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1
TESMUN UNEP Study Guide [Year]
STUDY GUIDE United Nations Environment Programme
The Excelsior School Model United Nations 2018
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TESMUN UNEP Study Guide [Year]
Table of Contents
Message from the dais
Introduction to the committee
Introduction to the topic
The current world
Causes and effect
Possible solutions
Conclusion
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TESMUN UNEP Study Guide [Year]
MESSAGE FROM THE DAIS
Hello delegates!
First of all, it’s a matter of pride and a great privilege for us to be the TESMUN UNEP Dais
members! Not only that, but also we are immensely proud to have you all as the delegates of
UNEP. We hope that this study guide will be helpful for the improvement in your performance
in the committee. We want you to put your best efforts and give your hundred percent and
look forward to perform best. This might be a new topic for all of you but this can really be
helpful in your upcoming days. So, delegates this is not a burden but a platform to explore
yourselves. Open up and work hard in MUN so that you can extend your abilities. We hope that
you will make the best out of it. Delegates, remember that we are always there to guide you.
We’ll always be there if you need us and helping you all is a pleasure. We expect you to come to
us with your queries and problems. This will, without any doubts, broaden your knowledge and
enlighten you about the global issues. Work hard delegates. We wish you all delegates a very
good luck!
Dias,
Siddhartha Moktan
Pratistha Pandey
Prakriti Budhathoki
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INTRODUCTION TO THE COMMITTEE
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority
that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the
environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and
serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is an organization established in 1972 to guide
and coordinate environmental activities within the United Nations (UN) system. UNEP
promotes international cooperation on environmental issues, provides guidance to UN
organizations and, through its scientific advisory groups, encourages the international scientific
community to participate in formulating policy for many of the UN‟s environmental projects.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the organization also has encouraged participation by the
private sector to promote the sustainable use of the world’s natural resources.
One of UNEPs most widely recognized activities is Earth watch, an international monitoring
system designed to facilitate the exchange of environmental information among governments.
Participation in this enterprise enables members to assess significant environmental risks and
to act accordingly. UNEP played a major role in initiating negotiations on reducing ozone-
depleting chemicals. UNEP provides the technical assistance for a variety of international
conventions, including the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
(1987), the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and their Disposal (1989), and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (1992). As the
secretariat for these conventions, UNEP services the conferences, implements the decisions,
monitors implementation, and provides data and information. Together with the Food and
Agriculture Organization, UNEP helps to implement the Convention on the Prior Informed
Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
(1998). UNEP also coordinates the work on UN agencies with respect to desertification and the
regional seas (with special attention to the Mediterranean Sea)
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The 58-member Governing Council, the organization’s principal legislative body, is elected by
the UN General Assembly for four-year terms. Seats are allocated by region to assure
widespread representation, generally providing about 16 seats for African states, 13 for Asia, 6
for Eastern Europe, 10 for Latin America and the Caribbean, and 13 for Western Europe and
other states.
UNEP work encompasses:
• Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends
• Developing international and national environmental instruments
• Strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment
Mission "To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by
inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without
compromising that of future generations."
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INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC
Marine Pollution
Marine pollution refers to the contamination or presence of pollutants in oceans and seas. The
word ‘marine’ comes from the Latin word for ‘sea’ and it is related to similar words, such as
‘mariner’. Ocean pollution is become ever more of a problem in the present day. Marine
pollution can be defined as anything that contaminates the sea. Common marine pollutants
include chemicals, small plastic beads in exfoliants and also toxic bio-matter (such as sewage).
But, noise – due to excessive traffic around the ocean – can also be defined as pollution if it
disrupts marine life. Pollution can vary depending on the context and the purpose for which
seawater is being used. For example, normal seawater has some small particles of plants or
sand in, and when the sea is considered as the habitat of marine animals, one would not think
of these particles as pollutants – whereas one would definitely define toxic chemicals as
pollutants. However if somebody wanted to use this brine for cooking in, they might see the
sand and plants as polluting our cooking water.
Many measures can be taken for conserving the sea and oceans in order to prevent marine
pollution.
1. Be careful with our chemicals.
Climate change and marine pollution are both results of excess human interference in the
natural world. If we choose eco-friendly household cleaners and take measures to reduce the
fumes we release into the air (for instance, by choosing public transport over cars) we can
reduce the impact of our lives on the oceans. Further, careful site monitoring to prevent or stop
any chemical or oil spills at all times will reduce the instances of oil spills.
