What Would Happen If The Planet Ran Out Of Water?
- The water we consume makes up only 3% of our global water supply.
- The last war over water was fought in Mesopotamia more than 4000 years ago.
- Even though water is a human right, it is also becoming a luxury resource.
There is no way to sugarcoat this. Our planet is in the middle of a "water crisis." Water is our most precious natural resource; it is the basis of our life, our society, and our economics. Without water, there would be no humans, no animals, and no plants.
The water we drink, i.e., the one that is clean and safe for consumption, actually makes up just 3% of our global water supply. All of the groundwater, rivers, and lakes are supposed to provide for the entire Earth's population. It is kind of scary if you think about it.
The Water Apocalypse
Our global water supply is not unlimited, and its value is increasing with each passing day. If the planet ran out of the water, the consequences would be disastrous. It would affect everyone on our planet, no matter where they are from. There would be far less of the color green since all vegetation would die a slow death, and wind fluctuations would rule most of our weather conditions.
Since the oceans are our greatest carbon sink, without them, the Earth would experience scolding temperatures. While such an apocalyptic scenario might seem impossible to us, it is no secret we are having trouble in the way we treat our planet's resources. The crisis we are currently experiencing is a culmination of many factors, but the global population growth is one that puts the most strain on water demands.
As you might expect, all those people need to be fed, and what do we need to grow crops? Yes, you are right; it is water! Dams can be a great solution, but they also have their disadvantages. They are especially vulnerable to evaporation due to their large surface and can become a pollution risk because of the salt concentration from freshwater. This can, in turn, endanger the well-being of the livestock and the crops.
Wars Over Water
The last time people went to war for water was more than 4000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Some people think that the wars of the next century will be those fought over water resources. Yes, water is a human right, but water is starting to become a luxury resource.
Water shortage can damage the relationships between neighboring countries because geographical boundaries are not so easily determined. When there is a shortage of natural resources, and ownership is in question, violence is not far away. Hopefully, we can manage to overcome the future of famine and war that might arise due to the shortage of water.
Is There Anything We Can Do To Help?
We can expect conflicts, illness, or we can struggle to create a platform for cooperation between governments. Some of the answers can be found in technology. Agricultural uses make up more than half of all water consumption, but a lot of that water is lost due to inadequate irrigation technology.
A Drip-irrigation system is a potential solution for these problems. Even though they are quite expensive, companies that produce them are looking into ways for them to be more affordable for countries in need. Making water a public utility and not available for sale could potentially increase its value and make people more conservative with their expenditure.
