Over half of the human body is made up of water and a human cannot survive longer than a week without it. Water is the single most important component for sustaining life; and we are running out of it. Technically, water has no way of leaving our planet. Each molecule goes through the water cycle infinite times. It precipitates, then eventually evaporates and then precipitates again. The problem is that freshwater demand is increasing to levels higher than the supply can support.
The world population is growing at an annual rate of approximately 1.3% while the demand for freshwater is growing at 3.5%. If freshwater supply remains unchanged, but the demand is rising, the result is an imbalance in the supply and demand. That imbalance could eventually lead to disastrous outcomes including the fall of agriculture.
Issues hurting the imbalance
There are a few big issues that are widening the gap between the supply and demand of freshwater. The main concerns include:
- Serve drought in many parts of the world
- A rising global population
- A growing freshwater consumption rate
- A failing infrastructure for freshwater
- A decrease in water levels of lakes, rivers and streams
These issues are some of the main reasons why the demand for freshwater is rising so quickly. For instance, according to The Earth Policy Institute, the world's demand for water has tripled over the last 50 years, and is now on pace to double every 20 years.
Issues helping to solve the imbalance
There are a few methods to solve the imbalance of freshwater supply and demand. Either supply must grow, or demand must decrease. Here are the realistic solutions to the imbalance:
- Desalination
- Freshwater pumping
- Genetically modified foods
- Filtration systems
These few solutions will greatly affect the way the world uses water in the future. Because irrigation accounts for roughly 40% of all freshwater use (USGS), the agricultural community might have to make some changes. For instance, by genetically modifying soybean seeds, soybeans could grow in dryer climates and yields can be boosted. This would in turn relieve some pressure on the rest of the agricultural community and it could be done without using anymore water.
Change is imminent for freshwater's future. Freshwater cannot be taken for granted any longer because there is no substitute for it. What solution is best fit to solve the imbalance of freshwater supply and demand? It is all going to depend on what processes are most economical and able to last in the long-run.
Read more about freshwater, agriculture, and farmland at Farmland Forecast (http://farmlandforecast.colvin-co.com/).
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