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Revision as of 13:32, 19 January 2009 by Phanly (talk | contribs) (added Water privatization WP link)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Water security is an increasing concern arising from population growth, drought, climate change, oscillation between el nino and la nina effects, urbanisation, salinity, upstream pollution, over-allocation of water licences by government agencies, over-utilisation of groundwater from artesian basins. Water security is rapidly declining in many parts of the world.
It impacts between regions, states and countries. Tensions exist between upstream and downstream users of water within individual jurisdictions.
During history there has been much conflict over use of water from rivers such as the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Water security is sometimes sought to be achieved by implementing, desalination, pipelines between sources and users, water licences with differenet security levels, privatisation of water supplies and, rarely, war.
Water allocation between competing users is increasingly determined by application of market based pricing for either water licences or actual water.
International competition
More than 50 countries on 5 continents are said to be at risk of conflict over water.
Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Project (Guneydogu Anadolu Projesi, or GAP) on the Euphrates has potentially serious consequences for water supplies in Syria and Iraq..
Intra-national competition
Australia
Competition between states
In Australia there is competition for the resources of the Darling River system between Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
Competition between regions
In Victoria, Australia a proposed pipeline from the Goulburn Valley to Melbourne has led to protests by farmers.
Competition between uses
In the Macquarie Marshes of NSW grazing and irrigation interests compete for water flowing to the marshes
Competition for environmental flows
The Snowy Mountains Scheme diverted water from the Snowy River to the Murray River and the Murrumbidgee River for the benefit of irrigators and electricity generation through hydro-electric power. During recent years government has taken action to increase environmental flows to the Snowy in spite of severe drought in the Murray Darling Basin. The Australian Government has implemented buy-backs of water allocations, or properties with water allocations, to endavour to increase environmental flows.
References
- http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119047944/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 Retrieved 2009-01-19
- http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=4406040&q=%22water+security%22&uid=&setcookie=yes Retrieved 2009-01-19
- http://www.stormingmedia.us/75/7593/A759324.html Retrieved 2009-01-19
- http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/natres/waterindex.htm Retrieved 2009-01-19
- http://www.stormingmedia.us/75/7593/A759324.html Retrieved 2009-01-19
- http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23069045-5010020,00.html Retrieved 2009-01-19
See also
External links
- International Water Security: Domestic Threats and Opportunities, 2008, ISBN 13: 9789280811506 328 pages, Paperback by United Nations University
- Water for Food, Water for Life: A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture