When someone in the Western world is
asked his opinion about water scarcity, he might respond with some
concern for those starving in Africa, or perhaps India. He will
probably assume regional droughts in his own rich country to be
temporary inconveniences that can be addressed by rationing and
conservation.
Crisis? What crisis?” says the
archetypical, self-assured Westerner. “It will never happen
here.”
Or can it?
In the West, droughts and floods are
largely attributed to weather cycles and global warming. Not much
serious consideration is given to the real underlying
causes of present “inconveniences.” And, while water problems in
the English-speaking countries of the world are intensifying, it is
obvious that they have not reached a crisis stage—yet.
However, this is not the case in
numerous regions throughout the planet. Many areas are already under
stress from lack of water and a growing population. With expanding
deserts, deforestation and growing droughts, everyone should be
concerned about potential worldwide calamity caused by a diminished
water supply.
Where is the Water?
When viewed from space, Earth is a
magnificent blue planetary gem that appears to have a limitless
supply of water. Indeed, at least 70% of its surface is covered by
water.
But most is salt water, located
largely in the oceans and seas. Only 3% of all the water is
freshwater, safe for drinking—and most of this is unavailable for
human use. Roughly a full three quarters of all freshwater is part
of the frozen and largely uninhabited ice caps and glaciers. What
remains for our use is about 1% of the total. (North America’s
Great Lakes and Russia’s Lake Baikal make up about two-fifths of
this volume.)
The hydrological cycle acts as a huge
desalination unit as the sun’s energy transports freshwater in the
form of vapor from the oceans over land. Rainwater and snow are
distributed throughout the earth’s continents, but not equally.
Approximately 75% of annual rain
falls in areas inhabited by only one-third of the earth’s
population. For example, 20% of all rainfall descends upon the dense
jungles of the Amazon River basin in South America each year. Yet
this vast region is inhabited by less than 10 million people.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, roughly
30% of Africa’s annual rainfall is deposited along the Congo River
and its tributaries—an area that is inhabited by only about 10% of
the continent’s total population.
Also consider that, although Asia
experiences around 31% of the earth’s annual rainfall, the per
capita availability is just over 4,700 cubic meters per year, per
person. In contrast, per-capita availability in North America stands
at over 19,000 cubic meters.
What is Desalination?
Few would disagree that the planet
is running out of sources of vitally important freshwater.
And—as the worldwide population continues to rapidly increase,
and as droughts continue to plague the planet—most would agree
that something needs to be done quickly to alleviate this growing
concern. Otherwise, by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s
population could live in countries with severe water shortages.
With 97% of the planet’s water
found in the oceans, one possible solution is desalination.
This term refers to any of several processes that remove salt and
other fine particulates from ocean water, treated wastewater and
brackish water (a mixture of fresh- and saltwater). More than 100
countries desalinize water; Saudi Arabia leads the way, accounting
for 24% of the world’s capacity.
Of the many desalination methods
that exist, reverse osmosis is the most common,
constituting 47.2% of installed desalination capacity worldwide,
as of July 2004. Reverse osmosis is accomplished by pumping
seawater at high pressure through a permeable material that allows
the water to pass through, but not the salt and other minerals.
This is often done in multiple stages. The end result of the
entire procedure is usable freshwater. Close to 50% of the
supplied water is recovered, with the other half rendered unusable
due to the high mineral content. Israel is home to the planet’s
largest reverse osmosis plant, capable of producing 100 million
cubic meters of water per year.
Another popular method of
desalination is known as distillation. This process uses
evaporation to separate salt and other impurities from saltwater.
As the water is heated, it evaporates and leaves behind the
unwanted materials. The steam is collected and condensed in a
container, while the waste product is ejected. An advantage of
distillation is that it uses thermal energy (sunlight) rather than
conventional fossil fuels as its source of power, resulting in a
more environmentally friendly solution. The drawback is that it
yields less freshwater than does reverse osmosis.
No matter the method of
desalination used, an extremely concentrated—and potentially
harmful—waste product is always produced. (The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency has classified it as industrial
waste, thus requiring proper disposal.)
