Lack of water

Jhohan Mauricio Puerta Serna 1

Justification

Simply put, water scarcity occurs when demand exceeds the supply of fresh water in a given
area.
Water scarcity = an excess demand for water for the available supply.
This situation appears as a consequence of a high aggregate demand by all sectors that
consume water with respect to the available supply, under the infrastructure
conditions and existing institutional provisions. Water scarcity is manifested by the
total or partial dissatisfaction of the expressed demand, economic competition for the
quality and quantity of water, conflicts between users, the irreversible depletion of
groundwater, and the negative consequences for the environment. environment.
Water scarcity is a relative and dynamic concept, and can appear at any level of supply
or demand, but it is also a social construction: all its causes are related to human
intervention in the water cycle. It changes over time as a result of natural hydrological
variability, but varies even more depending on existing management, planning and
economic policy models. Water scarcity can be expected to intensify with almost all
forms of economic development, but if correctly identified, many of its causes can be
anticipated, avoided or mitigated. The three main aspects that characterize water
scarcity are: the physical lack of available water to meet demand; the level of
development of the infrastructures that control storage, distribution and access; and
the institutional capacity to provide the necessary water services.

Description of the situation

Environmental problems are beginning to be worked on from a historical perspective in
Colombia, since they were only referred to studies carried out from the natural
sciences. Flórez Malagón commented that Environmental History, for its investigative
development, did not have regional, thematic or methodological criteria that would
guide the authors in environmental problems with a historical perspective.3 At the end
of the 20th century and the first 17 years of the 21st century, Academic works and
independent researchers then emerged as important antecedents in the process of
constitution of the sub-discipline.
In Medellín there are few historical-environmental works and in particular on how water was
used and its relationship with the transformation of space and the Iguana, Santa Elena,
Piedras Blancas streams and the Medellín River. Due to the above, the environmental
problem is currently latent and requires history to understand the development of the
society-nature relationship and how they have been harmed or benefited based on the
public policies of the municipal Administration. The importance and relevance of this
project lies in the overcrowding of urban centers of the channels of the
aforementioned streams, which were intervened, not being "visible" on the ground,
nor in the cartography and over time generated structural problems of the homes. and

1
Mechatronics engineering student
 dirt from the environment. The problems in the streams have generally been due to
anthropogenic factors where they were used as garbage and debris dumps and a
dumping ground for domestic and industrial wastewater. Thus, this work offers new
historiographical contributions with respect to local environmental history, especially
to understand the spatial dynamics of the time and the discourse handled by local
political entities on the management and intervention of space.

Theoretical framework
Water is a vital element that makes up the sustainable development of the country, since its
scarcity or extreme abundance causes imbalances in natural habitats, alters the
hydroclimatological conditions of the national territory, modifies the conditions for the
use of natural resources and well-being. of the population. Water in our country, as
throughout the world, has always had great value due to the close relationship it has
with vital processes and the development of any human activity.
Its proper use is a basic condition to overcome the challenges of the present and preserve the
possibilities of the future.
To the extent that global concern is accentuated to promote sustainable development, to
ensure the preservation and use of natural resources for future generations, and given
the conditions of availability and use of water in Colombia, and specifically in the basin
of the Valley of Mexico, the need to reinforce planning actions for the use, exploitation
and preservation of the resource is also accentuated. In Mexico, economic growth has
not fully taken into account the signs of water scarcity.
The concentration of population and economic activity have created areas of high scarcity, not
only in regions of low rainfall but also in areas where this was not perceived as a
problem at the beginning of urban growth or the establishment of irrigated
agriculture.
In Colombia, the sector that wastes the most water is the one that consumes it the most: the
agricultural sector (agriculture and livestock). Estimates from the National Water
Commission mention that 57% of the water consumed is lost through evaporation but
above all due to inefficient, poor condition or obsolete irrigation infrastructure. The
irrigated surface is 6.3 million hectares and contributes 42% of the total national
agricultural production. Losses due to infiltration and evaporation amount to more
than 60% of the water stored and distributed for agricultural purposes. The Colombian
city that wastes the most water is the largest in the country: the City of Bogotá and its
metropolitan area. The correct thing is to define it as a region because there are
several cities together or as an urbanized area; Here the waste is caused by leaks in the
hydraulic network and reaches 38%, according to the authorities of the National Water
Commission; That is, 5 liters are brought and 2 are wasted, due to leaks in the system!

