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Climate change is a real threat, and all climate change activities impact water resources in one way or another. Climate changes impact agriculture, sea level, wildfires, and also trigger floods and droughts
Fremont, CA: Water has always been one of the most essential resources to mankind. Despite being present in abundance, usable water is scarce and continues to be a significant problem for many regions. Water shortage has become a significant problem over the years, and other problems like climate change and pollution have also significantly impacted water sources. With urbanization expected to reach new peak levels this year, the water industry will embrace multiple changes to adapt to these changes. In addition, rapid climate changes, changing customer demands, and emerging digital technologies will also force the industry to adopt new measures. Businesses in the industry will have to quickly adapt to these changes to stay abreast in a highly competitive market. Here are some of the emerging scenarios that are likely to impact the water landscape in the coming future.
Extreme Climatic Conditions
Climate change is a real threat, and all climate change activities impact water resources in one way or another. Climate changes impact agriculture, sea level, wildfires, and also trigger floods and droughts. It is expected that nearly half the world’s population living within 200 km of the coastline will be severely impacted by 2050 due to global warming and rising sea levels. Hard engineering structures such as seawalls, dikes, and levees need to be built to protect coastal regions from possible flooding in the future. The first choice will be the use of sophisticated water modeling technologies that can determine current vulnerabilities and provide practical solutions to address coastal challenges.
Protecting Agricultural Production
According to the United Nations, the world population is set to exceed 9 billion by 2050. Many parts of the world, especially in African regions, are experiencing famines. Malnutrition has become a familiar scene in these regions and is a growing concern. Amidst such conditions, the problem of feeding future mouths becomes even more challenging. Estimates suggest that current production levels need to be increased by at least 70 percent to meet the food requirements in the future. This will require more arable land for cultivation and extensive, efficient irrigation. This will have a significant impact on water resources and connected ecosystems that will have to facilitate the increase in demand. To be sustainable, efficient irrigation management and techniques such as erosion risk management, flood warning systems, and precision farming systems can optimize agricultural production using the least amount of water.