In the case of reverse osmosis,
since 50% of the supply water is recovered, it means that the
other 50% is now twice as saline as it was originally. If a
desalination facility is located along a coastline, it is possible
under certain circumstances to return this waste water to the
ocean, but only if it does not exceed a safe level of salinity. If
the facility is located inland, the challenges of proper waste
product disposal increase, as one cannot simply release it into
freshwater streams, ponds, lakes, etc.
Similar to many solutions
discovered by mankind, desalination produces a useless
by-product in the process of creating a useful product.
Will it come to be recognized as a viable solution? Time will
tell.
In short, the above unequal
distribution can be attributed to extremely complex ocean currents
and temperature, latitudes and their relationship to the sun’s
distance, atmospheric “jet streams,” and variations in the
earth’s atmospheric temperature. These physical conditions have,
indeed, been altered by man through his abuse of the earth.
The Hydraulic Economy
Water—and lots of it—is crucial
to any prosperous economy. It is no coincidence that the powerful
nations of the world are located in areas with an abundant water
supply. Worldwide, agricultural uses account for about 69% of the
total, while industry uses around 23%.
Industrialized nations use less
percentage of water for agriculture; more is used for industrial
purposes. Conversely, the third world must devote a greater share to
its agriculture, due to farming inefficiencies, as well as water
scarcity and lack of industry.
These differences are huge. The
continent of Africa, for example, devotes a full 88% of all water to
agriculture, 7% to domestic purposes and only 5% to industry. Asia
must soak its crops with a similar 86% of its water, using only 8%
for industry and 6% for domestic use. India is at 90% for
agricultural use, 7% for industry and 3% for private consumption.
Conversely, Europe’s industry uses 54% of all water, with
agriculture consuming 33% and domestic use at 13%.
Water usage increased six-fold in the
20th century, at twice the rate of population growth. Americans used
as little as 7 gallons of water per day 100 years ago. But today,
with readily available water in homes and offices across the
country, usage has skyrocketed to more than 145 gallons of water per
day!
The exponential increases in
consumption by the developed world can be largely attributed to more
advanced methods of pumping and distribution. While a
person—usually women and girls—living in Asia or Africa may
literally walk miles (often over three hours) to retrieve available
water by hand, those in the West can simply turn a faucet and have
all the water they need.
Along with the huge increase in
worldwide consumption is waste. In many places of the world, 30 to
40% or more of water goes unaccounted for, caused by water leakages
in pipes and canals, and illegal connections. As the third world
nations struggle to develop, world per-capita water use is also
increasing exponentially, not simply in a linear manner. Much of
this increase can be attributed to human migration toward population
centers, as it is estimated that half of humanity will be living in
towns and cities by 2007.
Consequently, within the next 20
years, the worldwide average availability of water-per-person is
expected to decrease by more than one-third—and only if
weather patterns remain favorable.
Misuse and Pollution
Let’s take a look at
civilization’s critical need for water. The basic need to feed the
earth’s people requires incredible amounts of water. For example,
a one-acre cornfield loses over 4,000 gallons of water per day just
in evaporation. A single pound of potatoes requires 1,000 pounds of
water for its production. Or, generally, one ton of produce requires
around 1,000 tons of water. Astonishing!
Perhaps more astonishing is a
breakdown of water totals required for some other common foods:
• Apple: 16 gallons
• Orange: 22 gallons
• Egg: 85 gallons
• Loaf of bread: 150 gallons
• Pound of beef: 3,000 gallons
Agriculture is also the biggest
polluter of freshwater resources—accounting for more than 70% of
water pollution in the United States. In America alone, agricultural
chemicals (including pesticides) have eroded sediment and, combined
with animal waste, have seriously degraded 173,000 miles of
waterways.
The problem is no less serious in
other countries. In India, for example, more than 4 million hectares
of agricultural land have been abandoned because of salt deposits
and water logging caused by irrigation.
Whether pumped from an aquifer or
distributed to crops from surface reservoirs, water eventually makes
its way back to the sea as runoff. What returns to rivers and
streams after agricultural use contains harmful toxins, salts,
sediments and pathogens.
