With climate change, the phenomenon of water stress, which occurs when the water demand exceeds the quantity present in reserve, is amplified. If certain solutions such as desalination are already used, they pose environmental challenges. Other more sustainable tracks are emerging.
According to the World Resources Institute organization, the Middle East is the most affected region, with the Bahrain at the top of the ranking. The water stress is aggravated there by declining precipitation in an arid climate region and by increasing consumption, explains Fabrice Balanche, lecturer in geography at the Lyon II University.
According to the expert, countries like Syria and Iraq depend on rivers from Türkiye or Iran. But the construction of upstream dams drastically reduces water flow rates.
The pumping of water in rivers or underground tablecloths in Mexico, called concession system, is granted too liberally and without control, which means that users are not encouraged to use water efficiently
The countries affected by the phenomenon are classified into five levels ranging from “extremely high water stress” to “low water stress”. In the first, there is for example Syria, IRAK, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, Botswana, Greece, India and Belgium, because in particular and according to the European Union, of poor wastewater treatment and a high density of Belgian cities.
>> To go further, listen to the episode of point J on how to live with less water? :: Podcast – How to live with less water?
The false solution of desalination
The answer to the phenomenon depends on the resources of each country. One of the most widespread solutions in the Middle East and North Africa is the desalination of seawater.
But it is an energy -consuming and polluting process. He rejects the oceans of the salums which increase salinity and harm marine biodiversity. For experts, this solution should only be envisaged in the last resort.
Irrigation, pricing and awareness
In Mexico, which is one of the countries in high water stress, several tracks must be envisaged by the government, according to Jean Louis Martin (…) to make agricultural irrigation more efficient in it since in this country, agriculture represents two thirds of the use of water.
Another lever: pricing. A differentiated price policy according to the regions would limit waste, identifies the researcher.
Jean-Louis Martin also leans for a stricter control of samples in rivers and water tables. “The concession system is too liberal. It does not encourage efficient use of water,” he deplores.
The two experts interviewed by RTS agree: governments must raise awareness among the population and industrialists of better water management and must change the perception of this resource, still too often considered inexhaustible.
>> Read also: Freshwater reserves on earth have dropped since 2014.
Radio subject: Inès Moubachir
Article web: Julie Marty