Historical setting
At the beginning of the 20th century, the precariousness of Medellín's sewage system, and in
some cases non-existent, led to the contamination of drinking water that was carried
by an aqueduct system that was built with mud and that, due to its porous
consistency, was permeable to contact with the water. precious liquid. With the
transportation of liquid waste and even small solids, the nearby source of water where
it was deposited was almost always in the Santa Elena, La Palencia and La Loca
 streams, which, with the passage of time, these water sources exceeded the capacity
of the car. cleaning and consequently, its waters became the waste dump.

Analysis of the situation

This substance, composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, is essential for the
survival of the planet and the human being, who is made up of 80% water. According
to a UNESCO report, there is enough fresh water for the entire world population
(seven billion people in 2020), but the problem is that its distribution is not equitable
and that climate change generates scarcity.
Water has practically become a luxury. The planet is made up of 70% water but, according to
National Geographic data, only 3.5% is fresh and 0.025% is drinkable. Hence, the unequal
distribution of this resource worries governments around the world. The figures indicate that
approximately 2.2 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water
services; 4.2 billion do not have safe sanitation services and 3 billion do not have the basics to
wash their hands.
Everything seems to indicate that we must begin to manage new policies of change in the
understanding, use, dimension, valuation and projection of this limited but indispensable
resource not only for life, but also for global economic growth. It is not in vain that having
access to clean water and sanitation is the sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG ) of the
2030 agenda. But the forecasts between now and 2050 are not at all promising, since
according to the 2018 Report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), some 5 billion people will be affected by the shortage of water.

Main causes of water shortages

Climate change
It is confirmed: it is not a 'phantom menace'. The United Nations World Water Development
Report 2020 leaves no room for doubt: “ climate change will negatively influence the
quantity and quality of water available worldwide to satisfy a whole series of basic
human needs, which which will undermine the fundamental right of billions of people
to have access to drinking water and sanitation.” Major meteorological phenomena
(hurricanes, storms, ice storms, heat waves, major droughts...) really seem to have
their cause in climate change.

Agriculture
Do you know how much water is needed to produce a kilo of rice? You won't believe it, but
nothing less than 5,000 liters. The UN says that the water footprint of global
production is 70% related to food production.
What is the water footprint ? The total amount of fresh water used to produce goods and
services consumed by the inhabitants of a country can be of national or external
production .
According to the World Bank, more than 330 million hectares have irrigation facilities ;
“Irrigated agriculture accounts for 20% of the total cultivated area, but contributes
40% of total food production worldwide.” On the other hand, agriculture and livestock
are the two primary activities that contaminate water the most with discharges of
pesticides, phosphates and nitrates.

Pollution of water resources

Mining exploitations, oil leaks, chemicals, fecal matter, plastics... everything goes directly to
the planet's water reserves.

Currently it is possible to see thousands of masks floating in rivers and seas, not to mention
the 'plastic reefs' of our oceans. Drinking contaminated water causes the death of
almost five million people in the world, and of course, this fact is especially flagrant in
populations at risk of social exclusion, poverty and marginality. Another problem that
contributes to the contamination of water resources is deforestation: the uncontrolled
felling of forests causes rivers and lakes to dry up and, in addition, without their roots
on the banks of the rivers, bacteria and sediments appear that harm the quality of the
water. water.

Solutions

19 solutions for water scarcity

. Educate for the change of consumption models and lifestyles. Tackling the next era of water
scarcity requires major changes in all forms of consumption, from individual use to
large corporations. The initial factor is knowledge and awareness of the problem to be
faced.

2. Develop new water conservation and storage technologies. In areas where aquifers are
depleting and rainwater supply is increasingly unpredictable, innovation in
conservation and storage systems is especially necessary. The development of
conservation technologies must be made compatible with a reduction in energy
consumption.
3. Reuse of wastewater. In recent years, the call for a new mentality in wastewater treatment
has grown, making it a resource. Some countries, such as Singapore, have made
significant progress in reusing water for different uses, including use as drinking water,
reducing water consumption and improving self-sufficiency.

