Global Water Crisis: Solutions for Conservation and Public Health

• Zoom webinar: Sept 15th, 2020 with Duke Farms based in NJ, USA.

Speakers:

• Nora — Director, Strategic Partnerships (ndichiara@dukefarms.org)
• Alejandra Murillo — Former Duke Farms educator, currently: MPH in Nutrition @ Rutgers

The Water crisis and the connection to YOU! It’s hard to argue the importance of water, and how it connects to us (humans), and the world at large as it keeps our ecosystems alive! Basically, #waterislife. Its fame doesn’t soar when it receives the limelight as a ‘hot topic’ issue, but its relevance is unmatched. No one can deny its importance, neither underplay the lives it supports, so therefore it is an asset that demands effective conservation.

Only 1% of ourfreshwater is actually available to us, the rest is non-accessible – stored in glaciers. And from that amount, the average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home. Just our outdoor water use accounts for 30% of our daily average water use.

Starling facts and figures:

• 30 M Americans lived in areas that violated water regulations — in 2019!
• 2.5 micrograms are the acceptable levels of lead in water — but in many places, it’s a lot higher.
• 2.2 B people lack access to safely managed drinking water services.
• Almost 2/3 who need safe drinking water survive on less than $2/day.
• According to UN-Water, by 2025, 1.8 B will be disproportionally be affected by water scarcity + 2/3 of the world’s populations can be living in areas that are water-stressed.

How do we identify the sources of water pollution?

• Point sources: are sources you can exactly POINT at potential leakage sites – such as a factory, or specific retail store
• Non-point sources: are sources that you cannot point at – such as agricultural runoff or parking lot/waste runoffs

What are the effects due to / and exacerbated by climate change?

• Water-stressed areas face intensified political, social, and economical turmoil
• Affects the quality of water
• Affects ecosystems
• Increase in hurricanes + fires
• Increased/decreased rainfall, flooding
• Emerging vector-borne diseases — diseases that are passed on by living organisms, such as COVID-19, dengue fever, malaria, Lyme disease, etc (humidity creates the atmosphere in which pathogens persist)

What about food security?

• Water for agricultural is CRITICAL — while water systems have been developing, the lack of water can be a real problem
• More efficient water strategies are being implemented — such as accurate meter readings, leak detection, and repair problems
• Conservation based water rates — as more water is used, rates get higher as to curb escalating water usage
• Aquifer storage and recovery — recharge natural groundwater supplies
• Reusing wastewater
• Stormwater management systems — retention of rainwater and reuse in households

Orgs:

• ProjectWET, Clean Water Action, Water.org, Water Aid, Drop in the Bucket, Rutgers Water Resources program (water.rutgers.edu)
• Pakistani-American Iniatives such as the ‘Paani project’ who are working to deliver safe, clean and healthy drinking water to impoverished communities through the manufacturing of low cost wheelable water containers

Combining Science & Tech:

• Atmospheric Water generation, desalination, using IoT (Internet of things), drones ~ where the IoT can detect what plants need more water/what needs less, drones can capture the landscape for mapping, planning, and design purposes
• Reconstructing wetlands:
• Water refill stations
• Rain gardens, green roofs, and rain barrels to reduce runoff!
• Control of invasive species and rotational grazing

How you can get started (as an individual):

• Installing water-efficient products like a low-flow showerhead, energy-efficient washing machines, dishwashers (EPA WaterSense program is a great resource!)
• Increasing production and access to local and sustainably grown food
• Planting native species in shared green spaces or your own backyard!