Inefficient use of water methods

Drought happens when an area or region experiences below-normal precipitation. It is the lack of rain, and this lack of
rain causes the land to reduce soil moisture or groundwater, diminished stream flow, crop damage, and a general water
shortage. (Drought, n.d.)

Figure 1

Cause: Effect: Solution:

Water Shortage Water Recycling
Water demand
Wildfires Staying on top of water
Natural Causes
Hunger quality
Global Warming
Crop Loss
Diseases

Cause:

1. Water demand - Often, drought occurs when water demand exceeds supply. As the population booms and
agriculture requires more and more water, the scales begin to tip.
2. Natural causes - Droughts have occurred throughout human history, often triggered by natural phenomena such
as shifting weather patterns. These cyclical patterns change the amount of moisture and heat in the air, the
earth, and the ocean.
3. Global Warming - Warming climates caused by carbon emissions lead to wetter and drier regions in the extreme.
In wetter areas, the humidity means that the air absorbs more water, and more rainfall occurs. In drier areas,
water evaporates faster, leading to less rainfall and parched earth.

Effect:

1. Water Shortage - Warmer temperatures mean that moisture in the soil evaporates faster, and more frequent
and severe heat waves exacerbate drought conditions and contribute to water shortages.
2. Wildfires - The low moisture and precipitation that often characterize droughts can quickly create hazardous
conditions in forests and across rangelands, setting the stage for wildfires that may cause injuries or deaths as
well as extensive damage to property and already shrinking food supplies
3. Hunger - Drought conditions often provide too little water to support food crops through natural precipitation or
irrigation using reserve water supplies.
4. Crop Loss - Decreased precipitation reduces crop and forage growth and can ultimately result in crop loss
5. Diseases - Drought often creates a lack of clean water for drinking, public sanitation, and personal hygiene,
which can lead to a wide range of life-threatening diseases.

Solution:

1. Water recycling - treating rainwater and even wastewater for irrigation and industry and replenishing
groundwater supply.
2. Staying on top of water quality - monitoring water quality to protect aquifers and other water sources and to
assess the impacts of flooding.

Automated Sprinkler Irrigation System

The automated Sprinkler Irrigation System is designed to automatically irrigate crops and lands for the system's
operation with no or just a minimum of manual intervention besides surveillance. Almost every system (drip, sprinkler,
surface) can be automated with the help of timers, sensors, computers, or mechanical appliances. It makes irrigation
more efficient, and workers can concentrate on other essential farming tasks. On the other hand, such a system can be
expensive and very complex in its design and may need experts to plan and implement it. (Soil Moisture Sensors for
Irrigation Scheduling, n.d.)
 Water Barrel

Water barrels are famous for long-term water storage; these containers vary in size, color, shape, versatility, and
quality. Water barrels are designed to hold water for a long time, often used for irrigation because they keep the water
from contamination for a very long time.

Garden Hose

As the name implies, garden hoses are commonly used to transport water for gardening, lawn care, and other
landscaping purposes. They are also used for outdoor cleaning items such as vehicles, equipment, building exteriors, and
animals.

Irrigation Sprinkler

Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water similar to natural rainfall. Water is distributed
through a system of pipes, usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers so that it breaks into tiny
water drops falling to the ground.

Soil Moisture Sensor

Soil moisture sensors measure or estimate the amount of water in the soil. These sensors can be stationary or
portable, such as handheld probes. Static sensors are placed at predetermined locations and depths in the field, whereas
mobile soil moisture probes can measure soil moisture at several locations.

Water Barrel

Garden Hose Irrigation

Sprinkler

Soil Moisture
Sensor

References

Drought. (n.d.). National Geographic. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/drought/

Peacock, C. (2023, August 1). What causes droughts & Why do they lead to floods? Aquaread.

https://www.aquaread.com/blog/what-causes-droughts-and-flooding/

West, L. (2019, March 17). The effects of drought. LiveAbout. https://www.liveabout.com/effects-of-drought-

1203684

Spuhler D., Stauffer, B. (n.d.). Automatic irrigation. SSWM - Find Tools for Sustainable Sanitation and Water

Management! https://sswm.info/sswm-university-course/module-4-sustainable-water-supply/further-

resources-water-use/automatic-irrigation
Soil moisture sensors for irrigation scheduling. (n.d.). UMN Extension.

https://extension.umn.edu/irrigation/soil-moisture-sensors-irrigation-scheduling