Industrial pollution also contributes
to compromised water quality. At least 70,000 different chemicals
are used regularly throughout the world, and there are between 200
and 400 toxic chemicals that contaminate the world’s waterways. It
is also estimated that at least 1,000 new chemicals are introduced
every year! When these industrial wastes are combined with
agricultural runoff, the problem of freshwater pollution becomes
mountainous.
While it is true that advances in
water chemistry as it relates to water treatment have done much to
clean up the rivers and lakes in the industrialized world, over 90%
of Europe’s rivers have nitrate levels that exceed established
health thresholds, and one-half of the continent’s lakes are low
in oxygen. The process, called eutrophication, occurs when
excess nutrients stimulate the growth of algae in the water, which
in turn rob the lake of oxygen necessary for animal life.
Wastewater treatment is big business
today, processing millions of gallons of water while sending tons of
the refuse taken from the water to landfills. However, in the third
world, 90 to 95% of all domestic sewage and 75% of all industrial
waste are discharged into surface waters without any treatment at
all.
Here are just a few of the more
serious developments:
• The fertile Nile Delta region has
contracted radically due to water diversion and sediment buildup.
About 30 species of fish (out of 47) have become extinct or
endangered. Delta fisheries that could once feed a million people
have been wiped out.
• The Rhine River in Europe has
lost 8 of its 44 species of fish; another 25 of those are rare or
endangered.
• Colombia’s Magdalena River has
seen fish production drop from 72,000 metric tons in 1977 to only
23,000 metric tons in 1992.
• In the United States, California
has lost more than 90% of its wetlands, causing about two-thirds of
native fish to become extinct or endangered.
A Body of Water
The human body is around 72% water,
the human brain is nearly 85% and blood 82%. No wonder one’s
survival can extend for weeks without food, but usually only a few
days without water.
The recommended daily amount of
this marvelous fluid required for drinking is said to be around
3.3 liters of water for women and 4.5 for men.
Add sanitation requirements, and
the total increases to about 40 liters per person, per day.
Include water for bathing and
cooking, and the total skyrockets to an amazing 200 liters per
person, per day!
The following guidelines
dramatically illustrate our continuous need for water:
• A 5% loss of body fluids
results in thirst, irritability, nausea and weakness.
• A 10% loss results in
dizziness, headache, inability to walk and a tingling sensation in
the limbs.
• A 15% loss results in dim
vision, painful urination, swollen tongue, deafness and a numb
feeling in the skin.
• A loss greater than 15% usually
results in death.
Water is in contact with cell
membranes and protein surfaces, which have a strong attraction to
it. Biologists refer to this type of surface as hydrophilic.
Many substances, such as oil, do
not mix well with water. Cell membranes use this property to
control the exchange of nutrients and chemicals with their
external environment. This process is possible in large part
because of the unusual cohesive nature of water molecules—a
property referred to as surface tension.
Water acts as a solvent, a cleaner,
a transport vehicle and a shield, as seen in the human body.
There is a saying among water
engineers: “The solution to pollution is dilution.” While this
is intended as a sarcastic comment on the problem, it is based on
some truth.
But there is only so much water
available for this purpose, as a single gallon of gasoline can
contaminate 750,000 gallons of water. It is estimated that, if
current trends were to continue, the world’s entire river system
will be required to transport and dilute pollution by 2050!
War Over Water
In 1995, 31 countries—with combined
populations of 458 million people—faced water stress or water
scarcity, with most of the stressed areas found in the third world.
The next year, 54% of all accessible freshwater from lakes, rivers,
streams and underground aquifers were being consumed.
In Africa, where 43% of the land
surface is arid, drought was anticipated as a normal part of a cycle
every five to six years. However, severe droughts have occurred much
more frequently in recent years, affecting more than 50 million
people and killing at least 2 million. This year, a spokesman for
the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization warned that
11 million people living in East Africa would die unless a massive
relief effort commenced immediately.
