Industries' Cooperation Helps Water Crisis
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Business
Manufacturing, Agriculture and Energy Sectors are Going to Have to Coordinate Their Water Use Much More Efficiently if Water Scarcity is to Be Avoided
Kandeh Yumkella, the UN Secretary-General's special representative onSustainable Energy For All, explained that much of the increasing demand for water will come from developing nations whose populations are earning and consuming more, and moving to cities.
Ninety percent of the world's urban population increase up to 2050 will be in Asia and Africa, according to the 2014 UN World Urbanization Prospectsreport. Of the 2.5 billion people who will move to cities in this period, 37 percent will be in India, China and Nigeria.
In the next 30 years world electricity demand will go up by 70 percent and, Yumkella argued, "with 66 percent of the world population expected to be living in urban areas by then, it will push the demand for more energy." (According to theWorld Bank, 56 percent of the world's population currently lives in cities)
The problem, the UN official said, is that "the energy sector in very thirsty."
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2012 water use for energy was 583 billion cubic metres; by 2035 that figure is likely to rise by at least 20 percent.
Connor explained that developing countries use most of their water for agriculture and only about 10 to 20 percent for energy. But as countries develop, the demand for energy increases and could account for over half of water usage, leaving less for farmers.
"Ninety percent of global energy production is water-dependent," Connor said, pointing to hydro-power, and the water used to cool thermal, coal, gas and nuclear power plants. "Even solar electricity generation sometimes uses water to store energy as heat," he said.
Managing demand
Connor and other experts say better water management will involve establishing clear priorities and coordinated monitoring mechanisms to avoid shortages.
For example, during a major drought in India in 2012, power plants shut down to conserve water for domestic consumption. IEA estimates that at one time or another 600 million were left without power for at least 48 hours.
"When water is scarce the power plants shut down. That's what happens now when there is no coordination," Connor said.
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