The World Water Day was celebrated this year with the theme “Water and Energy”. It stressed the interdependence of water and energy. Water and energy are tightly interlinked. The process of energy production and transmission requires water resources, and energy is required to pump, purify and transport water resources. Availability of water resources determines the amount of water that can be allocated for energy production whereas the form of energy production determines the amount of water required to produce that form of energy.
If you choose one domain between energy and water, it will have direct impact on the other. Both of these have become basic needs today. No water means no life and no energy means no reason to live. People have become addicted to energy – without it life can’t be imagined.
A worldwide estimate shows that approximately 768 million of global population have no access to improved water and about 1.3 billion people in the world do not have access to electricity. 2.5 billion of the people don’t have access to improved sanitation and still 2.6 billion people use biomass for cooking.
23.7 per cent of Nepalis don’t have access to electricity. 12.4 per cent here do not have access to improved water and 64.6 per cent don’t have access to proper sanitation. In 2006, 83 per cent Nepali people used solid fuel for cooking, says a UN report. This is the main reason for frequent cases of respiratory diseases, diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases.
The population of the world is increasing. Each year more than 80 million people are added. Increasing numbers of people demand more energy and water. But sadly, fresh water resources in the world do not increase.
According to an estimation of the World Water Council, there is already 40 per cent water stress in the world and in dense regions it’s almost 80 per cent. More than 40 per cent of the world population will be forced to live in zones with 40 per cent water stress by 2050, says UN World Water Development Report 2014.
An increasing demand for manufacturing products, domestic use and electricity will increase the demand for water. The developing world will face more acute problems because of water and energy scarcity. So, it is high time to focus our attention on it.
The green industry concept proposed by UNIDO is water and energy-efficient practice. Energy Audits, on the other hand, can be used to identify and reduce water and energy losses. Chemically bound energy in waste water can be used as fuel in vehicles, for cooling power plants etc.
Source : The Himalayan Times
By : NIRAJAN PUDASAINI