2. Don’t flush or rinse away harmful particles.
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If we do not flush plastics down the toilet, and if we do not pour oils and exfoliating beads
down the faucet, we prevent these particles from reaching our oceans. Switch to exfoliants that
use natural materials like seeds, sugar or sand instead – and recycle all plastics!
3. Campaign.
Influence the decisions of policymakers and factory bosses to make them more eco-friendly by
lobbying, writing letters, spreading the word on social media and campaigning. Motivating the
shipping companies to use safe and environmentally friendly vessels are among the key
measures that can be taken here.
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Water crisis
"There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our
needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people - and the environment -
suffer badly." Claims World Water Vision Report.
With the current state of affairs, correcting measures still can be taken to avoid the crisis to be
worsening. There is an increasing awareness that our freshwater resources are limited and
need to be protected both in terms of quantity and quality. This water challenge affects not
only the water community, but also decision-makers and every human being. "Water is
everybody's business" was one the key messages of the 2nd World Water Forum.
Saving water resources
Whatever the use of freshwater (agriculture, industry, domestic use), huge saving of water and
improving of water management is possible. Almost everywhere, water is wasted, and as long
as people are not facing water scarcity, they believe access to water is an obvious and natural
thing. With urbanization and changes in lifestyle, water consumption is bound to increase.
However, changes in food habits, for example, may reduce the problem, knowing that growing
1kg of potatoes requires only 100 litres of water, whereas 1 kg of beef requires 13 000 litres.
Improving drinking water supply
Water should be recognized as a great priority. One of the main objectives of the World Water
Council is to increase awareness of the water issue. Decision-makers at all levels must be
implicated. One of the Millenium Development Goals is to halve, by 2015, the proportion of
people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation. To that aim, several
measures should be taken:
Guarantee the right to water;
Decentralise the responsibility for water;
Develop know-how at the local level;
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Increase and improve financing;
Evaluate and monitor water resources.
Improving transboundary cooperation
As far as transboundary conflicts are concerned, regional economic developement and cultural
preservation can all be strengthened by states cooperating of water. Instead of a trend towards
war, water management can be viewed as a trend towards cooperation and peace. Many
initiatives are launched to avoid crises. Institutional commitments like in the Senegal River are
created. In 2001, Unesco and Grenn Cross International have joined forces in response to the
growing threat of conflicts linked to water. They launched the joint From Potential Conflicts to
Co-Operation Potential programme to promote peace in the use of transboundary
watercourses by addressing conflicts and fostering co-operation among states and
stakeholders.
Water resources are becoming scarce!
Agricultural crisis
Although food security has been significantly increased in the past thirty years, water
withdrawals for irrigation represent 66 % of the total withdrawals and up to 90 % in arid
regions, the other 34 % being used by domestic households (10 %), industry (20 %), or
evaporated from reservoirs (4 %).
As the per capita use increases due to changes in lifestyle and as population increases as well,
the proportion of water for human use is increasing. This, coupled with spatial and temporal
variations in water availability, means that the water to produce food for human consumption,
industrial processes and all the other uses is becoming scarce.
Environmental crisis
It is all the more critical that increased water use by humans does not only reduce the amount
of water available for industrial and agricultural development but has a profound effect on
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aquatic ecosystems and their dependent species. Environmental balances are disturbed and
cannot play their regulating role anymore.
An increase in tensions
As the resource is becoming scarce, tensions among different users may intensify, both at the
national and international level. Over 260 river basins are shared by two or more countries. In
the absence of strong institutions and agreements, changes within a basin can lead to
transboundary tensions. When major projects proceed without regional collaboration, they can
become a point of conflicts, heightening regional instability. The Parana La Plata, the Aral Sea,
the Jordan and the Danube may serve as examples. Due to the pressure on the Aral Sea, half of
its superficy has disappeared, representing 2/3 of its volume. 36 000 km2 of marin grounds are
now recovered by salt.
