Climate Change Conference has enlightened the agenda of the security of water. Water is a natural resource that covers 71% surface of the earth. Nature, people, other lives, and livelihoods are dependent on water resources. The Climate Change Conference has focused on several schemes that may take financial investment but they will give solutions for the fresh water restoration.
There is a need to think about the ways for water conservation and ways to develop infrastructure for urban water stability. It may require integrated governance to manage the water-food system. This is very important for the sustainable approach to water security.
The process of water conservation and food management is not simple. There are many challenges in this path. One of the issues in water conservation is that the solution to the water problem requires local efforts and efforts based on regions. It needs customized solutions related to particular geography and climate. Socioeconomic factor also impacts the solution to the water problem. The region of Rajasthan needs more attention.
Another challenge in the path is to provide water to rural homes. As per the facts, only 65.5% of rural homes have the facility of drinking water in India. The govt is aiming to achieve 100% availability of fresh water in each home by 2030.
Public-Private Partnerships for the Way Forward
If we want to achieve sustainable solutions for water management, we need Public-private partnerships. It requires a bridge between public needs and private invention. The Indian govt can think of collaborating with private companies to develop cutting-edge technologies for better solutions.
Another requirement for water security is funding. As per the Asian Development Bank, The region of Asia and Pacific needed a fund of $53 billion per year for water security until 2030. From this amount, the private sector will provide 33% of this fund.
Here, the need is for good water governance so that the public and private efforts will lead to fund management. Public companies should be prepared for the projects and subsidies for effective fiscal management.
The Corporate Social Responsibility bill passed by the Indian govt has mandated the companies to provide 2% of their profits for social problems such as water conservation. The companies are motivated to invest in the development of water infrastructure and to implement water conservation strategies.
For water security, the Public and Private Partnership will be effective from all perspectives. They can collaborate to develop models for possible solutions for water security. The focus on water conservation will lead toward sustainability and social welfare.
Innovations for Water Security
For safe water availability, innovative technologies are the main solution. Now, the problem can not be solved with the help of traditional water sources. We need atmospheric water generators. Modern technology can enable us to extract water from humid air. It will act as the game changer for the regions where clean water is not present.
Example of Innovation
Majik Water is a startup company in Kenya that uses the concept of condensation and solar thermal energy for the generation of clean and safe water from the air.
Another innovation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States has developed a desalination unit that removes salt and other particles from water. The machine is the size of a suitcase and due to the portable nature of the machine, it can be taken anywhere. The machine does not take more power, it is just like how we charge our phones.
Oneka, a company from Canada has developed a machine that uses ocean waves to desalinate the water. This technology provides water without using electricity and there are no greenhouse gas emissions.
Policies for a Water-Secure Future
We can not depend only on public-private partnerships or innovation. There is a need to develop water-conscious policies from time to time. The policies will decide how water will be used and charged from time to time. The focus is required for Agriculture as most of the water consumption is in agriculture. The policies must be related to the use of water in agriculture. Currently, Agriculture consumes 70% of global fresh water and the other 30% is consumed by industry & local municipalities.
The crops like rice, wheat, and sugarcane require most of the water for irrigation. These crops cover 80% of the total water consumption. And this 80% of water covers only 40% of agricultural land in India. The National Water Policy 2020 of India has shifted the way water is used in agriculture. The water will be charged based on volume and season. It will motivate the farmers to use water efficiently.
The Kilimo company has offered a solution for water security. They have given the concept of a digital irrigation platform that uses big data and machine learning technology in water irrigation. These technologies will monitor the wastage of water and provide remote control technologies to reduce water consumption by stopping the pump.
Mitigating Challenges Across Sectors
The need for innovative steps for water security shows that we strictly need measures to conserve water. We can use water implementation techniques like those given below.
- Water harvesting
- Desalination with renewable energy
- Water reuse
- Smart water management
- Conserving and restoring freshwater ecosystems
- Improving Urban Water Resilience
- Maintaining water-resilient food systems
We need to give attention to the water risks and ways to mitigate the risks. We need to think from agriculture to disaster prevention. This is a serious problem and if we do not want the crisis in 2050, strict strategies are needed to be implemented now. Here, the power of collaboration from each sector will work such as agriculture, home, municipality, and industry. All of these have to work as one organization that opts for water security procedures daily.
FAQ
Why is water security important?
Water is a resource that without water we can’t survive. Water is used in industry, agriculture for food, and in our homes.
What are the methods of water security?
We can use many ways for water security. The list is given down.
- Science and engineering approaches
- Financial and economic tools
- Management tools such as demand caps