that has been
previously used or has been contaminated till
it is suitable for human consumption and or
use. (Amir Dakkak, 2015) Waste-water is
caused by many people such as families and
companies that throw waste, chemicals and
more into fresh water. This water than
Figure .1
becomes too polluted for it to be used again. (Dakkak, 2015) Through the implementation of
treatment plants, like East Bay Municipal Utility Districts wastewater treatment plant in
Oakland, California (figure .2), the water goes through various points to reduce or eliminate
suspended solids, Biodegradable organics, Pathogenic bacteria and harmful nutrient. (World
Bank Group, n.d) There are three stages to the treatment of waste water, Primary, Secondary, and
Tertiary. The Primary stage involves removing gross floating objects from sewage. The
Secondary stage deals with removing organic matter that was missed in the Primary stage. The
Tertiary stage is like additional treatment to the secondary stage, as it removes 99% of the
impurities of the waste-water. (World Bank Group, n.d) This process makes sure the water
becomes apt for humans to consume and use safely. Waste-water treatment essentially minimizes

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the need for people to use new fresh water as humans can keep using water they have previously
used.
Through the different processes they have implemented scientist and researchers have
come up with what are
the leading methods I
dealing with global
water scarcity. The
spread of drip
irrigation has allowed
farmers to use water
more efficiently,
effectively cutting the
Figure .2plants, the
amount of potable water that goes to waste. Through the use of desalination

abundance of salt water found on the planet can be converted into fresh water that is apt for
people to consume and use each day. The use of waste-water treatment has made water reusable
and allowed for the mass purification of water that is polluted or contaminated. Effectively
cleaning the water all three of the methods previously mention has contributed aid the problem
of global water scarcity. With these innovations scientists hope to minimize the damage cause by
the issue and reduce the rate at which the problem increases.

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References
Alliance for Water Efficiency. (n.d.). Drip and Micro-Spray Irrigation Introduction. Retrieved
April 09, 2016, from http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/Drip_and_MicroSpray_Irrigation_Introduction.aspx
Dakkak, A. (2015). Wastewater Treatment Process and its Benefits. Retrieved April 09, 2016,
from http://www.ecomena.org/wastewater-treatment/
Layfesky, M. (n.d.). Figure .2 [Photograph]. Oakland.
Lohan, T. (Ed.). (2010). Water matters: Why we need to act now to save our most critical
resource. San Francisco, CA: AlterNet Books.
McGill University. (2014, August 29). Reducing water scarcity possible by 2050. ScienceDaily.
Retrieved April 9, 2016 from
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140829115735.htm
Nuclear Energy Institute. (n.d.). Water Desalination. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from
http://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Other-Nuclear-Energy-Applications/WaterDesalination
Shiozaki, J. (2014). 10 Ways Farmers Are Saving Water | CUESA. Retrieved April 09, 2016,
from http://www.cuesa.org/article/10-ways-farmers-are-saving-water
Shock, C. (2014). An Introduction to Drip Irrigation. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from
http://cropinfo.net/water/dripIrrigation.php

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Figure .1 [Photograph]. (n.d.). Tampa In Tampa Bay Water (Author).

Tampa Bay Water. (n.d.). Water supply. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from
http://www.tampabaywater.org/tampa-bay-seawater-desalination-plant.aspx
USGS. (2015). Irrigation techniques. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/irmethods.html
USGS. (2015). Saline water: Desalination. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/drinkseawater.html
Williams, M. (2014). What Percent of Earth is Water? - Universe Today. Retrieved April 09,
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World Wide Fund for Nature. (n.d.). Water Scarcity. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from
http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity