Skin moisturization is one of the primary biological mechanisms that protect the skin from drying up, thus becoming susceptible to physical damage (Miller, 2015). A lack of proper natural moisturization may indicate an imbalance in a persons diet or metabolism. Moisturizing gels are used to manage dehydrated skin, but they treat the symptoms of the problem while leaving the causes unaddressed. Scientific observations indicate that people suffer from dehydrated skin during summers due to increased temperatures and exposure to the elements (Akdeniz, Tomova-Simitchieva, Dobos, Blume-Peytavi, & Kottner, 2018). The purpose of this experimental study is to test the relationship between drinking water and managing dehydrated skin.
Hypotheses
H1: Drinking water can increase skin moisture and reduce the effects of dehydrated skin during hot periods.
H0: There is no relationship between water consumption and skin moisture.
Experimental Design
The research will be conducted in summer so that the natural conditions would fit the premise of the experiment. The sample will consist of 30 people who suffer from skin dehydration during summers. The estimated duration of the experiment 2 months. During the first month, the participants would be asked to continue their activities as normal, drinking as much water as they normally would. The average amount of water would be calculated for all participants, by their natural needs. Their levels of skin moisture would be measured every week using a skin moisture analyzer. Visual observations of skin dehydration would be taken.
During the second month, all participants would be requested to drink an additional liter of water per day. Just like in the previous scenario, their skin moisture levels would be measured every week. The state of their skin dehydration would be visually assessed as well.
Expected Results
It is expected that skin moisture levels during the second month would differ from the first month, due to the increased levels of liquid consumption by the participants. The additional liquid in the body would transfer to the skin, enabling natural moisturization mechanisms to take effect. It is assumed that, in the majority of cases, skin dehydration is caused by body dehydration and exposure to the elements. Because of these factors, the body does not have enough water to dedicate to skin moisturization, which in turn causes skin dehydration and damage. Increasing the amounts of water consumed during hot summer seasons should improve skin moisture levels and reduce physical damage associated with skin dehydration.
Conclusion
Should skin moisture levels increase during the second month of the experiment, the results would support a correlation between water consumption and skin moisture, thus proving the first hypothesis to be correct. Should there be no significant changes associated with additional water intake, it would be concluded that there is no correlation between skin moisture and water consumption, which is the premise of the null hypothesis. The results of this experiment have potential applications in the prevention of skin damage and dehydration. Creams and gels, while efficient at treating ruptured and crackled skin, are relatively expensive and do not offer a long-term solution. On the other hand, drinking more water during hot summer periods does not cost as much and is potentially more healthy in the long-term perspective, as dehydration of the body is dangerous not only to the skin but to other systems as well. The outcome of this research has the potential to become a basis for further studies into the subject.
References
Akdeniz, M., Tomova-Simitchieva, T., Dobos, G., Blume-Peytavi, U., & Kottner, J. (2018). Does dietary food intake affect skin hydration in healthy humans? Skin Research and Technology, 2018, 1-7.
Miller, H. J. (2015). Dehydration in the older adult. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 41(9), 8-13.
When stranded at sea with no food or water, one might feel the urge to drink the water in the sea. Nonetheless, drinking seawater is a potentially risky activity that potentially might lead to death. Sea water contains high amounts of salt, which the human body is not adapted to process. Hence, consuming it causes a high amount of salt without the human cell, which leads to a steep concentration gradient within the cell, thereby causing water to be drawn out, which is detrimental to the cell.
When one takes in seawater, the high concentration of salt in the water causes the solution outside the cell to be hypertonic. On the other hand, the solution inside the cell membrane is hypotonic. This indicates that compared to the intracellular solute concentration, it has a lower solute concentration (Lopez & Hall, 2022). This causes a concentration gradient between the solution within the cell membrane and that without it. As a result, water moves from the region of low concentration, inside the cell membrane, to a region of high concentration, outside the cell membrane where the sea water is. This is facilitated because the cell membrane is semipermeable, allowing water molecules to flow in and out.
