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Session Introduction

While SDG 6 calls for access to safe water for all by 2030, more than two-thirds of the global population is expected to face water scarcity by the same year. Conventional approaches relying on rainfall and river runoff in water-scarce areas are not enough to meet the human needs. Water-scarce countries and communities need a new water paradigm considering a range of unconventional water resources to narrow the water demand-supply gap for food production, livelihoods, ecosystems, and sustainable development. Key examples of unconventional water resources are: atmospheric moisture harvesting through cloud seeding and fog collection; physical transportation of water through icebergs; micro-scale capture of rainwater where it otherwise evaporates; desalinated water; residual water from urban areas and agriculture; and groundwater confined in deep geological formations. Despite demonstrated benefits, the potential of most unconventional water resources is vastly under-explored due to specific barriers, which need to be addressed along with supportive policies and institutions and science-based actions and tools. These aspects are the focus of this session.

The objectives of this session are to (1) highlight the significance of unconventional water resources in the context of food security, ecosystems, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development challenges; and (2) provide insight into the barriers and associated response options to facilitate the use of unconventional water resources, particularly in areas of physical water scarcity and areas approaching water scarcity.

Session Schedule

Time Contents Speaker/Participants
10:00 - 10:45(45’) Welcome remarks and presentation Mr. Manzoor Qadir, Assistant Director, UNU-INWEH
10:45 - 11:30(45’) Moderated Panel Discussion
  • Ms. Eunhae Jeong, Senior Development Management Expert, UNOSD
  • Mr. Ick Hoon Choi, Vice President, K-eco
  • Ms. Aslıhan Kerç, Project Development and Implementation Coordinator, Turkish Water Institute
  • Mr. Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources
11:30 - 11:45(15’) Open Discussion Open discussion stemming from panelists’ contributions and audience

Results

Presentations

Unconventional Water Resources in Dry Areas for Sustainable Development

  • Water resources and population densities are unevenly distributed across the world. More than two-thirds of the global population is expected to face water scarcity by 2030 (by the end of the SDG era)
  • The conventional water resources – rainwater. snowmelt and river runoff – are not enough to meet water demand in water-scarce areas.
  • Water-scarce and communities need to consider alternatives – unconventional water resources (UWR) – to narrow demand-supply gap. UWR include:
    • Used water (urban, agricultural).
    • Desalinated water.
    • Groundwater.
    • Atmospheric water capture.
    • Transported water, iceberg towing.
  • Unknowns about UWR:
    • Global and regional status and potential of most UWR
    • Future scenarios and projections.
    • Fate of certain UWR such as long-distance iceberg towing.
    • Comprehensive economic analysis for some UWR.
    • Quantification on how far UWR can narrow water-demand supply gap at different scales.
    • Specific contribution of UWR to achieving SDG 6 and its certain targets.
  • Fog water collection:
    • There are fully operational fog water collection plants in the dry areas, the largest being in Morocco. However, there are no policies to promote or facilitate fog water collection in dry areas where fog events and intensity are conductive for fog collection systems.
    • Community and gender mainstreaming in fog collection systems bring positive outcomes for women and girls.
  • Water desalination:
    • There are more than 15000 desalination facilities in more than 100 countries. Half of the global desalination capacity is in the MENA region. High-income countries are responsible for around 70% of total desalinated water.
    • Business-as-usual practices are not considering the brine being produced and disposed on ocean water. Unclear amount of brine being produced by desalination plants. Methodology used to assume 1:1 ratio, which is not representative of actual brine being produced.
  • Municipal wastewater:
    • 380 billion m3 of wastewater being produced worldwide (almost 5 times the annual volume of water that passes through Niagara Falls). Expected to reach 470 billion m3 by 2030 and 574 billion m3 by 2050.
Discussion

Ms. Eunhae Jeong

  • Unconventional water resources can play a key role in achieving SDG 6. Four years have passed since the adoption of SDGs and this year will be marked by the high-level summit on climate in October.
  • The rate of population using at least basic water supply increased on the 2000-2015 period, however there is need to accelerate progress.
  • Integration approach is required to deliver on SDGs, and this is a lesson learned from MDGs. For instance, SDG 6.6 on ecosystems is related to SDG 14 (ocean) and SDG 6.4 on water efficiency is related to SDG 10 (responsible consumption).

Mr. Ick Hoon Choi

K-eco has a lead role in the water sector and aims to become a global leader organization. Among its strategic targets, K-eco focus on:

  • Quality control and toxic elements control.
  • Promotion of water reuse in Republic of Korea.
  • Promotion of public-private partnership.
  • Operation of small-scale desalination plants; and thinking beyond SDGs already.

Ms. Aslıhan Kerç

  • By 2030, Turkey aims to increase the level/quality of water treatment. The country is already experiencing less rainfall and wastewater is considered an alternative resource for water supply. Wastewater treatment is also considered a source of nutriments and energy.
  • Big water treatment plans are not sustainable anymore (pumping wastewater to far way treatment plants and pumping treated water back to where it is needed is a costly practice). Turkey is looking for delocalized water treatment plants, specially for small communities.

Mr. Muhammad Ashraf

Pakistan has one of largest irrigation system in the world. However, the country also experiences a serious problem with water scarcity. Three problems can be identified:

  • Development issue in Pakistan and lack of water storage (groundwater is major water source).
  • More than 60% of water is lost by leakages.
  • Water governance (water required by agriculture adds pressure on water supply for other purposes such as drinking water).
Major messages
  • The conventional water resources – rainwater. snowmelt and river runoff – are not enough to meet water demand in water-scarce areas. Water-scarce and communities need to consider alternatives – unconventional water resources (UWR) – to narrow demand-supply gap.
  • The rate of population using at least basic water supply increased on the 2000-2015 period, however there is need to accelerate progress.
  • For instance, Turkey is already experiencing less rainfall and wastewater is considered an alternative resource for water supply. Pakistan has one of largest irrigation system in the world, yet the country also experiences a serious problem with water scarcity. Groundwater is major water source and the country lacks water storage.