12
on a large scale leads to land subsidence, which
makes flooding in coastal areas more of a threat. A
familiar example is Jakarta, where many residents
are exposed to flood risks on a permanent basis.’
What options do we have to tackle
the problem?
‘Desalination or supplies of fresh water from else
where are possibilities, but expensive ones. So there
is now a focus on smart technologies for retaining
water locally and using it during shortages. This
is generally done in reservoirs on the surface, but
groundwater infiltration below the surface is also
possible. More efficient irrigation methods such as
drip or underground irrigation are also options. And
we might wish to consider solutions like growing
crops that consume less water, such as maize. Or
modifying crops so they can cope with salt water.'
Are these options already
being used?
‘Not on the large scale needed. Not by a long way.
In many countries, particularly in the emerging
economies, governments prioritise economic
growth as long as water shortages don't present
an obstacle to prosperity. That shows that tackling
water scarcity is not just a question of technological
solutions. Political will is needed, too. As I pointed
out earlier, water scarcity is a creeping process.
The upside is that we have time to take action.
The downside is that people fail to grasp the
urgency of the problem, and postpone the
search for solutions.’
For more information:
< 1700 m
3
'Water stress' means that there is
less than 1700 m
3
of fresh water
available per person annually.
< 1000 m
3
We use the term 'water scarcity'
when that amounts drops below
1000 m
3
.
< 500 m
3
'Absolute water scarcity' is the point
at which there is less than 500 m
3
of water per person.
(source: UN)
DOSSIER
WATER SCARCITY
W
ater scarcity is the main
threat to the activities
and financial health of
manymultinationals,
claims the 2013 Global Water Report
(Carbon Disclosure Project). However,
Triodos Bank found this year that most
companies are still doing very little to
reduce their water consumption levels.
An earlier report fromKPMG in 2012
made this painfully obvious: only
1 per cent of multinationals report on
water consumption in production,
fewer than half have actual plans to
save water, and only one in ten have
a strategy for the future.
Benchmarks
Are Dutch companies already aware of
the problem? Roy Tummers, the director
of VEMW (the knowledge centre and
lobby organisation for energy and water
consumers) believes that industry is
increasingly anticipating the reduction
in water supplies. ‘Because water
availability in the future is expected to
decline as a result of climate change
and increasing production, companies
are taking steps to be more economical
with water and to make their production
more water-efficient. This involves, for
example, recycling water, optimising
treatment processes, raising employee
awareness and introducing bench
marks. That has cut water consumption
drastically in a number of sectors in
recent decades.’
Risks in the picture
Shell is one of the companies that has
been looking at water scarcity actively
for a number of years now. Frank Niele,
a Shell policy consultant, explains why:
‘Shell makes enormous investments.
Lead times for projects are often very
long, sometimes decades. So we must
have a clear picture of our risks in any
given area. Water availability is one of
those risks. Even now, supplies of fresh
water are declining in some areas, while
demand is on the increase. The models
we have at the moment are inadequate
when it comes to establishing a picture
quickly of water availability at the local
level. That is why we are currently
developing a new
rapid screening
method with Utrecht University and
Deltares. If we find that not enough
water will be available, we look at
possible solutions. And we always
take the requirements of the local
population into account here: we don't
want our consumption patterns to
cause shortages for them.’
Taking action in time
‘In some countries, water availability
is already a challenge: Qatar is one
example, but there are also difficulties in
Canada and the Netherlands. Depending
on the productionmethod and the local
conditions, we are developing solutions
that may involve recycling and re-using
water, or using more desalinated water
or treated waste water frommunicipal
sources. We are also introducing new
production technologies to use water
more efficiently.'
‘Here at Shell, we have been tack
ling water scarcity actively for some
time now. It would be good for every
company to be more
water aware
. You
should knowwhat your needs are, how
much water is available, and how the
situation will develop. If there is the
possibility of a problem in the future,
you can take steps in good time now.’
Formore information:
WATER SCARCITY
BIGGEST THREAT
FACING
BUSINESS
Companies that fail to take the threat of water shortages seriously
will be badly affected: problems with production and disappointing
financial results lie in wait. Can anything be done? Certainly. There
are companies that do give a higher priority to the issue and that
have already taken specific action.
BY DIMMIE HENDRIKS
DELTARES, SEPTEMBER 2014
The dark-blue areas have a groundwater footprint of less than 1; groundwater extraction is sustainable here in the
long term as well. The red areas in Northern America and Asia have a much larger groundwater footprint. The footprint
of the Upper Ganges, for example, is actually 54 times larger. The area would have be 54 times larger to capture the
precipitation needed to sustain current groundwater extraction.
Source: Gleeson, Wada, Bierkens and Van Beek, Nature, 2012.
Groundwater footprint (GF)
aquifer area (AA)
<1
1-5
5-10
10-20
>20
Groundwater
stress
26.6x
Western
Mexico
9.0x
High
Plains
42.3x
North
Arabian
19.7x
Persian
54.2x
Upper
Ganges
7.9x
North China plain
