Chapter 4: Emerging Water Shortages By Cody McNutt and Jennifer Ng

Lake Chad Surrounded by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria-all countries with fast growing populations Surrounded by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria-all countries with fast growing populations Shrunk 96% within 40 years Shrunk 96% within 40 years High demand for irrigation water and declining rainfall draining dry the rivers and streams that feed Lake Chad High demand for irrigation water and declining rainfall draining dry the rivers and streams that feed Lake Chad

Africa’s Lake Chad

Overview Water demand has tripled over the last 50 years Water demand has tripled over the last 50 years Drilling of millions of irrigation wells has pushed water withdrawals beyond recharge rates Drilling of millions of irrigation wells has pushed water withdrawals beyond recharge rates Climate change affects water supplies Climate change affects water supplies Rising temperatures = higher evaporation rates, altering rainfall patterns, and melting glaciers Rising temperatures = higher evaporation rates, altering rainfall patterns, and melting glaciers Countries pressing against the limits of water supply satisfy the growing need of cities and industry by diverting irrigation water from agriculture and importing grain to offset the loss of productive capacity Countries pressing against the limits of water supply satisfy the growing need of cities and industry by diverting irrigation water from agriculture and importing grain to offset the loss of productive capacity Water = Food Water = Food One Person = 4 liters of water/day One Person = 4 liters of water/day Production of food = 2,000 liters Production of food = 2,000 liters 70% water = irrigation 70% water = irrigation 20% water = industry 20% water = industry 10% water = residential purposes 10% water = residential purposes

Risk of Water Shortages

Water Tables Falling Fossil aquifers are not replenishable Fossil aquifers are not replenishable Depletion brings pumping to an end Depletion brings pumping to an end For more arid regions, loss of irrigation water means end of agriculture For more arid regions, loss of irrigation water means end of agriculture North China’s Plain’s water table, producing over ½ of the country’s wheat and a 33% of corn, is dropping 3 meters/yr North China’s Plain’s water table, producing over ½ of the country’s wheat and a 33% of corn, is dropping 3 meters/yr Wheat farmers pump from a depth of 300 meters, raising pumping costs so high that farmers are forced to abandon irrigation Wheat farmers pump from a depth of 300 meters, raising pumping costs so high that farmers are forced to abandon irrigation

Water Tables Falling China China Mining underground water near the Hai, Yellow, and Huai Rivers Mining underground water near the Hai, Yellow, and Huai Rivers Takes 1000 tons of water = 1 ton of wheat Takes 1000 tons of water = 1 ton of wheat 40 million tons of wheat feeds 120 million Chinese compared to 2 billion 40 million tons of wheat feeds 120 million Chinese compared to 2 billion India India 100 million farmers drilled 21 million wells, investing $12 billion in wells and pumps 100 million farmers drilled 21 million wells, investing $12 billion in wells and pumps Electricity blackouts occur where ½ is used to pump water from depths up to a km Electricity blackouts occur where ½ is used to pump water from depths up to a km

Water Tables Falling In southern India, falling water tables dried up 95% of wells owned by small farmers In southern India, falling water tables dried up 95% of wells owned by small farmers Irrigated land is reduced by half over a decade Irrigated land is reduced by half over a decade Farmers are forced to return to dryland farming Farmers are forced to return to dryland farming

Water Tables Falling Some use modified oil-drilling technology to reach water, going as deep as 1,000 meters Some use modified oil-drilling technology to reach water, going as deep as 1,000 meters 15% of India’s food supply produced by mining groundwater 15% of India’s food supply produced by mining groundwater Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas – 3 leading grain- producing states – the underground water table dropped by more than 30 meters Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas – 3 leading grain- producing states – the underground water table dropped by more than 30 meters

Water Tables Falling Colorado River Colorado River Drawn by AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, UT, WY Drawn by AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, UT, WY Irrigated area decline from Irrigated area decline from CA and CO dropped 2% and 24% respectively CA and CO dropped 2% and 24% respectively

Water Tables Falling Iran Iran 71 million people 71 million people Overpumping aquifers by an average of 5 billion tons of water/yr – 33% of its annual grain harvest Overpumping aquifers by an average of 5 billion tons of water/yr – 33% of its annual grain harvest Water table is falling 2.8 meters/yr Water table is falling 2.8 meters/yr Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia 25 million people 25 million people Water-poor as it is oil-rich Water-poor as it is oil-rich Wheat harvest dropped from 4.1 million tons in 1992 to 2.7 million tons in 2007, 34% Wheat harvest dropped from 4.1 million tons in 1992 to 2.7 million tons in 2007, 34%

Water Tables Falling Yemen Yemen 22 million people 22 million people Annual water extraction of 223 million tons exceeds annual recharge of 42 million tons, water table dropping 6 meters/yr Annual water extraction of 223 million tons exceeds annual recharge of 42 million tons, water table dropping 6 meters/yr Grain production falling by 2/3 over the last two decades Grain production falling by 2/3 over the last two decades Now imports 4/5 of its grain supply Now imports 4/5 of its grain supply Ranks 24 th of failing states Ranks 24 th of failing states

