Environment & Poverty Times

07 2012

Water stress and water management

More than 2.8 billion people are projected to face water stress or water scarcity by 2025, with annual water supply of less than 1700 m3 population growth, global warming, eutrophication and agriculture. Are we heading for a freshwater crisis, and what can be done to prevent it?

per person. The reasons are many and include

The wastewater treatment pond at the Frangipani Langkawi resort. Frangipani/Kuvinn Mallar Armugam

Efficient water management in the Frangipani Langkawi resort and spa

By Anthony K. H. Wong and Tui Ai Ling

At the Frangipani Langkawi resort and spa in Malaysia, sustainable management practices are used to ensure that guests enjoy their holiday and also learn about sustainability. Achieving sustainability in water supply and reducing dependence on government-supplied treated water is a key objective. This is done through the

harvesting of rainwater, landscaping and natural wastewater treatment.

Water tanks for harvesting rainwater Rainwater is harvested for irrigation purposes. Currently 85 water tanks, comprising 70 large tanks (3 331 litres) and 15 small tanks (2 082 litres), are installed around the resort. Rainwater from these tanks is channelled to taps located around the resort area. Storage

Global water footprint standard – An important step towards solving the world’s ever increasing water problems

The first global water footprint standard, a scientifically credible methodology that will make all water footprints comparable, has gained international support from major companies, policy makers, NGOs and scientists. The Water Footprint Assessment Manual: Setting the Global Standard was launched in February 2011. It was developed through a joint effort by the Water Footprint Network and its 139 partners, assisted by scientists at Twente University in the Netherlands. It shows how individuals, companies and nations can measure their contribu- tion to water use conflicts and environmental degradation in river basins around the world.

The water footprint – the amount of freshwater used in the goods and services consumed or used in production – is helping companies to reduce water use where it is most wasteful, and banks to assess water-related risks prior to making investments and governments to improve water management. Individuals can use the water footprint to understand how much water they are using through the food they eat, the clothes they wear, and the consumer goods they buy.

‘The global water footprint standard helps us all know more about how much water we use, where it comes from and how we can take steps to make our water footprint sustainable, to ensure that the world’s people and natural ecosystems will have the freshwater necessary to thrive well into the future,’ said Ruth Mathews, Executive Director of the Water Footprint Network.

Partners from business, civil society, government, global institutions and academic organ- isations are working with the Water Footprint Network to push for improvements in water use efficiency, pollution reduction and sustainable water management. As more pressure is put on freshwater resources, using the standard in all sectors and in all river basins will be increasingly important. The publication of this standard helps individuals, businesses and governments take steps towards a sustainable water footprint.

Source: The Water Footprint Network (www.waterfootprint.org).

capacity for recycled water is 264 411 litres. As government-supplied water is charged at US$ 0.40 per cubic metre, the resort saves a dollar for every 2 500 litres of rainwater harvested. As a result, water bills have been halved. Rainwater is harvested from the roof of the restaurant and is channelled to water tanks located at the public toilets to be used for flushing. Excess rainwater is used to wash the pool deck daily and to fill the swimming pool.

Underground water for watering the organic garden During the dry season, well water is chan- nelled to wetlands to dilute the waste dis- charge before further natural treatment by the aquatic plants in the pond. The water in the pond is used for watering the lawn and the plants in the resort. The wells are also used for irrigating the resort’s organic farm.

Landscaping Weather patterns and temperatures affect water consumption. For example, water use increases during the dry season as a result of increased transpiration and evaporation from plants and the soil. Landscaping can be used as a water conservation strategy by selecting different types of water plants to cleanse and filter the water. Plants such as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water lily (Nymphaea), vetiver (Chrysopogon ziza- niodes) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) living in the pond help to stabilize the soil, manage water quality, and protect against soil erosion, pests and weeds. Irrigation is scheduled in the early morning and late evening to reduce evaporation.

Water storage at the fish pond The water used in the fishpond is direct rain- water, which goes through a simple conven-