Water stress results from an imbalance between water use and water resources. The water
stress indicator in this map measures the proportion of water withdrawal with respect to total
renewable resources. It is a criticality ratio, which implies that water stress depends on the
variability of resources. Water stress causes deterioration of fresh water resources in terms of
quantity (aquifer over-exploitation, dry rivers, etc.) and quality (eutrophication, organic matter
pollution, saline intrusion, etc.) The value of this criticality ratio that indicates high water stress
is based on expert judgment and experience (Alcamo and others, 1999). It ranges between 20 %
for basins with highly variable runoff and 60 % for temperate zone basins. In this map, we take
an overall value of 40 % to indicate high water stress. We see that the situation is
heterogeneous over the world.
The concept of Water Stress
Already there is more waste water generated and dispersed today than at any other time in the
history of our planet: more than one out of six people lack access to safe drinking water,
namely 1.1 billion people, and more than two out of six lack adequate sanitation, namely 2.6
billion people (Estimation for 2002, by the WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2004). 3900 children die every
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day from water borne diseases (WHO 2004). One must know that these figures represent only
people with very poor conditions. In reality, these figures should be much higher.
Water Crisis
While the world's population tripled in the 20th century, the use of renewable water resources
has grown six-fold. Within the next fifty years, the world population will increase by another 40
to 50 %. This population growth - coupled with industrialization and urbanization - will result in
an increasing demand for water and will have serious consequences on the environment.
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THE CURRENT WORLD
Over 80% of marine pollution comes from land-based activities.
From plastic bags to pesticides - most of the waste we produce on land eventually reaches the
oceans, either through deliberate dumping or from run-off through drains and rivers. This
includes:
Oil
Oil spills cause huge damage to the marine environment - but in fact are responsible for only
around 12% of the oil entering the seas each year. According to a study by the US National
Research Council, 36% comes down drains and rivers as waste and runoff from cities and
industry.
Fertilizers
Fertilizer runoff from farms and lawns is a huge problem for coastal areas. The extra nutrients
cause eutrophication - flourishing of algal blooms that deplete the water's dissolved oxygen and
suffocate other marine life. Eutrophication has created enormous dead zones in several parts
of the world, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Baltic Sea.
Seas of garbage
Solid garbage also makes its way to the ocean. Plastic bags, balloons, glass bottles, shoes,
packaging material – if not disposed of correctly, almost everything we throw away can reach
the sea. Plastic garbage, which decomposes very slowly, is often mistaken for food by marine
animals. High concentrations of plastic material, particularly plastic bags, have been found
blocking the breathing passages and stomachs of many marine species, including whales,
dolphins, seals, puffins, and turtles. Plastic six-pack rings for drink bottles can also choke marine
animals. This garbage can also come back to shore, where it pollutes beaches and other coastal
habitats.
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Sewage disposal
In many parts of the world, sewage flows untreated, or under-treated, into the ocean. For
example, 80% of urban sewage discharged into the Mediterranean Sea is untreated.
This sewage can also lead to Eutrophication. In addition, it can cause human disease and lead to
beach closures.
Toxic chemicals
Almost every marine organism, from the tiniest plankton to whales and polar bears, is
contaminated with man-made chemicals, such as pesticides and chemicals used in common
consumer products.
Some of these chemicals enter the sea through deliberate dumping. For centuries, the oceans
have been a convenient dumping ground for waste generated on land. This continued until the
1970s, with dumping at sea the accepted practise for disposal of nearly everything, including
toxic material such as pesticides, chemical weapons, and radioactive waste. Dumping of the
most toxic materials was banned by the London Dumping Convention in 1972, and an amended
treaty in 1996 (the London Convention) further restricted what could be dumped at sea.
However, there are still the problems of already-dumped toxic material, and even the disposal
of permitted substances at sea can be a substantial environmental hazard. Chemicals also enter
the sea from land-based activities. Chemicals can escape into water, soil, and air during their
manufacture, use, or disposal, as well as from accidental leaks or fires in products containing
these chemicals. Once in the environment, they can travel for long distances in air and water,
including ocean currents. People once assumed that the ocean was so large that all pollutants
would be diluted and dispersed to safe levels. But in reality, they have not disappeared - and
some toxic man-made chemicals have even become more concentrated as they have entered
the food chain. Tiny animals at the bottom of the food chain, such as plankton in the oceans,
absorb the chemicals as they feed. Because they do not break down easily, the chemicals
accumulate in these organisms, becoming much more concentrated in their bodies than in the
surrounding water or soil. These organisms are eaten by small animals, and the concentration
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rises again. These animals are in turn eaten by larger animals, which can travel large distances
with their even further increased chemical load. Animals higher up the food chain, such as
seals, can have contamination levels millions of times higher than the water in which they live.