Water Tables Falling Mexico Mexico 107 million people 107 million people Demand of water is outstripping supply Demand of water is outstripping supply Guanajuato – water table is falling 2 meters or more a year Guanajuato – water table is falling 2 meters or more a year Sonora farmers used to pump water from the Hermosillo aquifer at a depth of 35 ft. Now more than 400 ft. Sonora farmers used to pump water from the Hermosillo aquifer at a depth of 35 ft. Now more than 400 ft. 51% of the water extracted from underground is from aquifers being overpumped 51% of the water extracted from underground is from aquifers being overpumped

Water Tables Falling Overpumping of aquifers is happening in many countries Overpumping of aquifers is happening in many countries Depletion of aquifers and the harvest cutbacks could be simultaneous Depletion of aquifers and the harvest cutbacks could be simultaneous Depletion of aquifers = unmanageable food scarcity Depletion of aquifers = unmanageable food scarcity

Rivers Running Dry Colorado River Colorado River Major River in the southwestern US Major River in the southwestern US Yellow River Yellow River Largest river in northern China Largest river in northern China Nile River Nile River Lifeline of Egypt Lifeline of Egypt Indus River Indus River Supplies most of Pakistan’s irrigation water Supplies most of Pakistan’s irrigation water

Rivers Running Dry Colorado River Colorado River Rarely makes it to the sea Rarely makes it to the sea Goes through CO, UT, AZ, NV, and CA Goes through CO, UT, AZ, NV, and CA Demand is destroying the river’s ecosystem, including fisheries Demand is destroying the river’s ecosystem, including fisheries

Rivers Running Dry Yellow River Yellow River Flows 4,000 km through 5 provinces before it reaches the Yellow Sea Flows 4,000 km through 5 provinces before it reaches the Yellow Sea First ran dry in 1972 and since 1985 it has often failed to reach the sea First ran dry in 1972 and since 1985 it has often failed to reach the sea

Rivers Running Dry Nile River Nile River Before the Aswan Dam was built, 32 billion cubic meters of water reached the Mediterranean each year Before the Aswan Dam was built, 32 billion cubic meters of water reached the Mediterranean each year After the dam, increasing irrigation, evaporation, and demands reduced its discharge to less than 2 billion cubic meters After the dam, increasing irrigation, evaporation, and demands reduced its discharge to less than 2 billion cubic meters

Rivers Running Dry Indus River Indus River Originating in the Himalayas and goes into Indian Ocean Originating in the Himalayas and goes into Indian Ocean Demand has made the river run dry in its lower reaches Demand has made the river run dry in its lower reaches Population of 164 million, Pakistan ranks 12 th on the 2007 list of failing states Population of 164 million, Pakistan ranks 12 th on the 2007 list of failing states Allocating water among competing interests is part of an emerging politics of resource scarcity Allocating water among competing interests is part of an emerging politics of resource scarcity

Lakes Disappearing As river flows are reduced lakes have been shrinking; Lake Chad Central Africa, the Aral Sea Central Asia, and the Sea of Galilee As river flows are reduced lakes have been shrinking; Lake Chad Central Africa, the Aral Sea Central Asia, and the Sea of Galilee Most notable losses the Aral Sea cotton farming used up all the water which raised salt content and killed fish Most notable losses the Aral Sea cotton farming used up all the water which raised salt content and killed fish

Aral Sea Today

China, Got Water? 1,000 lakes have disappeared over the past 50 years 1,000 lakes have disappeared over the past 50 years Average rate of 20 lakes lost each year Average rate of 20 lakes lost each year The government had set up 160 wetland protection zones and invested heavily in measure to prevent pollution The government had set up 160 wetland protection zones and invested heavily in measure to prevent pollution

How much is water in the Desert, an Economy lesson It takes 14 tons of water to make a ton of steal which sells for $560 It takes 14 tons of water to make a ton of steal which sells for $560 It takes 1,000 tons of water to grow a ton of wheat which sells for $200 It takes 1,000 tons of water to grow a ton of wheat which sells for $ /14 = $40 per ton of water 200/1000 = $0.20 per ton of water Cities use more water than farming and have a higher need for water Cities use more water than farming and have a higher need for water

Water Law Riparian vs. Appropriation “First in time, first in right” Riparian vs. Appropriation “First in time, first in right” Colorado water law Colorado water law Right to use, who has more right? Right to use, who has more right? Do cities have greater need than farmers Do cities have greater need than farmers Will water become the new oil when countries don’t produce their own, or have a food supply Will water become the new oil when countries don’t produce their own, or have a food supply International water wars? International water wars?

How much water is there, how much water was there? How much water is there, how much water was there? Can we get more water? Can we get more water? Most water distputes are local and in high population areas, not worldwide Most water distputes are local and in high population areas, not worldwide Over population and standards of living, living on less Over population and standards of living, living on less Solutions or “The End”

THE END