Developed world warned over water shortages
Wednesday, 16 Aug 2006 08:12
Water supplies are in danger of running out in richer countries, WWF says
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Richer countries are more likely to suffer from severe water shortages than their less developed counterparts, a new report has warned.
Research by environment charity WWF says that developed nations are at a higher risk due to their "poorly thought out" water infrastructures, with worldwide climate change behind the droughts that many countries, particularly those in western Europe, have been experiencing.
WWF argues that water shortages are on the brink of becoming a "global crisis", with Australia, Spain, the US and Japan joining the UK as the countries most likely to be affected.
The charity's director of its global freshwater programme, Jamie Pittock, explained that rich countries would continue to be vulnerable to water shortages until efforts were stepped up to redevelop infrastructures and combat contamination.
He said: "Economic riches don't translate to plentiful water. Water must be used more efficiently throughout the world - scarcity and pollution are becoming more common and responsibility for finding solutions rests with both rich and poor nations."
Mr Pittock admitted, however, that some of the world's most rapidly developing economies had also created problems for themselves by committing to ambitious water solutions.
The Brazilian authorities are struggling to provide enough water for its population, India's agriculture is under threat from persistent over-use of water, and the true human and ecological cost of China's Three Gorges dam project is as yet unknown, the director claims.
"Regrettably, it appears that the next group of rapidly developing economies have already been seduced by major infrastructure plans, such as large dams, with inadequate consideration of whether such projects will meet water needs or inflict human and natural costs," he said.
As to the future, the WWF is recommending that governments make conserving wetland areas a priority, as well as revising water-intensive irrigation practices.
Last week a report by the RSPB criticised water utilities in the UK over their inefficient methods.
The charity claimed that the drought conditions experienced in the country during the last two years were being aggravated by "leaking pipes, water-greedy housing and over zealous land drainage".