Water Issues Stretching Nations, Companies Thin

April 9, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Companies and nations need to intelligently approach the issue of water availability. Failure to do so can result in declining profit margins, environmental calamity and even social unrest.

A new article in the Economist shows that the amount of water being withdrawn from river systems and other resources is strained beyond the point of sustainability. Waterways – including the Colorado, Rio Grande, Indus, Murray-Darling and Yellow rivers – are drained by the time they reach the sea. Not coincidentally, these rivers support many of the world’s fertile agriculture zones.

The article cites some examples of water issues that have spilled over into dangerous territory.

After South Korea signed a deal to lease half of Madagascar’s arable land for grain production, unrest in Madagascar forced a change in government. The new leadership voided the deal.
California has declared a state of emergency over water, and Governor Schwarzenegger is threatening rationing.
A decade-long drought has seized up agriculture production in Australia.
Brazil and South Africa have endured electrical brownouts because there is not enough water to run hydroelectric turbines.

Most nations outside of the Middle East use less than one-fifth of available water to support human society.

And as the global economy grows, the strain on water resources will rise. As people become wealthier, their diet’s rely more on water-intensive foods like proteins instead of grains.

According to the article, agriculture accounts for about 75 percent of the world’s water use, industry uses less than 20 percent and cities account for the rest.

So, while global population is expected to rise by 2 billion by 2025, the effect from changed diets will account for more water use. As an example, the article points out that in 1985, Chinese ate about 20 kg of meat a year. Now they eat about 50 kg. Compounded over a billion people, the water used to produce that meat translates into 390km³ (1km³ is 1 trillion litres) of water, or about as much water used in all of Europe, for all purposes.

There is room for improvement, however. The article points out that it takes three times the water to grow corn in India as it does in the United States or China. Improved techniques can go a long way.

In addition to water strains caused by the global economy, the world is facing an additional threat from climate change, which will have far-reaching and undefined effects.

Some businesses are taking a proactive approach to water conservancy. For instance, by 2012 Coca Cola aims to reduce by 20 percent the amount of water used in producing its beverages.

And by 2010 the Nature Conservancy says it will develop a certification plan to give companies seals of approval, judged by their efficient use of water.

Environmental Leader recently featured a series of guest columns from the World Water Forum, written by Bjorn Von Euler, director of corporate philanthropy for ITT Corp. Here are the columns.

“Streaming Live From World Water Forum: Nations, Businesses Consider the Way Forward“

“Convergence of Energy, Financial, Food and Water Crises a ‘Perfect Storm’”

“Water and Business Inextricably Linked”

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader