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Water Crisis and Conservation Insights

This document contains an answer key summarizing information about global freshwater usage. [1] Around 5 out of 10 people have access to running water worldwide. [2] Many cities are facing potential water shortages by 2025. [3] Agricultural use accounts for 70% of all liquid freshwater usage globally, while personal and industrial use make up 8% and 22% respectively. Embedded water refers to the total water used in producing goods like food and other products. Valuing water at a higher price could promote conservation and efficiency. Ensuring universal access to water remains a challenge.

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Lissette Plaza
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42 views3 pages

Water Crisis and Conservation Insights

This document contains an answer key summarizing information about global freshwater usage. [1] Around 5 out of 10 people have access to running water worldwide. [2] Many cities are facing potential water shortages by 2025. [3] Agricultural use accounts for 70% of all liquid freshwater usage globally, while personal and industrial use make up 8% and 22% respectively. Embedded water refers to the total water used in producing goods like food and other products. Valuing water at a higher price could promote conservation and efficiency. Ensuring universal access to water remains a challenge.

Uploaded by

Lissette Plaza
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Answer key

1. What do you think? Select the correct answer: a, b or c. (1 point)

I. How many people can count on running water in the world?

a) 7 out of 10 b) 5 out of 10 c) 2 out of 10

II. Few cities are experiencing a potential shut off of water supply.

a) True b) False

III. By what year have researchers predict that countries will become water-stressed?

a) 2025 b) 2030 c) 2040

2. Fill in the gaps with the words from the box. (2 points)

Existential Inflection Arid Bountiful Absurdly Embedded Scarce

1. There is an incorrect perception that water is available in bountiful amounts.


2. We are at an inflection point where if we’re not careful we may not have water anymore.
3. 98% of water is embedded in all the ingredients that were used to make a bottle.
4. Because water is priced below its value, humans use water in absurdly wasteful ways.
5. As water becomes more scarce, we may have to turn to new ways to find clean water.
6. Growing water-intensive crops should not be done in arid climates.
7. Mexico City is facing an existential water crisis.

3. A simile uses “like” or “as” in a sentence. Eg. She runs as fast as a cheetah. Eg. She is tall
like a giraffe.
Explain the use of this simile in the video: “Groundwater is like a savings account.” (1 point)
This simile expresses a parallel between using up water and drying up your funds. Groundwater
is similar to a savings account in that it takes a long time to build up an underground reservoir
of water or aquifer that can be used to keep large populations hydrated. This is similar to a
bank account where you draw money out to spend. However, once used up, both water and
money take a long time to replenish.

4. Fill-in the proportion of Liquid Freshwater use on Earth: (2 points)

Personal use = 8% Examples:


Showering, brushing our teeth, toilet flushing washing our clothes

Industry use = 22% Examples:


Making plastics such as bottles requires water.
Agricultural use = 70%

Examples: Watering crops such as fruits, and vegetables

5. The video highlights the number of liters of freshwater required to make common
everyday items such as soft drinks, coffee, and meat. Explain the concept of “embedded
water”. (3 points)

Embedded water is a total calculation of water that is used to make a product. For example,
98% of the water is embedded in the ingredients that were grown to make the bottle of Coca
Cola. 74 liters are used to make a glass of beer and 130 liters are used for a cup of coffee. Meat
contains one of the highest amounts of embedded water. Growing a kilogram of Alfalfa, feed
for cows, takes about 510 liters of water, and given a cow takes 12 kg of feed a day, a quarter
pound of a hamburger patty, requires 1650 liters of water to produce.

A. What are two benefits of valuing water at a higher price?


Humans use water as though it is in unlimited supply. The benefit of valuing water is to send a
price signal to everyone. For example, people will stop growing crops in arid conditions to
increase the efficiency of crop output. Governments may also repair water infrastructure so
that water isn't wasted due to leakage and broken pipes. Mexico City is one city that loses half
of its drinkable water to leakage.

B. What is the problem with letting governments regulate access to water such as the opening
of the brewery by Constellation Brands in Mexico City?
Constellation Brands may have an economic interest in gaining access to water in Mexico City.
Governments tend to have power in picking who has more or less access to water. Conflict of
interest and corruption may accelerate problems with water usage if there is a lack of
regulation.

Watch the video segment from 4:50 - 0:00 and answer the following questions. (answers vary)
(1 point)

Why do we desalinate water and what are some obstacles that we are facing in using this
method?. Desalination of water makes up less than 1% of the water we use. It is extremely
expensive to treat it to water standards and a huge amount of energy. However, the cost of
consumer goods such as groceries and produce would increase significantly.

