1. Marco A. Bruni, seecon international gmbh
The Water Cycle
Marco A. Bruni, seecon international gmbh

2. Copy it, adapt it, use it – but acknowledge the source!
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Copy it, adapt it, use it – but acknowledge the source!
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3. Contents
Water – Essential for Life
The global Water Cycle
Freshwater Resources
Freshwater Distribution
Human Influence on the Water Cycle
Water Uses
Consequences of Water Use
Outlook
References

4. The blue Planet – How come we lack of sufficient Water Supply?
1. Water – Essential for Life
The blue Planet – How come we lack of sufficient Water Supply?
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Source: [Accessed: ]
Source: [Accessed: ]

5. HUMAN USE ECOSYSTEM Domestic Industrial Agricultural Plants
1. Water – Essential for Life
What is Water Used For?
Domestic
Drinking water
Food preparation
Sanitation
Personal hygiene
Cultural asset
Gardening, Car wash
Industrial
Production of goods and energy
Transportation of goods
Process water
Agricultural
Irrigation
Livestock farming
HUMAN USE
Plants
Photosynthesis
ECOSYSTEM
Animals
Soils
Aquatic Systems

6. Think in Cycles rather than in linear Processes
2. The Global Water Cycle
Think in Cycles rather than in linear Processes
The energy of the sun constantly transforms the water from solid (ice) to liquid (water) to gaseous (vapour)
Constant transformation puts the water into motion and hence activates the global water cycle
Characteristics of the cycle:
 Permanent circulation
 Renewable resource
Source: OWENS (2006)

7.  only 0.5% of global water resources are usable
3. Freshwater Resources
The blue Planet?
70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. (PIDWIRNY 2006)
2.5% is freshwater whereas a fifth is easily accessible for human use. (INFORESOURCES FOCUS 2006)
 only 0.5% of global water resources are usable
Source: WBCSD (2009)

8. 4. Freshwater Distribution
Disparities
Distribution of freshwater resources is characterized by
strong regional differences
annual and seasonal variation (WWAP 2003)
Water Scarcity Index
Source: REKACEWICZ (2009)

9. We do influence the hydrological Cycle substantially
5. Human Influence on the Water Cycle
We do influence the hydrological Cycle substantially
Main drivers for the increasing pressure on water resources:
Population growth
Increasing living standards
Urbanisation
Influences On the Water Cycle in Cities
Source: AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL (2010)

10. Where the Water ends up being used
6. Water Uses
Where the Water ends up being used
The consumption pattern of water use is influenced by:
Living standards
Climate conditions
Composition of water use in different countries
Source: WBCSD (2009)

11. Increasing Water Scarcity
7. Consequences of Water Use
Increasing Water Scarcity
Drivers:
Population growth
Change in living standards
Uncontrolled pollution
Climate change
Growing
water scarcity
in various regions of the world
(INFORESOURCES FOCUS 2006)
As of today, 1.2 billion of the world’s population are affected by water scarcity
(WBCSD 2009)

12. Integrated Thinking makes all the Difference
8. Outlook
Integrated Thinking makes all the Difference
Water scarcity due to:
Unsustainable use
Sectoral thinking
Mismanagement
Absence of water governance
Results in:
Water scarcity
Water related diseases
Food crisis
Degraded environments
Natural hazards
Particularly, poor people are most affected.

13. Integrated Thinking makes all the Difference
8. Outlook
Integrated Thinking makes all the Difference
Water scarcity due to:
Unsustainable use
Sectoral thinking
Mismanagement
Absence of water governance
Results in:
Water scarcity
Water related diseases
Food crisis
Degraded environments
Natural hazards
Particularly, poor people are most affected.
Need for an integrated, holistic approach.
 Link sustainable water management to sanitation and to agriculture.

14. Integrated, holistic Approach
8. Outlook
Integrated, holistic Approach
Source: sswm.info

15. 9. References
AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL (Editor) (2010): Stormwater. Auckland (New Zealand): Auckland City Council. URL [Accessed: ].
INFORESOURCES FOCUS (Editor) (2006): Water for Food – a Matter of Survival. Inforesources Focus. [Accessed: ].
OWENS, M. (2006): The Global Water Cycle has Intensified. Reston: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). URL [Accessed: ].
PIDWIRNY, M. (2006): Fundamentals of Physical Geography (2nd Edition). Okanagan: University of British Columbia. [Accessed: ].
REKACEWICZ, P. (2009): Water Scarcity Index. In: UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library. [Accessed: ].
WBCSD (Editor) (2009): Facts and Trends. Water (Version 2). Geneva: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBDSC). [Accessed: ].
WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME WWAP (Editor) (2003): Water for people – water for life. Executive Summary of the United Nations World Water Development Report 1: Water for people – water for life. Paris and Oxford: UNESCO and Berghahn Books. [Accessed: ].

16. “Linking up Sustainable Sanitation, Water Management & Agriculture”
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