Water and land nexus
Published on by Yogesh Agrawal, Director (retired), Minor irrigation schemes, Water Resources Department at Govt of Rajasthan
The water can not flow in air. It needs land to flow. If the land does not allow it to flow, it can not flow and can not reach natural drainage channels like rivers and their tributaries, etc, dams, lakes , reservoirs. In present times, more and more land is needed for residential and commercial purposes. The land pertaining to natural drainage channels is easily available for unauthorized occupation and allotment at through away prices. This land is suitable for residential and commercial purposes, because it has a vast groundwater underneath. Therefore the nexus of water is with land , not with energy. THe Water Network may like to correct the topic name form Energy/ water to Water / Land / Energy
3 Answers
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This nexus angle is particularly important given the strong links between sectors, i.e., agriculture, water, energy, environment, which are likely to get even stronger so that externalities across resources become co-constraints of sustainable development. For example, in Jordan, 25 per cent of all electricity is consumed for the supply of water, primarily the pumping of water. In the United States, power generation accounts for about 40 per cent of all water withdrawals. Large scale water transfers in China intended to mitigate water scarcity are energy intensive, partially depending on hydro power which, due to evaporation losses from reservoirs, contributes to water scarcity.
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But if there is no land for rain water to flow, then no water is available for people living downstream. Land is essential for water. The major portion of fresh water is used to irrigate crops, which are grown on land. I have already suggested that the topic name should be changed to water/ land / energy
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It takes a significant amount of water to create energy. Like, water is used to cool steam electric power plants and is required to generate hydropower. Water is also used in great quantities during fuel extraction, refining and production. At the same time, it takes a significant amount of energy to treat and move water. Energy is used to extract, move and treat water for drinking and irrigation. It is used in the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater. Energy is also consumed when water is used by households and industry, especially through heating and cooling. I guess there is a close nexus in energy and water.