Tag Archives: water crisis

The levels in the nation’s largest freshwater reservoir, Lake Mead, behind the Hoover Dam and a fulcrum of the Colorado River basin, have dropped to around 25% of capacity. The Bureau of Reclamation, which governs lakes Mead and Powell and water distribution for the southern end of the river, has issued an ultimatum: The seven states that draw from the Colorado must find ways to cut their consumption — by as much as 40% — or the federal government will do it for them.

Rising temperatures mean more water is being lost through evaporation and absorbed by plants. At the same time, less water is entering river basins from rain and snowfall as weather patterns change.

Climate change, Asia’s rapid urbanization and population growth rates are placing increased pressure on scarce water resources.

As water levels have plummeted on the back of a winter that saw low snowfall and rainfall, the state government is urging local cultivators not to plant paddy this year.

SA is overexploiting its water system, and the problem is getting harder and costlier to fix. Even if all government strategies are implemented, the country's demand for water will still outstrip supply.

South Africa can look to the arid Israeli model for its water solutions.

South Asia’s water and energy crises are deeply intertwined. Growing energy demand drives water shortages and lack of water fuels power outages. Regional cooperation – such as power trading between countries – could ease tightening resource constraints but such solutions have been largely scuppered by political suspicions.