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Navigating the Water Crisis: Global Challenges and Solutions

Explore complex water issues from contaminated sources to access barriers and uncover innovative solutions worldwide.

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Navigating the Water Crisis: Global Challenges and Solutions

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  1. Mark Twain Whiskey is for drinking water is for fighting over 1cm

  2. “Temperature, like money, exists in sufficient amounts but is not evenly distributed” Carl Hubbs General water issue classes: - Too many people to little water: Saudi Arabia - Dirty / contaminated water - “Natural”: Bangladesh - Industrial: Navajo - Biological: Bangladesh - Barriers to water access - Economic: Card operated water spigot - Political: Colorado River - Cultural: ? Surely loads

  3. Nat Geo 4/2010

  4. National Geographic 4/2010

  5. National Geographic 4/2010

  6. Water factoids • 70% of water is locked in ice • The majority of remainder is in aquifers that we’re draining • 2/3 is used to grow food • American’s use 100 gallons at /day • World’s poorest use <5gal/day • Women walk an average of 3.7 miles to get water • 46% of population does not have piped water

  7. The Burden of Thirst shamelessly stolen from National Geographic Ethiopia • Fetching water is strictly women's work • Takes up to 8 hours a day • Multiple trips with 50lb load • Burden prevents • Education • Economic development • Water scarcity leads to poor sanitation • Increasing illness which increases burden

  8. Failures of international aid • Many projects fail soon after groups leave • Nine out of 35 projects function • Complex systems • Social failure • lack of trust for pooled resources • No oversight

  9. Participation involves joint planning and self-analysis Men and women of all levels of wealth involved in decision making Water committees are formed to ensure that tariff rates, spare parts, and mechanical costs are kept at a suitable level Committee of seven, four must be women Train hygiene promoters Typical charge is around a penny per jerry can WaterAid http://www.wateraid.org

  10. 7th most populous country 9th in population denisity (2,917/mi2) (U.S. 83/mi2) Low elevation (predicted 50% land loss with 1m sea level rise) Subject to extreme droughts and flooding (1998 flood 2/3 of country under water) Bangladesh

  11. Crisis leads to international response • Massive drought 1972 • Dirty surface water which was killing up to 250,000 children a year • International effort to install 10 million tube wells

  12. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/how-the-west-poisoned-bangladesh-1924631.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/how-the-west-poisoned-bangladesh-1924631.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/how-the-west-poisoned-bangladesh-1924631.html • 20 million currently drink from arsenic wells • Up to 400 times safety limit • Increasing cancer rates • Inhibits intellectual development • Causes skin lesions • Alternatives • Rainwater collection • Filtration • Deeper wells

  13. Navajo water use • 80% of Navajo families haul drinking water • 50% of water sources unregulated

  14. Source of uranium • ¼ of nations U, easiest to extract, cheap labor • 4 million tons of U removed (mostly for weapons) • Complex patchwork of legislation but mostly boundary shifting • Mines closed with zero clean up • 1979 tailings dam failed releasing 1,100 tons of radioactive mill waste and 94 million gallons of acidic wastewater http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/us/27navajo.html and deLemos et al 2009

  15. Uranium effects • Cancer • Lots of issues from surface U that I will not go into “downwinders” • Acts as estrogen mimic • Fertility problems • Reproductive cancers Raymond-Whish et al 2007

  16. Resolution? • Banned U mining in the 2005 • However, a new mine might be forced in Churchrock • Hydro Resources owns 160 acres in Chruchrock • “ involves pumping a chemical solution through an underground ore deposit to leach out the uranium” • “tends to contaminate the groundwater.” • 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals just gave the green light http://newmexicoindependent.com/49829/church-rock-uranium-mining-cant-start-just-yet http://sfreporter.com/stories/brave_nuke_world/5433/

  17. Low tech water sanitation Simple, free, effective http://www.sodis.ch/index

  18. Generally and specifically talk about solutions to the water issues: no water, bad water, and inaccessible water • Can we avoid ratchets? • How do we increase the longevity and success of water projects?

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