Choose one arid region and write a report comparing possible methods Assignment

Choose one arid region and write a report comparing possible methods of water provision to the area - Assignment Example The magnitude of the problem is increasing because of the lack of awareness among the general public of these areas about the sustainable and economical use of water. This report discusses the situation of water supply crisis in one such region i.e. Qatar and a few solutions to the problem and methodologies for providing water are also discussed. 2. Background The problem of water shortage is not due to global warming but is more due to the increase in population and the wastage of water by a large number of people throughout the world. More 20% of the world population does not have access to clean drinking water. The United Nations water program has set a target, in Millennium Development Goals, of supplying 85% of world population with safe drinking water by the end of 2020. But with the increasing population and increased wastage and pollution of water this target cannot be achieved before 2030. The third edition of the World Water Development Report (WWDR3) presented in the fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul in March 2009, various issues have been identified as the cause of the water shortage in the world, particularly in the arid regions. ... The salient features and the application of the various alternative methods with respect to Qatar is discussed separately in the following paragraphs. a. Wastewater Treatment and Reuse A large quantity of water is used for household washing purposes. This water which can be reused after proper treatment is normally wasted and thus contributes to the problem of water shortage particularly in the arid regions of the world. Qatar being one such region can also utilize its wastewater for fulfilling the increasing demand of water in the country. Wastewater does not only fulfill the increasing water demand but it is also very effective in controlling water pollution and various water-borne diseases particularly in countries like Qatar where people are unaware of the hygienic procedures through which they can stop water pollution. Wastewater reuse has is being practiced in various countries for providing fresh water resources. Qatar generates more than 2 million cubic meters of waste water in the form of household and industrial waste (Gleik, Cooley and Morikawa, 2008). Out of which about 35% can be treated and reused. Doing so will fulfill 50% of the household demand of water in Qatar. The cost per cubic meter ($0.49) is also lower as compared to the water obtained from desalination (2$ per cubic meter). Moreover wastewater treatment also resolves the issue of water pollution because the water is treated and reused instead of discharging into land which pollutes land and underground water resources. Another advantage of the reuse of wastewater is the localized nature of water supply system because the wastewater generated by a certain locality can be treated and reused