THE MANAGEMENT OF WATER SUPPLIES

(A lecture delivered by Mr George Stamoulakis, chemical engineer, President of the Technical Association of Greece (Epirus Department), during the Project meeting in Ioannina, Greece- October 2004)

Introduction

It is true that water has always been one of the most valuable goods for the preservation of life on our planet.
For this reason it is necessary for us to have sufficient quantity and the best quality for the planet's flora and fauna (plantations and animals).
Even in the remote past people were aware of the importance of the good use of water supplies and the restriction to water destructive consequences (such as flooding, soil or rock erosion etc) from the moment water reaches the surface of earth or underground tanks.
If we look through history we can find a lot of pages concerning the management of water resources with positive consequences. On the other hand there are also moments when the destructive consequences are described especially when it comes to water crisis (shortage) or its pollution.

Generally

Today one of the most essential problem is the sufficiency of water for our everyday life and activities. If we want to face this problem effectively we have to be aware of the problem first and then we have to see if this problem has to do with its shortage or it depends on bad use.

There are some factors that affect this problem.

The climate change in vast areas and continuous drought (lack of rain) which result in water shortage and make water supply and irrigation impossible.
The fact that 22 countries in Africa and Asia face the problem of water shortage and 20 more countries are in danger of running out of water resources.
The predictions of the United Nations that by 2025 one of the three people on earth will be facing the problem of water shortage.
The estimation that during the next two decades water will prevent the survival and the development of many developing and developed countries all over the world.
The possibility that there will be conflicts among neighboring countries since 40% of the inhabitants of the earth share the same water resources.
The common finding that we have run out of the surface or underground water or it is of bad quality and finally,
We all agree that water is in not enough for all of us.

The problem of stuffiness of water resources

Although the causes of water crisis are different in different areas depending on local,? economic social and political conditions we could agree on the following common characteristics:

1. The total quantity of water available to each country is steady and limited . Despite the surprising development of technology to locate water resources, there is no technology today to increase the quantity of water. Although technology has helped in the exploitation of water resources in the past which could be exploited in the past, there are still a great number of water resources which can?t be exploited due to economic and environmental reasons, while recycling and re-use of water have had limited results in the increase of water quantity.
2. The use-up of the technically easier and low-cost water resources.
This means that in the future it will be far more expensive to create new water resource than it was in the past. This factor hasn't been taken seriously yet although it is going to affect the development of many countries including Greece.
3. The decrease of the available water because of the climate change, the increase in population and the increased demands due to the change in the way of living and the increase in technological needs.
It is estimated that during the 20th century the demands for water have become ten times greater, though there has not been the same increase in population. It was found out that the needs for water increase three times faster than the increase in population.
4. Pollution and poor quality of the surface and underground water.?
The more population and their activities increase the more water is polluted. Domestic and factory waste play an important role in polluting water.
5. Awareness of the environmental problems and management of water resources.
People take a great interest in environmental consequences and have started to face these problems effectively.
On the other hand there are some people who are negative and they don?t help exploit water resources and find a solution to the problem.

The problem of managing water resources

The causes mentioned above indicate that there is a great problem of water sufficiency. Yet the problem depends on the management and the policy which has been practiced. Man plays the most important role. We can agree on the following causes of management of water resources.
1. Underestimation of the value of water. People think that water should be provided free to the users. Therefore there is over-use of water in places where people are lucky enough to live near water springs and use it at a low cost forcing others who live far away from water to be over changed for water transportation and cleaning
2. Breaking up the management of water among many services and organizations. In fact many different services are in charge of managing water according to its use for example, water supply, irrigation etc without coordination and different interactions which result in water pollution. Water should be faced as a whole and not partially resulting in its downgrading.
3. Ignorance of the environmental consequences due to the works for water resources and the use of water as a receiver for waste.

Facing the problem

It is obvious that the problems of water sufficiency and management has two sides and if we don't take action we will have unpleasant results.
Although it is difficult to do something about water insuffiency, we ought to do something about water management because man plays an important role on it.
Management of water resources means a system of works and activities so that water supplied can achieved at all levels and at the same time the best quality can be provided. Moreover the management of water resources in a specific area should be in connection with the environmental and social activities of that area. People should keep balance between the natural environment and their activities so that we can get the best results.

More specifically this means:

We should protect and manage the ecosystems in the most suitable way.
Encourage activities which are beneficial to natural development.
Cut down on activities which harm our expectations. And finally:
Protect the area and its surroundings, so that we can have better development of the ecosystem.
So we should make a plan which will encourage complete harmony between man and the natural environment.

For this reason the inhabitants of an area should agree and cooperate with the local authorities. To achieve the best results people should be well informed and take part in the appropriate activities. Also it is necessary to estimate the value of quality and the sensible use of water resources.

Consequently, it is obvious that if we want to achieve our goal, we have to make a research and study the problem as a whole.

Each study will include the following items:

1. List and analysis of the geographical, geological natural, chemical and ecological facts of the area.
2. Evaluation of all the given facts
3. Production of new facts necessary for the ecosystem.
4. Economic analysis of the activities, which have to do with the area and its social environment.
5. List of pressures and pollutants as well as the impact on the ecosystem
6. Justification of values and uses
7. Definition of the necessary quantity of water for the preservation of the ecosystem.
8. Definition of the factors which preserve the quality of water and the water resources.
9. Suggestions for the limits of the protected zones.
10. Activities in accordance with the protected zones.
11. Sensible suggestions about management according to each category.
12. Suggestions about activities which will encourage the development and protection of the area.
13. Discussion of the suggestions with the local authorities in connection with the acceptance or not of these suggestions by the public.
14. Correction and final definition of the plan.

And finally:

15. Suggestion for setting up an organization which will carry out the plan.

Conclusions

To sum up we can conclude that the following suggestions are essential:

The evaluation of the availability of water resources.
Facing the water resources as an institutional matter of the area.
Setting up an organization in charge of the management of water resources.
Planning and construction of necessary works suitable for all possible uses of water at all levels.
Sensible use in accordance with the environment and tradition.
Necessary water supply for economy, preservation and balance of the ecosystem

and finally:

Protection of water resources of an area from pollution.

After all this we can say that all these actions are necessary for the management and development of water resources if we want to be optimistic about the future.

George Stamoulakis, Chemical Engineer

English translation by Maria Tsougla, English teacher in the 8th Unified Lyceum of Ioannina, Greece