>
♥Monday, April 18, 2011♥
Water as a scarce resource
Water is important life on Earth. We need water for our essential necessities.
The amount of water consumed by people all over the world is increasing, but the amount of fresh water available for human use remains limited. This problem of water shortage is often referred to as water constraint.
Limited supply of fresh water
> Uneven distribution of fresh water
> Water pollution
Various reasons that contribute to the rising demand for water:
> Population growth
> Growth of agriculture
> Growth of industries
> Changes in lifestyle
Responses to rising demand of water
> Increasing the price of water
> Increasing the supply of water
i. Increase catchment areas
ii. International agreements
iii. Use of technology
- Water recycling (water reclamation)
- Desalination
v. Conserving water
Methods to increase water supply
Water is important life on Earth. We need water for our essential necessities.
The amount of water consumed by people all over the world is increasing, but the amount of fresh water available for human use remains limited. This problem of water shortage is often referred to as water constraint.
Limited supply of fresh water
> Uneven distribution of fresh water
> Water pollution
Various reasons that contribute to the rising demand for water:
> Population growth> Growth of agriculture
> Growth of industries
> Changes in lifestyle
Responses to rising demand of water
> Increasing the price of water
> Increasing the supply of water
i. Increase catchment areasii. International agreements
iii. Use of technology
- Water recycling (water reclamation)
- Desalination
v. Conserving water
Methods to increase water supply
To ensure that there will be enough water for future generations in Singapore, PUB, the national water agency, has put in place a water supply strategy known as the 'Four National Taps Strategy'.
Tap 1: Water from local catchment areas
Water from the local catchment areas are collected in reservoirs and stormwater collection ponds. Before 1975, there were only three reservoirs in Singapore, namely the MacRitchie, Lower Pierce and Seletar( now known as Upper Seletar) Reservoirs. Eleven more reservoirs were constructed over the years to meet our increasing water needs. Many of these reservoirs were created by building dams across rivers or along the coastlines.
In addition, stormwater collection ponds have also been constructed in some housing estates. These ponds collect rainwater and channel the water to various reservoirs. By 2009, it is expected that Singapore's total catchment area will increase from two-thirds of the island when the Marina Reservoir and other proposed reservoirs are completed.
Tap 2: Imported water
Another way of increasing our water supply is to buy water from neighbouring countries. We have been buying water from the Malaysian state of Johor since the 1920s. At present, there are two water agreements signed with the Johor government. These two agreements will expire in the years 2011 and 2061 respectively.
However, buying water may not necessarily be the best solution in the long term. When the water agreements expire, the countries can choose whether or not to continue supplying us with water. Hence, in the long term, it is important for Singapore to be self-sufficient and obtain fresh water supply from local sources.
Tap 3: NEWater
Water reclamation is another method Singapore uses to increase the supply of fresh water. The use of advanced membrane technology has made it possible to further treat used water to produce a very high grade water known as NEWater. The quality of NEWater surpasses international drinking water standards and is supplied mainly to wafer fabrication plants, industrial estates and commercial buildings for direct non-portable use. A small amount of NEWater is also mixed with rainwater that is stored in reservoirs before it is sent for treatment at the water works. The treated water is then supplied to households for consumption.
Tap 4: Desalinated water
Singapore also carries out the desalination of sea water to increase our water supply. A desalination plant was started in Tuas in 2005. Although the cost of building and operating this plant is high, it will supply up to 10 percent of the nation's demand for water. This plant uses the reverse osmosis method, which is similar to that used in the production of reclaimed water.
Two possibilities on how to achieve sustainability
> Increasing price of water
> Conserving water
Advantages increasing price of water
> People who do not want to pay more will be encouraged to use less water
> Reduce the rising costs of producing and distributing water
Disadvantages increasing price of water
> The poor will suffer more when the price of water increases
Advantages on conserving water
> Reduce the risk of future water
> Help delay the need to develop new facilities to increase water supply
> Helps industries and households save money through reduced water bills
> The government has less need to invest more money on water-related facilities.
Disadvantages on conserving water
> Requires a lot of cooperation from everyone to fullfill it
Do you know???
Do you know water covers about three-quarters of the Earth's surface? Salt water in seas and oceans makes up about 97% of this amount. Fresh water frozen in the form of snow and ice makes up another 2%. Only 1% of the total amount of water on the Earth is fresh water that is readily available for human consumption. This fresh water which is stored in rivers, streams, and lakes is called surface water. Some fresh water can also be found deep underground and is known as groundwater.
Water is limited and every drop counts. Thus, use our water wisely and save them while it is available.
Two possibilities on how to achieve sustainability
> Increasing price of water
> Conserving water
Advantages increasing price of water
> People who do not want to pay more will be encouraged to use less water
> Reduce the rising costs of producing and distributing water
Disadvantages increasing price of water
> The poor will suffer more when the price of water increases
Advantages on conserving water
> Reduce the risk of future water
> Help delay the need to develop new facilities to increase water supply
> Helps industries and households save money through reduced water bills
> The government has less need to invest more money on water-related facilities.
Disadvantages on conserving water
> Requires a lot of cooperation from everyone to fullfill it
Do you know???
Do you know water covers about three-quarters of the Earth's surface? Salt water in seas and oceans makes up about 97% of this amount. Fresh water frozen in the form of snow and ice makes up another 2%. Only 1% of the total amount of water on the Earth is fresh water that is readily available for human consumption. This fresh water which is stored in rivers, streams, and lakes is called surface water. Some fresh water can also be found deep underground and is known as groundwater.
Water is limited and every drop counts. Thus, use our water wisely and save them while it is available.
♥ Never letting the earth go;
@ 3:10 AM
@ 3:10 AM
Water