4. Improve irrigation and agricultural practices. Some 70 percent of the world's fresh water is
used for agriculture. Improved irrigation can significantly reduce the gap between
supply and demand, while ensuring food availability.

5. Adequacy of the price of water. According to the OECD, raising prices would help
reduce waste and pollution. However, other organizations point out that the price of
water and rights go hand in hand.
6. Increase the energy efficiency of desalination plants. To date, desalination has been
an energy-intensive solution to water scarcity, only viable in regions with resource
availability. The promotion of technologies based on renewable energy is needed.

7. Improve water collection. Water harvesting systems are essential for areas without reliable
water sources. Pakistan and India are two examples of countries that will have to
review their rainwater collection systems to adapt to the possible effects of climate
change. Efforts must allow independent control of water resources.

8. Ensure representativeness in governments. Administrations must take into account the

opinions and needs of all groups. For them it is essential that communities are
structured and organized. In April, for example, indigenous groups met at the
Alternative Climate Change Conference in Bolivia, a gathering aimed at fostering
international alliances among underrepresented groups.

9. Develop and implement better policies and regulations. Water scarcity complicates food
security and pollution, so governments have to take measures that consider the
medium and long-term effects. As an example of the disparity in actions, the US
government is considering expanding the Clean Water Act to guarantee greater
protection, while Russia has approved the dumping of waste into Lake Baikal.

10. Improved ecosystem management. Comprehensive management with a practical and

common sense approach should be applied to the supervision of natural resources,
taking into account economic, cultural and ecological considerations. A good example
of comprehensive management are communities that have wastewater treatment
plants that are used for irrigation and fertilization of local energy crops.

11. Improve distribution infrastructure. Deficiencies in distribution have a serious impact on

resource utilization, health and the economy. The problem is not limited to the
developing world.

12. Reduce corporate water footprint. Industries account for approximately 22 percent of
global water consumption. The corporate footprint includes the water that is
consumed directly and indirectly when goods are produced. Sustainable
manufacturing will become important from an economic and image point of view.

13. Generate international institutional frameworks and cooperation. Regional agreements on

transboundary or shared resources, such as the Great Lakes Pact in the US or the Nile
Pact in Africa, are difficult to ratify. However, they will be essential to face the future in
various regions.

14. Fight against pollution. Measuring and controlling water quality is essential for human
health and biodiversity. Development policies must be established based on
 guaranteeing that the use of water does not lead to the reduction of its quality and the
environment.

15. Equitable access to common public resources. One of the key goals of the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to guarantee access to drinking water. The
thesis that water is a fundamental right must be made compatible with maintaining
public and private water-based economic development opportunities.

16. R&D+i. Research, development and innovation will be key to developing technologies and
procedures that ensure water quality and optimize consumption.

17. Hydraulic projects in developing countries based on technology transfer. Climate change
and water scarcity are producing the most dramatic consequences in developing
regions, such as northwest India and sub-Saharan Africa. A proposed solution is the
transfer of water conservation technologies to these dry areas, although the weakness
of the economies of these areas makes its implementation difficult.

18. Climate change mitigation. Climate change and water scarcity is one of the greatest
challenges of the human race. The work decided on both fronts requires greater
participation of renewable energies in the water management cycle.

19. Control population growth. Due to accelerated growth in the world's population, the gap
between supply and demand will widen by 65 percent by 2030.

CONCLUSIONS

Contaminated and scarce water poses serious problems at an environmental level, with
respect to health, public health and/or damage to ecosystems, which has an impact on
the quality of life of people, so it is essential to take measures and attitudes
immediately that reverse the current situation that threatens the destruction of life on
the planet.

REFERENCES
1. World Water Day [Internet]. 2019. [cited June 20, 2019].18000200004&nrm=iso
2. Fernandez T. Is water scarcity a serious problem? [Internet] 2017. [cited June 20,
2019]. Available at: https://www.waterlogic.es/blog/escasez-de-agua-un-grave-
problema/.
3. CITMA DdINdRHye. The paths of water in Cuba Havana, Cuba [Internet] 2013. [cited June
20, 2019]. Available at: http://www.cubadebate.cu/especiales/2013/09/06/los-caminos-
delagua-en-cuba/.