The movement of water from the cell to its environment leads to creation. This is where the cell shrinks due to a lack of water when exposed to a hypertonic solution. This causes the cell to lose its functionality. Further, under normal body functioning, the human kidney usually excretes urine that has a lower salt concentration than seawater. Hence, to excrete the sea salt, the body will need more water, which will cause dehydration, which can lead to nausea, weakness, organ failure, coma, and potentially death.
Reference
Lopez, M. J., & Hall, C. A. (2020). Physiology, Osmosis. StatPearls Publishing.
Up until 1795, Boston greatly relied on local wells and rain barrels for its local water supply. In 1795, the city turned to Jamaican water supply which supplied water throughout the city using wooden pipes but the city lacked a sufficient delivery capacity and the Jamaican water supply also started to pose major health concerns.
This prompted the city to develop a conchitutae water supply system in 1951 to boost the distribution of water (MWRA 2). However, due to population explosion in the area, the conshituate water system wasnt sufficient to cater for the whole city and the Chestnut Hill reservoir was build to supplement the water shortage.
Later, the Wachuset and the Quabbin water reservoirs were built to further supplement water shortages and then the MWRAs integrated water supply system was established to improve the supply of water which still supports the citys water distribution today (MWRA 5).
Water Sources and Treatment
Upon construction of Boston water reservoirs, common sources of water used to supply it were the Nashua River, Lake Winnipesaukee, Sebago Lake, and the Merrimac River which also sustained water to the Wachuset reservoir and the Quabbin Reservoir (MWRA 5). These two reservoirs are Bostons major water reservoirs and supply most of Bostons household with fresh water each day.
In general, Boston is estimated to use approximately 220 million gallons of water each day (Ryan 12). However, before water is supplied into the households, it is normally treated under high standards of care, conforming to state and federal water regulations.
In the initial steps, water is treated by ozone bubbles derived from oxygen, and later, chloramines are added to prevent any contamination because the water travels long distances before final consumption. Alkalinity and acidity are later checked through the addition of sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide which also ensures there is no probability of a metallic substance (from domestic plumbing) dissolving in the water. Fluoride is later added to improve consumers teeth (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority 6).
Piping and Pressurization
After treatment, water is pressurized through elevation of the reservoirs to maintain a high gravitational pressure. However, in areas with low gravitational force, water is pumped in selected pumping stations. Water delivery in the city is done through ductile iron, vinyl, and reinforced concrete. These piping systems are installed in conformance to state and federal standards of piping.
Water Hydrants
Boston uses the dry barrel fire hydrants because of their ability to withstand extreme climatic conditions. These hydrants are placed 500 meters from each other and their presence can be witnessed in virtually all major streets. Boston currently has approximately 13,000 fire hydrants but the city is also grappling with the problem of children opening up the hydrants while playing.
In this regard, the relevant authorities are currently contemplating installing tamper resistant magnetic caps to prevent damage to the water hydrants (Ryan 8).
Bostons piping layout is concentrated in the metropolitan areas and in areas of high population. Practically each street has a piping access that ensures water is available for indoor and outdoor use. Areas doted with fire hydrants are also precisely supplied with water through a network of pipes dug underground. The piping network canvasses through streets and under specific buildings to provide good water coverage of the city. Currently, the water piping system is such that it supplies one hydrant in every three square miles (Ryan 14)
Most of the citys hydrants are normally tested under the ISO standards annually or semiannually but in some cases, some hydrants have a longer warranty of testing, say between 5-10 years. Bostons hydrants conform to ISO standards class 8 which ensures that its hydrants supply approximately 250 gallons of water each minute for two hours (Ryan 15). In addition, the hydrants are often cleaned to ensure that no debris, silt or erosion occurs within the pipes to maintain efficient working of the hydrants.
Pumper tests are also periodically undertaken to ensure the liner and strainer are clear of any silt deposits. The caps to the hydrants are also well painted and the grass around it trimmed to levels which expose the openings. More importantly, the ISO standards in which the citys fire department conforms to, ensure that water pressure and availability is always maintained at recommended levels.
Conclusion
Boston city has in the past ensured it obtains sustainable amounts of water from its two major water reservoirs. The city currently, stands to meet most of the modern citys water demands with sustainable sources of water from its natural resources and proper treatment of water which are in line with the state and federal standards.