What does it mean to “value an invaluable resource while ensuring that everybody has access
to it.”
Water is an invaluable resource; without it, we would not survive. However, the difficulty is that
if the price of water is increased to promote conservation, the greatest impact will land on the
poor. Therefore access to water for everyone becomes more difficult to achieve. Some cities
such as Philadelphia, U.S., have made their citizens pay for water prices based on the income
they make.

Common questions

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Understanding 'embedded water'—the total water used in the production of goods—can encourage consumers to choose products with a smaller water footprint. For instance, knowledge that producing a quarter-pound hamburger requires 1650 liters of water might lead consumers to reduce meat consumption, supporting more sustainable dietary choices . Producers may also shift towards more water-efficient production methods to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers, thus promoting sustainability in agriculture and manufacturing .

Increasing the price of water can lead to more efficient use by signaling its scarcity and encouraging conservation. Higher prices could deter wasteful practices, especially in arid regions, and provide funds for improving infrastructure to reduce losses from leaks . However, higher prices might disproportionately affect lower-income communities, potentially restricting access to this essential resource and leading to socioeconomic disparities in water availability. Managing these drawbacks requires careful policy design, such as income-based pricing models, to ensure equitable access .

Government regulation plays a crucial role in managing water resources. In Mexico City, despite facing an existential water crisis, government decisions such as allowing economic interest groups like Constellation Brands to access public water resources can lead to improper allocation and exacerbate scarcity issues. Inadequate regulation can facilitate corruption and conflict of interest, making it essential for governments to enforce strict regulations to prevent misuse and ensure equitable distribution of water . Effective governance and transparency are vital to manage such scenarios and sustain water availability for all citizens .

Agricultural use accounts for 70% of liquid freshwater consumption, making it the largest sector compared to personal (8%) and industrial (22%) use . This high proportion highlights the critical need for focused water management policies in agriculture. Policies might include investing in efficient irrigation systems, promoting drought-resistant crops, and encouraging water-efficient farming practices to alleviate pressure on water resources. Such measures not only support sustainable agriculture but also ensure that adequate water supplies remain available for personal and industrial uses .

The socio-economic implications of losing half of a city's drinkable water to leaks are significant. In Mexico City, such losses exacerbate the existing water crisis, contributing to scarcity and driving up costs. Economically, this places a burden on municipal budgets, necessitating expensive repairs and infrastructure upgrades . Socially, it may lead to unequal water distribution where access is hampered, particularly affecting impoverished communities. Addressing these leaks is critical to improving water supply reliability, ensuring equitable access, and achieving sustainable urban water management .

Desalination presents both challenges and benefits in addressing water scarcity. The primary benefit is its ability to convert abundant seawater into usable freshwater, potentially offering a steady supply in coastal regions . However, significant challenges include the high cost and energy-intensive nature of the process. The energy requirement leads to high operational costs, which could increase the price of consumer goods. Additionally, environmental concerns arise from the disposal of brine, a byproduct . Despite these challenges, advancements in technology may reduce costs and mitigate environmental impacts over time .

By 2040, many countries are predicted to face water stress, significantly impacting global agriculture. As water becomes scarce, agricultural output may decline, particularly for water-intensive crops grown in arid climates, exacerbating food security issues . Regions dependent on agriculture may face economic challenges, and there could be increased competition for water resources between agricultural and other sectors. This could lead to innovations in irrigation techniques, a shift towards less water-intensive crops, and increased investments in agricultural technology to maintain productivity .

The comparison of groundwater to a savings account highlights the concept that like financial reserves, groundwater reserves take a significant time to build up but can be depleted quickly if overused. This suggests that sustainable water management strategies should focus on conserving groundwater reserves as they are not quickly replenishable. Over-extraction of groundwater could lead to a situation where the resource is depleted before it can be naturally restored, similarly to overspending from a financial account leading to bankruptcy. This comparison implies the necessity for long-term planning and careful monitoring of groundwater usage to avoid a crisis .

Awareness of 'embedded water' can significantly drive environmental sustainability, as consumers with this knowledge may prefer products with lower water footprints, prompting sustainable consumption patterns . This shift can pressure industries to adopt water-saving measures and invest in efficient technologies, thereby reducing their environmental impact. However, the extent of this influence largely depends on the availability of transparent and accessible water footprint information and the consumers' willingness to prioritize environmental concerns over cost or convenience .

Valuing water as an 'invaluable resource' is essential for promoting its conservation, but ensuring universal access presents a significant challenge. Pricing strategies that reflect its scarcity can lead to efficient use and fund infrastructure improvements . However, such strategies may restrict access for economically disadvantaged populations, creating equity issues. Implementing income-based pricing models, like those used in Philadelphia, US, can help balance conservation goals with equitable access, although the feasibility of such measures depends on local economic contexts and policy effectiveness .

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