Severe drought in northern Kenya,
southern Ethiopia and southwest Somalia has caused livestock to
become practically worthless. “I have walked for three days to
bring these animals here, and now I have to sell them at whatever
price I am offered because they will not be strong enough to walk
back again,” said Hussein Aden, age 25 (“Africa: Economies Worst
Placed to Cope With Knock-On Effects of Drought,” UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs).
Growing water scarcity in China could
threaten economic expansion. The nation became a net food importer
in 2004 due to both land and water shortages. While the present
situation cannot be referred to as a crisis, increased drought
(common in the north) and floods (common in the south) could quickly
change the situation.
As all nations attempt to cope with
growing populations, changing weather patterns and shrinking water
reserves, water will become a point of contention. The UN
acknowledges that “hot spots” of conflict between nations will
probably result. Here are just a few examples:
• Israel and Jordan have had past
disagreements about water ownership and use, though a treaty in 1994
somewhat cooled tensions.
• The tiny Jewish state occupies
and controls the headwaters of the Jordan River, much to the
dissatisfaction of Syria and Jordan. (One cause of the 1967
Arab-Israeli war was said to be water.)
• The waters of the Blue Nile have
long been a source of heated contention between Egypt and Ethiopia.
Egypt’s very existence is dependent on the Nile, which supplies
98% of its water needs.
• In Turkey, the Southeast Anatolia
Project is poised to divert half of the flow of the Euphrates River.
In short, water scarcity can lead to
the exchange of strong words, saber-rattling—and even armed
conflict. In a world of competing nations where the powerful exploit
the weak, water can and will be used as an excuse to wage war. Such
has been the legacy of mankind.
While some, through science and
organizations such as the United Nations, vainly attempt to solve
the world’s water problem, the Bible reveals that dark times are
immediately ahead. As prophetic trends, caused by man’s
disobedience to his Creator, worsen—as droughts and famines
increase and spread—wars among nations will arise. On the heels of
such wars will come more droughts and famines, of even greater
intensity (Matt. 24:6-7; Rev. 6:4-6).
Solutions
Will science and engineering be able
to solve the growing scarcity of water throughout the earth? Will
men somehow put aside their differences, and work together to solve
this threatening problem through cooperation and technical
advancement? Will the nations of the West, including the United
States, be affected?
While catastrophic drought, and the
starvation that accompanies it, appears to be restricted to largely
the poverty-stricken areas of the world, the number of nations
experiencing water shortages will increase. God’s Word
proclaims that even the richest nations of the earth—those that
possess the birthright blessings (Gen. 22:16-17; 35:11;
48:18-20)—will also soon find themselves in times of scarcity.
(Our book AMERICAN AND BRITAIN in bible
prophecy explains what these blessings are—and why
they are being removed).
First, this is to occur in the form
of too much rain in one area, and too little:
“And also I have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet
three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city,
and caused it not to rain upon another city: One piece was rained
upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered” (Amos 4:7).
These regionally confined and
relatively mild droughts will increase in intensity until complete
drought, famine and scarcity suddenly engulf the land (Lev. 26:19).
God will bring this calamity upon the modern nations descended from
ancient Israel as punishment for rejecting Him and His way of life!
The great Creator of the universe controls the weather. God uses
weather and other means as instruments to chastise His rebellious
children, who will not listen and follow Him.
Yes, the nations of the world could
prosper in abundance—if only they would turn from their rebellion
against the God who made them! Our Creator promises to provide rain
in due season, necessary for abundant crops and general economic
prosperity (Isa. 35:1).
Water in Abundance Soon to Come
God does not delight in men’s
suffering: “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?
Says the Lord God: and not that he
should return from his ways, and live?” (Ezek. 18:23). He calls
upon all nations to repent—change—and obey His laws and walk in
all His ways.
Sadly, it is in man’s nature to
rebel against his Maker—to reject God’s warnings of punishment.
However, individuals can
escape! God promises physical blessings and protection now—in
this life!—to those who choose to come out of the world (Rev.
18:4) and its ways.
Yet the greatest
news is that Jesus Christ will soon return to establish His
perfect government on the earth. Peace and widespread prosperity—along
with abundant natural resources for all—will result (Isa.
9:6-7; 35:6-7).
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