Also with a hydrant population of 1,300, Boston adequately meets the needs of fire preparedness in the city and its conformance to ISO standards also ensures that the hydrants are in perfect working condition. However, the biggest challenge to the citys water distribution system rests in ensuring the system is in perfect working condition.
This has adverse effects on the population of fish that are set to dwindle due to the destruction of their food resources or by killing them through mercury poison.
The mercury poison comes from industry effluents. Adverse temperatures that results from dumping of hot water from the industries near water resources also affect the number of fish by killing them. The presences of these pollutants always have the effect of destabilizing the ecological balance of the water (Feldman, 1995).
The management of these water resources is a very precarious and complicated. This process requires a careful balance of both ecological and economical considerations. The management plan will include the introduction of laws to curb the water pollution and preservation of fish resources. The laws will have to outlaw uncontrolled dumping and release of industrial effluents in the water.
The law should also set limits to the fishing practice the fishermen will have to use. This will include limiting of fishing licenses and setting limits to the size of fishing nets the fishermen will have to use and set limits the amount of fish the fishermen can be allowed to catch. The law should also carry stiff penalties to whoever found in violation of the environmental water laws.
Another management policy can be the introduction of an economic policy where the person responsible for the pollution to be made to pay for the cost of cleanup. This will mean that fishermen and other stake holders will have to take out insurance covers to cover their practices. Even consumers who use paper bags will have to pay for them.
Finally, the recycling of most materials that find their way to the water resources can go a long way in trying to manage the resources. Recycling of waste and purification of sewage waste should be encourages to avoid toxic wastes spilling up in the water.
Effects of water resources managements on the community
The effects of the management will be received in different ways by both environmentalists and fishermen. To fishermen the proposal to recycle and reduce the waste effluents will be take positively as it will mean the increase to the number of fish but the proposal to introduce laws to enable the efficient sustainable of resources will be received negatively by the fishermen.
This is because the laws seek to limit the size of the nets and the amount of fish each fisherman can catch. In addition, by limiting on the number of fishermen it will result in the increase in the price of fishing licenses.
On the other hand, the environmentalists will take the introduction of the laws and the other management process positively (Feldman, 1995). This is because all these measures will lead to the protecting the water resources as well as allowing the population of fish to flourish. This solution will have different effects to the community.
In terms of jobs, the number of jobs might reduce in the community due to the limit of the number of fishermen allowed in the water resources. It will also mean that all the industries that depend on fish like fishmeal factories and filleting plants will have to suffer.
On the other hand, due to the cleanup of the water resources, it will have a positive effect on the lifestyle on the community. The practicing of swimming and other sports safely done without the fear of catching water-borne diseases that might have affected the water resource users before the clean up.
Problems developed by fishing techniques
Fishing can lead to the extinction of species due to the overfishing of rare kinds of fish and other protected kinds .In addition it can lead to the killing and capturing of unwanted water species.
This is because some fishing methods like trawling are indiscriminate on what they catch. Water animals like turtles and water snakes can be caught thus changing the balance of the ecosystem.
Finally, fishing method likes trawling involves the dragging of nets at the bottom of the water bodies. The nets can cause the scrapping the floor leading to the destruction of polyps which is an important source of food to the fish.
Reference
Feldman, D. (1995). Water Resources Management: In Search of an Environmental Ethic. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University press.
Secondary waste water treatment is majorly aimed at removing dissolved but biodegradable organic matter from water after physically suspended materials are removed by the primary process(Bengtson, 2010, p. 2).
Majorly, these types of treatment use biological treatment processes to treat water but final consumption is done after tertiary treatment has been done.
Tertiary treatment is sometimes referred to as the advanced treatment because it treats what the primary and secondary methods have been unable to treat. Many of these types of treatment (tertiary) utilize chemical compounds to treat water (Bengtson, 2010, p. 1).
Both the secondary and tertiary treatment methods utilize a number of processes to make each step a success but tertiary treatment is never usually a necessity because it depends on the toxicity of the source of water.
Some of the most significant differences in these treatment methods are that the secondary treatment methods majorly utilize physical processes but tertiary treatment methods utilize chemical methods of treatment. Also, the tertiary treatment method is majorly undertaken with the aim of removing nitrate and phosphorous compounds from the water but the secondary treatment method is aimed at removing organic waste materials.