And polar bears, which feed on seals, can have contamination levels up to 3 billion times higher
than their environment. People become contaminated either directly from household products
or by eating contaminated seafood and animal fats. Evidence is mounting that a number of
man-made chemicals can cause serious health problems - including cancer, damage to the
immune system, behavioral problems, and reduced fertility.
Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However,
freshwater—the stuff we drink, bath in, irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly rare. Only 3%
of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or
otherwise unavailable for our use. As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to
water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. Inadequate
sanitation is also a problem for 2.4 billion people—they are exposed to diseases, such as
cholera and typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. Two million people, mostly
children, die each year from diarrheal diseases alone. Many of the water systems that keep
ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes
and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world’s
wetlands have disappeared. Agriculture consumes more water than any other source and
wastes much of that through inefficiencies. Climate change is altering patterns of weather and
water around the world, causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others.At
the current consumption rate, this situation will only get worse. By 2025, two-thirds of the
world’s population may face water shortages. And ecosystems around the world will suffer
even more.
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CAUSES AND EFFECTS
Causes of Marine pollution
1. Toxic chemicals in water.
Chemical runoff from industry can really endanger marine life. Industrial waste pumped into
the sea, household cleaners poured down the sink, and even chemicals in the atmosphere (for
instance due to the discharge of industrial wastes through factory chimneys) that dissolve into
the sea can pollute our oceans significantly.
2. Oil spillages.
This is usually an accidental form of industrial dumping, whereby leaks in oil tankers cause vast
quantities of oil to pour into the ocean. Accidental oil spills can devastate marine life.
3. Small particles.
The tiny plastic beads in exfoliating creams and other small particles that we pour down the
drain without thinking wind up polluting the ocean.
4. Plastic, Litter, and human waste.
Plastic bags, aluminum cans, trash and other human waste constitute a major pollutant of the
world’s oceans. A huge ‘island’ of trash roughly the size of Texas was recently found in the
Pacific ocean for instance, demonstrating the vast scale of this problem.
5. Sewage.
Whether or not it is treated with toxic chemicals, sewage pollutes the clear, clean water of the
oceans. This is another type of industrial dumping. Sometimes, sewage is not pumped directly
into the sea but into rivers, and then the untreated water of rivers carries it into the sea.
6. The shipping industry.
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Gases (which dissolve in the sea), chemicals and sewage from container ships are major
pollutants.
7. Dissolved greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases from human fossil fuel consumption are making the sea more acidic.
Effects of Marine Pollution
1. Oxygen depletion.
Seawater is full of dissolved oxygen, however decomposing sewage and other biomaterial in
oceans can result in a condition known as ‘hypoxia’ or oxygen depletion. This makes it hard for
oxygen loving marine life – plants, fish and animals – to survive in the oceans.
2. Higher acidity.
Toxic chemicals make our oceans more acidic. Again, this makes them poisonous to marine life
and causes harm to fish and marine mammals as well as marine plants and corals.
3. Choking marine life.
Small pieces of plastic and other litter are increasingly being found in the stomach of fish,
turtles and other marine animals. These pieces of trash choke marine animals and hamper their
digestion, with an often fatal result.
4. Spoiling birds’ feathers.
Oil spills coat the feathers of marine birds and strip them of the natural oils that birds use to
keep their feathers waterproof and to maintain their own body temperatures. As a result,
marine birds can overheat or get too cold, and they find it hard to stay afloat as their feathers
get soggy. They will also find it difficult to fly when their feathers are clogged with oil.
5. Blocking out the sunlight.
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Pollutants such as oil or litter can block out the sunlight from sea plants which need sunlight for
photosynthesis.
6. Dangers to human health.
Human swimmers and water sports lovers can become endangered by swimming in a polluted
sea.
Causes of Water Scarcity
Water Pollution
Water pollution is yet another cause of water scarcity. The sources of water pollution include
pesticides and fertilizers that wash away from farms, industrial and human waste that is directly
dumped into rivers without treating it in water treatment plant. Oil spill on the ground, waste
water leakage from landfills can seep underground and may pollute the groundwater making it
unfit for human consumption.
