THE FUTURE OF WATER: IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR MANAGING WATER IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID REGIONS

Availability and access to potable water supplies is quickly becoming a large problem throughout the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. These semi-arid and arid regions account for only 2 percent of the total global runoff and have the least amount of annual precipitation. Compare this value to the Amazon River Basin that carries 16 percent of the global runoff, and there emerges the problem (UNEP, 2000). This lack of runoff in arid regions has, and continues, to compound drought and water supply problems that numerous communities are already facing. Many of these areas are playing witness to unprecedented population growth coupled with water shortages due to low runoff, overuse and long-term drought situations. Arid areas all over the world are in need of more responsible sustainable socio-economic development. This responsible development would allow people to realize the needs and consequences of large scale growth in a water deprived locale before major problems arise.The presentation will review what is being done to better manage and re-allocate existing water resources, since new sources are rarely available:Conservation/ water efficiencyReuseDesalinizationGroundwater development and treatmentStormwater capture and treatmentWater Transfer/ MarketingConjunctive UseSurface Water Imports