Water
depletion is affecting the entire planet; however some areas are suffering more
than others. Uzbekistan has a water resource problem because of the environmental
degradation that has happened in the Aral Sea, especially during the period
from 1960 until 1992. The area of the sea was halved and shrunk rapidly and Uzbekistan
now faces a lack of basic infrastructure to build a water distribution pipe
system and to monitor the threats from pollutants in the area. (UNICEF
Uzbekistan/2003)
The
Uzbekistanian people are using the water extensively for agriculture and they
started to use more channels for irrigation. Uzbekistan now has less water
resources and this is affecting Karakalpakstan and the neighboring region of
Khorezm. Around 2.5 million people are at risk because of a shortage of the
clean water. The people there are drinking polluted water and they don’t care very
much whether it’s clean or not and this means for that reason pollution is
spreading along the region and started to increase the spread of more water- borne
diseases like cholera. Without any solution or access to pure and clean water,
the children of Uzbekistan will face a bleak and miserable future.( saltmovie2010, Jul 23, 2010)( EDSserver,2010)
Both
the government and international donors are trying to deal with the situation
and they are trying to find other resources of pure water. Other organizations
like the NATO and the ENVSEC are helping Uzbekistan to deal with this issue.
Paragraph 2: a case study
The Soviet
government decided in the 1960s, on the conversion of two rivers that feed into
the Aral Sea, in the north-east of the country. These wastes irrigate deserts,
in order to grow rice, melons, and grains, and also, cotton. The farming of cotton,
or "white gold" for export made revenue for Uzbekistan as one of the
largest exporters of cotton. (New Scientist, 1989)
The cotton
industry using toxic chemical pesticides in production
which flows into rivers. This together with other industrial projects and
weapons testing caused high levels of pollution locally dispersed by the wind.
It has cause high levels of anemia, tuberculosis, liver and kidney problems and
respiratory diseases. In addition numbers affected by cancer, immunological
problems and birth defects have increased and eye problems from toxic dust. The
fishing industry that once employed tens of thousands of people is gone due to
the level of the sea. Also one third of the population uses drinking water that
does not meet safe quality standards. (UNICEF Uzbekistan/2003)
As the sea
began to dry up in 1970 it continued
to drop between 31 to 35 in each year and by 2008 was about 10%
of its original size by 2050 it will cease to exist and the overall
cost of the damage to the Aral Sea has been estimated £800 million. (USDA-Foreign
Agriculture Service, 2008) (Shawki Barghouti 2006).
Paragraph 3:Solutions
Water shortage
is a serious problem that needs quick and useful solutions to improve the situation
in Uzbekistan in particular. There are several potentially effective solutions that
can help such as desalination, reclaimed water usage, rationalization of usage and cloud
seeding. However the Aral Sea poses a
huge challenge.
Desalination is a powerful solution
that can solve the water shortage problem. It is a kind of procedure that removes
the salt from undrinkable water so people can use it safely. Even the
desalination cost lots of money and power; it is powerful solution because
people can use sea water that exists all over the world several times over. (DP
- Water Shortages, 2012)
Recycled water is another major
solution that treats wasted water and removes contaminants. Using recycled
water is healthy and it can be used for different aspects except drinking this as
most experts agree. For example, recycled water can be used for landscape
purposes such as golf courses and recreational venues. Also, it can be used in
the cotton industry and so prevent many diseases. (CDP
- Water Shortages, 2012)
Rationalizing
usage is the best solution for Uzbekistan as there has to be a massive rethink.
In this case the government needs to advise consumption of water in the right
way. It also can provide enough water for cotton production in future by this
method. (Juraev, S.
2001)
Cloud seeding
can be part of the water shortage solution. This occurs when “tiny crystals of
silver iodide are sprinkled over clouds to promote moisture circulating in the
clouds” .Even though this process is expensive; it is
used in Canada extensively. (CDP - Water
Shortages, 2012)
In conclusion, water shortages are a serious
problem that needs more international effort to prevent a dire the future for
the Uzbekistani people.