Lastly, the tertiary treatment method is not a mandatory procedure and varies from place to place but the secondary treatment method is mandatory and involves a couple of common processes such as the trickling filter, stabilization pond treatment systems and activated sludge (Bengtson, 2010, p. 4).
Appropriate Uses of Reclaimed Water
Reclaimed water can be obtained from many sources but it bears the qualities of being odorless, clear and high quality water, which enables it to be used for a number of purposes.
However, the most appropriate source for reclaimed water is irrigation but it is quite unfortunate that up to 50% of high quality water, which could be used for drinking, is used for irrigation (National Academy of Sciences, 2010, p. 3).
Reclaimed water can therefore act as a good substitute. However, reclaimed water can be used in a number of industrial irrigation processes and in supplementing natural system needs.
In this context, reclaimed water can be appropriately used in street cleaning operations; power generation plants; decorating fountains, quelling fires, dust control, aquifer discharge; cooling in industrial processes; and restoring depleted, natural systems (National Academy of Sciences, 2010, p. 3).
However, some people have got the whole concept of using reclaimed water for body contact wrong because it is inappropriate to use reclaimed water for recreational purposes (like swimming pool); cooking or drinking; or irrigating vegetable and other foods such as herb gardens because they can directly absorb the contaminated chemicals from the reclaimed water and store them in their tissues.
Recommendation
Tertiary treatment methods are not good for ground water recharge and instead secondary treatment is recommended for this purpose. This is true because the operational plant facilities are likely to be affected by tertiary treatment methods because they eliminate nitrates and phosphates which are essential for ground water recharge, especially when the recharge is expected to support portable use, including metallic toxicants, or when the recharge process is expected to use nitrogen compounds and pathogens.
However, tertiary treatment methods are useful for treating drinking water because many drinking water purification plants use the process to clean raw water. Moreover, the process can be used to remove impurities which the primary and secondary processes are unable to.
The linkage between water quality and public health is derived from the fact that unsafe water is responsible for causing a variety of waterborne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, which claims the lives of an estimated 5 million people annually 6,000 children everyday (NRDC, 2008).
According to WHO (2010), the quality of drinking water is a foundation for the prevention and control of waterborne ailments, thus water quality is a critical environmental determinant of health for populations using the water.
Water that is contaminated with chemicals or bacteria can compromise the state of public health by increasing the risks of various disease outbreaks.
Due to inadequate or ineffective water treatment policies in most developing countries, drinking water often gets contaminated with chemicals and bacteria from industrial wastes, pesticides, and untreated human waste (NRDC, 2008), setting the stage for the outbreak of notable waterborne diseases as is presently happening in Haiti after the devastating earthquake that occasioned the contamination of drinking water with human effluent.
Some water pollutants carry disease-causing agents such as E. coli, giardia, and the typhoid bacteria, which have been known to cause potentially fatal diseases.
NRDC (2008) notes that an estimated 3 million children perish each year due to waterborne diseases, 90 percent dying before celebrating their 5th birthday as a direct consequence of their weak immunity systems. Contaminated water is also known to cause skin lesions, cardiac conditions, and several types of cancer.
According to Markandya (2004), &unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in high-mortality developing countries (p. 3).
As such, it can be argued that the quality of water is a foremost determinant of the health of populations globally. Indeed, water is a fundamental component of public health, and failure to avail clean water to people in need places a heavy burden on the entire population (Massoud et al., 2010)
Water quality and quantity concerns in the U.S. are remarkably different from concerns raised by a typical developing country. Although various challenges to water quality have been posed (Ashok, 1998), the U.S. has implemented a multiplicity of measures aimed at improving the quality of water, such as source water protection, waste water treatment, water treatment, and effective waste management practices.
Lack of adequate resources and political will continue to compromise efforts geared towards ensuring water quality in most developing nations. In terms of quantity, one of the foremost issue facing developing countries is lack of enough water to meet basic human needs (Markandya, 2004).
