Solutions to Depletion of Freshwater By: Ashley Richards, Alysha Mcvay, and Lisa Burnett

Solutions, Supply & Demand: What are our options? -Reduce the need: International agencies are funding demand based solutions. -Increase the supply: Transport through pipes and aqueducts from other areas … However, Often times water is taken from places that cannot even support themselves on their supply.

Desalination “Makes” More Water: -2 types: Distilling: increase rate of evaporation in a particular area in order to receive fresh water Reverse osmosis: forcing water through membranes to filter out salt

Desalination “Makes” More Water: Currently there are over 7,500 desalination facilities worldwide Most of which are middle east and on islands with limited access to fresh water – That being said, desalination can be very expensive… Large input of fossil fuel energy Generates concentrated salty waste

Agricultural Demand Can Be Reduced: By using drip and low pressure spray irrigation Lining irrigation canals to prevent leaks Finding ways to reduce amount of water lost to evaporation Choosing crops to match land and climate Selective breeding (making crops that use less)

Lessen Residential Use: Using automatic dishwashers, and low flow washing machines, toilets, and faucets Eating less meat (meat takes more water to produce) Watering plants and lawn at night to lessen evaporation Homes with better plumbing Fitting yard with plants fit for that climate

Lessen Industrial Use: Cities can find and fix leaks in the cities pipes Educating the public Requiring homes to upgrade plumbing Waste treatment plants

Have They Worked? Have increased efficiency 80-90% Has increased water savings 25-37% By controlling water usage and waste, Massachusetts avoided a $500,000,000 river diversion scheme Boston reduced water demand by 31% between 1987 to 2004

Economic Approaches: Economists want to use market based strategies to achieve sustainable water What are their options? Ending government subsidies and letting water become a commodity whose price would reflect cost of extraction This would increase the gap between rich and poor

Economic Approaches: Privatization of water: Owned by private companies Done to increase efficiency but little incentive to allow equal access to rich and poor People that are forced to buy bottled water pay twelve times more than those connected to accessible piping.