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A section of the report
deals with the water crisis in Spain.
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND REPORT "RICH COUNTRIES,
POOR WATER"
(To
find and download the Report go to:
http://www.panda.org/news )
News release August 16,
2006
Water
crisis hits rich countries
Water crises, long seen as a problem of only the poorest, are increasingly
affecting some of the world’s wealthiest nations, warns WWF ahead of World
Water Week. The global conservation organization’s report,
Rich countries, poor water, is
one of the first comprehensive overviews of water issues in the developed
world.
The report shows that a combination of climate change and drought and loss
of wetlands that store water, along with poorly thought out water
infrastructure and resource mismanagement, is making this crisis truly
global. The report highlights impacts of water problems in countries such
as Australia, Spain, Japan, and the UK, and the US.
“Economic riches don’t translate to plentiful water,” says Jamie Pittock,
Director of WWF’s Global Freshwater Programme. “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.”
In Europe, countries on the Atlantic are suffering recurring droughts,
while water-intensive tourism and irrigated agriculture are endangering
water resources in the Mediterranean. In Australia, the world’s driest
continent, salinity is a major threat to a large proportion of its key
agricultural areas.
Despite high rainfall in Japan, contamination of water supplies is an
extremely serious issue in many areas. In the United States, large areas
are already using substantially more water than can be naturally
replenished. This situation will only be exacerbated as global warming
brings lower rainfall, increased evaporation and changed snowmelt
patterns.
Some of the world’s thirstiest cities, such as Houston and Sydney, are
using more water than can be replenished. In London, leakage and loss is
estimated at 300 Olympic-size swimming pools daily due to ageing water
mains. It is however notable that cities with less severe water issues
such as New York tend to have a longer tradition of conserving catchment
areas and expansive green areas within their boundaries.
“The next group of rapidly developing economies has the opportunity not to
repeat the errors of the past and to avoid the costs of saving damaged
freshwater ecosystems,” says Pittock.
“Regrettably, it appears that the bulk of these nations 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.”
In Brazil, despite leading the world with its national water resources
plan, concerns remain over some existing dam proposals. In India, much of
its agriculture is under threat from rampant overexploitation of water
resources. Elsewhere, China has raised international concerns over the
scale and possible ecological and human costs of some of its massive water
infrastructure plans.
“The crisis in rich nations is proof that wealth and infrastructure are no
insurance against scarcity, pollution, climate change and drought," adds
Pittock. "They are clearly no substitute for protecting rivers and
wetlands, and restoring floodplain areas."
The water problems affecting rich and poor countries alike are a wake-up
call to return to protecting nature as the source of water. As we approach
World Water Week (being held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 20–26 August),
governments must find solutions for both rich and poor, which include
repairing ageing infrastructure, reducing contaminants, and changing
irrigation practices in the way we grow crops.
For further information:
Lisa Hadeed, Communications Manager
WWF Global Freshwater Programme
Tel: +41 22 364 9030
E-mail: lhadeed@wwfint.org
Brian Thomson, Press Officer
WWF International
Tel: +41 22 364 9554
E-mail: bthomson@wwfint.org
To download the Report go to:
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm?uNewsID=77900
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