Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
for drought recovery. Climatic conditions are expected to be
warmer than normal and drier than normal through the spring.”
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Couple that with Atlanta's Lake Lanier woes we talked about ear-
lier, and it becomes apparent that water-wise, the going is rough for
this gateway to the South. Atlanta even has a web site dealing with
its water issues, http://atlantawatershed.org/drought.
“We cannot continue to consume water at the rate we have been
consuming it,” says Las Vegas water czar Pat Mulroy. “We have to
stop taking water for granted.”
With Mulroy's warning in mind, let's consider possible ways to
ease the water crisis.
NO SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
Until now, the solution to some of the nation's water woes has all
too often been ad hoc adjustments, says hydrometeorologist Frank
Richards. “We need to bring to bear objective scientifi c information
so society can develop a more systematic approach.”
Water and the multifaceted problems associated with it require
multifaceted solutions. It's not enough that the United Nations
declare World Water Day or World Water Week; that the Great Lakes
states and Canadian provinces sign a water compact; that environ-
mental groups, municipalities, utilities, or watershed and river basin
agencies take up a cause; that individuals crusade for their cause; or
that states and public or private groups square off in court.
“There is no magic wand, no fl ip of the switch that is going to
suddenly eliminate water scarcity,” said Jacques Diouf, director-
general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), in March 2007 in conjunction with World Water Day that
year. “But there are concrete ways to turn the tide against water
shortages.”
Issues that must be addressed to cope with water shortages
range from protecting the environment and global warming to
fair pricing of water services and equitable distribution of water
for irrigation, industry, and household use, Diouf says. Agriculture
must take the lead in coping with water scarcity by fi nding more
effective ways to conserve rain-fed moisture and irrigate farmlands,
he adds.
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