Developing countries often contends with the ever-present challenge of chemical and biological water contamination, arising from improper waste disposal and water treatment mechanisms (NRDC, 2008).
This issue has been largely brought under control in the U.S., though some challenges have been reported. However, it should be noted that the issue of water contamination continues to adversely affect the level of water quality in most developing countries. The issue of high water contamination gives rise to rampant outbreak of waterborne diseases.
According to Ashok (1998), waterborne diseases continue to cause high incidences of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Massoud et al (2010) notes that &in developing countries, nearly 80% of all diseases are linked to water and sanitation (p. 24). The U.S. and other developed countries have managed to control the issue of waterborne diseases by putting in place effective strategies, policies, and systems of ensuring water quality.
Water quality and quantity issues in the African country of Kenya have taken a centre stage in the governments efforts to enhance public health. This is after the realization that a sizeable population of children below age 5 were dying annually of curable diarrheal conditions contracted through drinking unsafe water (Ashok, 1998).
The countrys budget has for years been burdened by the frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases due to rampant biological contamination from leaking human sewer pipes and chemical contamination from factories and other installations that directs their effluence into rivers and waterbeds.
Inadequate disposal of human and animal excrement continues to be blamed for massive water contamination in the country, putting many lives at risk. The magnitude of the mortality and morbidity from waterborne ailments is one of the countrys principal environmental health threats to millions of people.
The growth and development of children in the country has been adversely affected by frequent episodes of diarrheal diseases. In rainy seasons, for instance, the country is forced to put up with huge economic costs stemming from lost adult productivity occasioned by waterborne diarrheal diseases (Ashok, 1998).
Community members are forced to shoulder extra healthcare costs as they seek treatment for diseases caused by unsafe drinking water. In equal measure, the quantity of drinking water that can be considered safe for human consumption is barely enough due to population pressure and urban migration.
Reference List
Ashok, G. (1998). Drinking water in developing countries. Annual Review of Energy & the Environment, 23(11), 253-270. Web.
Markandya, A. (2004). Water quality issues in developing countries. Web.
Massoud, M.A., Al-Abady, A., Jurdi, M., Nuwayhid, I. (2010). The challenges of sustainable access to safe drinking water in rural areas of developing countries: Case of Zawtar El-charkieh, Southern Lebanon. Journal of Environmental Health, 72(10), 24-30. Web.
Water crisis refers to the situation where the available water within a geographical location cannot meet the needs of the population in that location. This prevalent situation has drawn attention in most countries due to its severity to humanity. Despite the fact that the earth is covered by seventy percent of water, only four percent of this water is fresh.
The rest is saline. Additionally, out of the fresh water, sixty-nine percent consists of glaciers, while the rest is available as surface or underground water. As a result, only one percent is available for direct human consumption, which is relatively less than the human demand (Jennifer, 2010).
This condition necessitates many countries to embrace the option of underground water or desalinization to sustain the ever-increasing demand for water. Similarly, climate change considerably contributes to the worldwide water crisis. Due to global warming, the level of water loss on the earths surface increases especially in tropical regions. This with other factors leads to water crisis.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), water crisis is on the rise with the increase in population. With the rapid growth in population influenced by the booming economic activities within the country, the need for clean and safe water increases surpassing the supply. The countrys climate, characterized by little precipitation because of high temperatures and low humidity, contributes to the water crisis.
The temperatures, which fluctuate between 400C and 200C during the year, significantly influence the long run average precipitation. The countrys precipitation levels are an estimated to be 80 mm per year (Environmental Agency, 2010). This situation is alarming especially in consideration to the growing population. The country has resorted to other forms of water generation such as desalinization and underground water mining to meet partially its water needs.
Nevertheless, the peoples culture of water consumption is linked to the water crisis. It is estimated that an individual in UAE spends about 500 liters of water in a day, while the average consumption on a worldwide scale is approximately 250 liters per day. On this note, it is vital to ascertain the major contributor of water crisis based on the controversy of nature and humanity causes in UAE and other parts of the world.
Background
Water crisis is known as the scarcity of water that can support humanity, agriculture, energy generation, industries, and general usage. This phenomenon has been adverse in most nations dictating the need for the addition of the valuable resource. The continuous increase in population is one of the contributing factors. In UAE, since 1962, after the full exploitation of oil, the country continues to receive a massive population growth because of immigration.