Overpopulation
The rapid increase in human population combined by massive growth in industry sector have
have transformed water ecosystems and resulted in loss of biodiversity. As population is
increasing at an ever increasing rate, the demand for new resources will result in additional
pressure on freshwater sources.
Agriculture
Agriculture uses majority of available freshwater. The sad thing is that about 60% of this water
gets wasted due to inefficient agriculture methods and leaky irrigation systems. In addition to
this, pesticides and fertilizers are washed away in rivers and lakes that further affect human and
animal population.
Effects of Water Scarcity
Hunger
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Water is incredibly required to grow crops and to care for livestock animals. It is estimated that
the global use of water for irrigation and agriculture is about 70% and that only 10% is utilized
for domestic purposes. As a result, water shortage means the practice of growing crops and
farming is greatly impacted. For this reason, water scarcity commonly contributes to lower
yields and death of animals particularly in the arid and semiarid regions and as such, it results in
hunger, poverty, and thirst.
Poor Heath
In many developing nations, water scarcity forces people to drink water of low quality from
flowing streams, majority of which are contaminated. Accordingly, they are infected with
water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery that kill people. Water shortage
may also mean sewage systems are stagnant which creates room for the build-up of bacteria
and harmful insects that result in infections. Besides, sanitation might become chaotic when
water is scarce especially in restaurants, clinics, and public places thus compromising the health
of the general public.
Poverty
Access to quality water is fundamental to better living standard and economic growth. Schools,
restaurants, hospitals, hotels and other businesses need to stay clean for operations to run
effectively. Imagine a situation whereby a major school or hotel goes without water even for a
day, the situation can be disastrous and leads to enormous economic losses. Restaurants and
shopping malls have to be kept clean to attract visitors. Manufacturing and industrial processes,
mining activities, and commercial businesses all need large quantities of water to flourish.
Without economic activities because of lack of water, then it means higher poverty levels and
poor living standards.
Habitat Loss and Destruction to Ecosystems
When water is scarce, then it means the natural landscapes suffer the most as it contributes to
desertification, lose of plants and death of wildlife and other animals. As a result, these
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ecological catastrophes create habitat loss that, in turn, leads to food shortages and poor
quality of life. For instance, the Aral Sea in Central Asia that used to be the world’s fourth
largest freshwater lake has been reduced by more than a third in a period of only three
decades. The water is now very salty, and the ecosystems within and around it have been
extensively destroyed due to overuse of the water resource, mainly influenced by water
scarcity in the region.
Disappearance of Wetlands
According to WWF, more than half of the planet’s wetlands have lost since 1990 which is largely
due to water scarcity. The wetlands have become dry to the point of losing its natural capability
to hold water. Human activities are the main contributors because of water overuse, pollution,
and interference with the underground aquifers.
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Possible Solution
Control Measures/ Solutions for Marine Pollution
1. Be careful with our chemicals.
Climate change and marine pollution are both results of excess human interference in the
natural world. If we choose eco-friendly household cleaners and take measures to reduce the
fumes we release into the air (for instance, by choosing public transport over cars) we can
reduce the impact of our lives on the oceans. Further, careful site monitoring to prevent or stop
any chemical or oil spills at all times will reduce the instances of oil spills.
2. Don’t flush or rinse away harmful particles.
If we do not flush plastics down the toilet, and if we do not pour oils and exfoliating beads
down the faucet, we prevent these particles from reaching our oceans. Switch to exfoliants that
use natural materials like seeds, sugar or sand instead – and recycle all plastics!
3. Campaign.
Influence the decisions of policymakers and factory bosses to make them more eco-friendly by
lobbying, writing letters, spreading the word on social media and campaigning. Motivating the
shipping companies to use safe and environmentally friendly vessels is among the key measures
that can be taken here.
4. Volunteer at an oil spill site.
Volunteers are always needed at oil spill sites to save the lives of marine birds by washing the
oil from their feathers and caring for them until they are ready to fly, swim and dive under
water again. Intervention is always needed as soon as possible to ensure that these birds do not
suffer any ill effects to their health.
