5.9B - Sustainable Water Management
The value of more sustainable schemes of restoration of water supplies and water conservation (smart irrigation, recycling of water). (Singapore) (A: contrasting attitudes to water supply)
The main aims of sustainable water management are to:
- minimise wastage and pollution of water resources
- ensure that there is access to safe water for all people at an affordable price
- take into account the views of all water users
- guarantee an equitable distribution of water within and between countries
The diversity of actions being taken today are steps towards these four management aims. They include the following:
- Smart irrigation: a top priority given the huge amount of water used by irrigation. Traditional sprinklers and surface flow systems are being replaced by modern automated spray technology and advanced drip irrigation systems.
- Hydroponics: growing crops in greenhouses that are carbon dioxide and temperature controlled in shallow trays where they are drip-fed nutrients and water; there is no soil.
- Recycling of grey water: a low-cost option that produces water for agricultural use, but not human consumption
- Rainwater harvesting: where people collect the rain falling on the roofs of dwellings and store it in butts for various domestic purposes, such as flushing toilets and watering the garden
- Filtration technology: this is now so effective that there is little dirty water that cannot be physically purified and recycled.
- Restoration: of damaged rivers, lakes and wetlands so that they can play their full and proper part in the hydrological cycle
These and other actions are clearly environmentally sustainable and can bring many socioeconomic benefits to local communities. The only question is: are they economically sustainable?
Singapore
Circumstances - few natural water resources, a thriving economy, a high standard of living and a high per capita consumption of water - has made water management a top priority in this tiny state with its nearly 6 million inhabitants. It has adopted a holistic approach to water management based on three key strategies.
Attitudes to water usage and supply vary. Some social players see the provision of safe water as a human right, whereas politicians see it as a human need which they have to supply. Businesses will secure their water needs almost regardless of the costs, whereas environmentalists insist that provision should be sustainable.
- Collect every drop of water: the government has various ways of encouraging citizens to use water prudently. Since 2003, per capita domestic water consumption has fallen from 165 litres per day to 150 litres per day.
- Re-use water endlessly: Singapore is at the cutting edge of new technologies to re-use grey water
- Desalinate more seawater: two desalination plants now meet 25% of the water demand.
Attitudes to water usage and supply vary. Some social players see the provision of safe water as a human right, whereas politicians see it as a human need which they have to supply. Businesses will secure their water needs almost regardless of the costs, whereas environmentalists insist that provision should be sustainable.