I remember sitting in class at the University of Liverpool last year and being completely dumbfounded. One of my professors, who happened to be a hydrologist, just told the entire room of students that Libya had 20 years of freshwater supply left. Furthermore, he said that the government was doing nothing to address the future crisis and citizens continued to get their water for free. 'How is that possible?' I thought. Surely leaders knew people cannot survive without water. Surely they would know the kind of civil unrest a water crisis would cause. How could it have gotten to that point?
Most of us know that Libya is on North African nation that sits on the Mediterranean Sea. A good portion of that country is part of the Sahara Desert, so water is already in short supply. After looking into my professor's statement, I found a deepening natural crisis happening in a part of the world where human conflict boils just below the surface, regularly erupting into violence. Most of the Middle East faces desertification and a looming water shortage of severe proportions. Seametrics and The Guardian have both highlighted the imminent water crisis in this part of the world and the nations most at risk of not finding a solution due to poverty and civil instability.
Digging into the issue highlights some of the causes of this problem. In the case of Libya, continued use of its coastal aquifers (which were very slow to renew themselves) allowed saltwater to contaminate that source of freshwater. In addition to this problem, the nation was highly dependent on importing food crops because of the dry landscape. Libya's longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, wanted to help the country become more self-sufficient and he knew water was the key. The discovery of a large freshwater aquifer under the Saharan sands led Gaddafi to embark on a highly ambitious project known as the Great Man-Made River (GMMR).
This incredibly expensive project brought unthinkable amounts of freshwater to the far reaches of Libya and encouraged the expansion of agriculture in the desert nation. This new found source of water in an arid land led to a glut on the resource and a high degree of mismanagement which is rapidly depleting the aquifer. While some liberal estimates give the nation from 100 - 500 years before the water runs out, many other experts are predicting - such as my professor - a much sooner expiration date. What my professor said about the Libyan government not doing anything about the problem became understandable when I discovered it was using a time-frame it thought more appropriate: 4600 years. It doesn't make it excusable, because clearly that number is made up when compared with actual scientific analysis, but it clarifies why the government isn't addressing the problem.
Dry places are becoming drier due to climate change, yet water consumption is rapidly increasing. A huge part of the problem is the inefficient use of water during irrigation. The fact that water is free or consumers are only charged a nominal fee means water use is non-sustainable in this country. Solutions to this impending crisis do exist. Just making irrigation more water efficient and imposing restrictions on water use will lengthen the lifetime of the aquifer. New technologies exist and should be introduced to the Libyan people that would also make it possible to use water more efficiently. If they or any other poor nation find it too expensive, developed nations should assist them. Further conflict in that region over such an essential resource is not needed, and it should be viewed as a moral shortfall if the rest of the human race decides to not help if called upon.
Doing even a little bit of research unveils a very disturbing trend in the future availability of water. Over time, I want to draw attention to some of these critical issues. Most of us don't think about it because water has become very available, however we must think about the threat to our water. It is one of the three essential resources we cannot live without. If we think about it, and we know the facts, we can begin to use our innovation and adaptability to address the problem. This is one thing we can't afford to place out of sight.
Most of us know that Libya is on North African nation that sits on the Mediterranean Sea. A good portion of that country is part of the Sahara Desert, so water is already in short supply. After looking into my professor's statement, I found a deepening natural crisis happening in a part of the world where human conflict boils just below the surface, regularly erupting into violence. Most of the Middle East faces desertification and a looming water shortage of severe proportions. Seametrics and The Guardian have both highlighted the imminent water crisis in this part of the world and the nations most at risk of not finding a solution due to poverty and civil instability.
Digging into the issue highlights some of the causes of this problem. In the case of Libya, continued use of its coastal aquifers (which were very slow to renew themselves) allowed saltwater to contaminate that source of freshwater. In addition to this problem, the nation was highly dependent on importing food crops because of the dry landscape. Libya's longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, wanted to help the country become more self-sufficient and he knew water was the key. The discovery of a large freshwater aquifer under the Saharan sands led Gaddafi to embark on a highly ambitious project known as the Great Man-Made River (GMMR).
This incredibly expensive project brought unthinkable amounts of freshwater to the far reaches of Libya and encouraged the expansion of agriculture in the desert nation. This new found source of water in an arid land led to a glut on the resource and a high degree of mismanagement which is rapidly depleting the aquifer. While some liberal estimates give the nation from 100 - 500 years before the water runs out, many other experts are predicting - such as my professor - a much sooner expiration date. What my professor said about the Libyan government not doing anything about the problem became understandable when I discovered it was using a time-frame it thought more appropriate: 4600 years. It doesn't make it excusable, because clearly that number is made up when compared with actual scientific analysis, but it clarifies why the government isn't addressing the problem.
Dry places are becoming drier due to climate change, yet water consumption is rapidly increasing. A huge part of the problem is the inefficient use of water during irrigation. The fact that water is free or consumers are only charged a nominal fee means water use is non-sustainable in this country. Solutions to this impending crisis do exist. Just making irrigation more water efficient and imposing restrictions on water use will lengthen the lifetime of the aquifer. New technologies exist and should be introduced to the Libyan people that would also make it possible to use water more efficiently. If they or any other poor nation find it too expensive, developed nations should assist them. Further conflict in that region over such an essential resource is not needed, and it should be viewed as a moral shortfall if the rest of the human race decides to not help if called upon.
Doing even a little bit of research unveils a very disturbing trend in the future availability of water. Over time, I want to draw attention to some of these critical issues. Most of us don't think about it because water has become very available, however we must think about the threat to our water. It is one of the three essential resources we cannot live without. If we think about it, and we know the facts, we can begin to use our innovation and adaptability to address the problem. This is one thing we can't afford to place out of sight.
This is a great article Richard. I can tell you that water here in Austin is not cheap and we've been on water restrictions for years now. Of course, we are in a horrible drought too. At least our officials are taking action. We replaced our lawn in back with artificial turf, which I love. I'm seriously considering either xeriscape or artificial turf in the front too. You are right, the whole world needs to take notice.
ReplyDeleteLandscaping is a great start to making reductions in water usage. I grew up in Utah, which is a desert as well, and I can't tell you how much water people waste trying to have a green lawn. I know it looks nice, but turf is a water hog, and when you live in the desert, you should not have it. Xeriscaping is becoming more popular, but I don't think it is widespread enough. Raising water prices for "secondary" use will help people take notice.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading about the Saharan aquifers when I was in university but can't remember if we know if the water is being recharged or whether it is 'fossil' water. I guess a priority for the Libyan government should be to improve the estimates of when the water is going to run out. It would be nice if the 'West' could help in this regard.
ReplyDeleteAnd what would be the solution? Desalination feels like a wasteful process but I guess they have a lot of solar energy potential there. I guess not growing water-thirsty food crops for us in the UK would help too.
James, you bring up a lot of good points. The research I have conducted all states that the Saharan aquifers are considered "fossil" water from the last ice age. Due to an impenetrable layer of rock/sand above the aquifer it cannot be recharged. Desalination is very costly, especially when you also have to get water inland to those trying to grow crops. I think you hit the nail on the head about them growing water-thirsty crops not only for themselves but for export to "rich" countries.
ReplyDelete