5. Volunteer at a beach cleanup – or organize one yourself.
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Rid your local beach of litter by getting together with the rest of the community to pick up the
trash left behind by careless picnickers, boat crews and more. Joining together as a community
to care for the natural world is a wonderful way to remind everyone how intimately we are
connected to nature, and how much we depend on it. Working together with other people also
helps to keep us motivated and reminds us that we are not alone in our quest to care for the
environment.
6. Ensuring no debris is released into the ocean.
Recycling our plastics and other recyclable, and disposing of our waste responsibly is key here.
Solutions to Water Scarcity
Recharging aquifers/groundwater
According to a 2012 UN report on The World’s Water, groundwater retraction has tripled in the
past five decades because of industrial and agricultural uses. For this reason, governments and
organizations can undertake measures to recharge aquifers or groundwater by undertaking
projects aimed at infiltrating or injecting excess surface water into the underground aquifers.
This may include aspects such as restoration of watersheds and wetlands and the practice of
green infrastructure which aims at reducing impervious surfaces.
Water re-use and Effective Water Treatment Technologies
Water re-use strategies can help alleviate water scarcity in cities, schools, hospitals, and
industries. The main strategies here include reuse and recycling and the use of zero-liquid
discharge systems. Zero-liquid discharge system is whereby the water within a facility is
constantly treated, used and reused again and again without being discharged into the sewer or
other external water systems.
The non-potable water (grey water) can be used for washing cars, irrigating landscape,
industrial processing and flushing the toilets. Such a system allows the waste water that would
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have been discarded to become a helpful resource. Water re-uses or grey water can hence save
a lot of fresh water for human consumption in times of water shortage and water stress.
Desalination
Desalination is the treatment of saline waters. The treatment process aims at obtaining fresh
drinking water from the salty ocean waters or groundwater with high salt concentrations that
make them unsuitable for human consumption. Nations should invest in desalination
technologies as a means of attaining a more reliable water resource system to meet the ever
rising water demands. Desalination can thus offer an incredible solution to fresh water scarcity.
However, desalination heavily relies on power-hungry technologies and facilities which should
thoroughly be evaluated. Use of greener power sources and energy efficient technologies are
recommended.
Water Management
Water management by the use of regulations and policies can help reduce water scarcity. The
regulations and policies can address the water-related problems including aspects such as
water reuse, water resource management, water rights, industrial water use, wetland
restoration, domestic water supplies, water pollution, and others. In precise, water
management has the capability of addressing human interventions and the various natural
events in connection with resources and the long-term water policy decisions on the
environment and economy.
Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance
One of the key ways of solving the problem of water scarcity can be through infrastructure
repair and maintenance of water channels. Leaking pipes and sewage systems normally lead to
water wastage and contamination respectively. If these infrastructures are left unattended to
over time, the cumulative effects can create water shortages. Millions of liters of water are lost
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yearly in various regions of the world owing to leakages and sewer contamination, creating
water shortages.
Water Conservation
Water conservation is one of the leading ways to grow out of water scarcity. It is an indirect
approach to reducing water demands and is it usually critical in maintaining the supply-demand
balance. During droughts and in densely populated regions, for instance, water conservation
efforts ensure there is a supply-demand balance. The approaches can easily be implemented as
they involve simple ways of saving water. For water conservation to be effective enough, it has
to work hand in hand with water management policies.
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CONCLUSION
Marine pollution and water crisis are serious issue, and it comes in many forms. Nevertheless,
there are several ways that we can take positive action right now to solve this problem of
marine pollution. We should never think that our individual actions do not count when it comes
to caring for the environment: they do! If we refrained from dumping rubbish in the ocean, for
instance, every single individual on this earth could prevent several tones of trash from spoiling
the habitats of marine animals – this is no small achievement! And, when we club together with
other people, our ability to fight marine pollution becomes even bigger. So why not start today?
“A journey of thousands miles starts with a single step!” The major problems like marine
pollution and water crisis cannot be eradicated easily. It’s our duty to fight against these
problems. Otherwise we all have to agonize for it.
And remember! You could save a life in the sea today!
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References:
www.worldwatercouncil.org
wwf.panda.org/our_work/oceans/problems/pollution/
www.worldwildlife.org
www.importantindia.com
www.pri.org
www.nationalgeographical.com