This population provides the needed labor in the commercial exploitation of oil and other economic activities. With the small percentage of arable land and low precipitation in the country, it is considerably important to develop water alternatives that meet the peoples needs. Since the country has little amounts of surface water, it focuses on the extraction of underground water and desalinization in order to sustain the growing water demands.
Similarly, the economic proceedings in the country have facilitated the appropriate means of supplying water. Regardless of the governments efforts, there still exists a huge gap between the amount of water supplied and its demand. Therefore, the study focuses on the factors that influence water crisis in UAE with regard to humanity and nature.
In analyzing the water crisis, the study seeks to establish the role that nature and people play in contributing to the phenomenon. In this regard, conclusions will be drawn based on the major contributor, which has escalated the water crisis in UAE.
This implies nature will entail factors such as the level of precipitation and availability of surface and underground water, which enhance the adversity of water crisis in the country. On the other hand, people will refer to analysis of the level of water utilization in activities such as agriculture, electricity generation, and consumption. Therefore, one can establish the major contributors to the water crisis.
Literature review
Ali (2010) comments that the consumption level of water exceeds the available sources (91) while Boberg (2005) asserts that water is one of the resources that is scarce (112) made an analysis of the water crisis in UAE based on the water stress in the region. Ali and Boberg clarified water stress as the imbalance that exists between the amount of water needed and the available useful water. They utilized the water stress index for the rating of water crisis.
Nevertheless, they failed to take into consideration various factors like the potential sources of water such as desalinization. On the other hand, the analysis of Mehmet (2000) portrays the severity of water crisis is attributed to industrialization which consumes and pollutes available water (p.76) but never addresses the role of nature and people regarding water stress.
According to Environmental agency-Abu Dhabi (2010), breakthroughs in desalination technologies are responsible for the climate change in UAE (p.101) depicts how climate change has affected UAE. While the Environmental Agency (2010) reported, Middle East regions experienced an annual increase of temperature from 38oC to 40oC attributed to global warming.
In addition, the amount of water available on the surface as well as underground has declined. This implies that there are possible chances of increased severity of the water crisis. Despite the fact that other sources of water are disregarded, there are indications that the prevailing situation in UAE is due to climate change as per the Human Development Report (2006).
Jain and Singh (2010) claim that climate changes influence the level of rainfall, which contribute to water crisis. (p.251), and Jennifer (2010) attributes that failure to address strategic water management has been the lead cause of water crisis. (p.185). In addition, Waterbury (1997) asserts, with the high rate of industrialization, water stress has been on the rise (p.234), concurring with them.
In their reports, they discuss the various factors that contribute to water crisis such as climate change, industrialization of countries and strategic water management policies.
In this case, they attribute the water crisis to emanate from the various environmentally destructive activities. While World Bank Report (2007) considers that economic activities in the Middle East countries leads to decline in rainfall from approximately 100 mm per year to 80mm per year (p.172). Thus, climate change affects the underground water. Considering the availability of other sources of water, none was mention concerning their impacts on water crisis.
World Bank Report (2010) reveals, Seawater desalinization is the leading source of fresh water (p.127). Similarly, Landrais (2010) recommends, the Middle East countries ought to go for desalinization of water to sustain the growing water demand (p.268). Therefore, addressing desalination activities in the Middle East countries depends on the countries ability to adopt the process of desalinization as a source of water.
Through this process, the countries will considerably tackle the water crisis. UAE Report (2008) affirms, The need to sustain water demands is a real challenge with the growing population (p.305). In spite of this undertaking, there is a shortage regarding the water use leading to crisis, which arouses the debate of nature or humanity in the case.
Discussion and results
Initially, water crisis stimulates creativity and innovation. The impacts of water crisis in a country depict the importance attached to water. In UAE, Water, which is used for various purposes such as consumption, agriculture, energy generation, and industries, contribute to the economic growth of a country. As a result, the country embarks on countering water crisis effects to ensure economic prosperity. For this reason, the country looks for non-conventional sources that they can exploit in order to meet the peoples demand for water.
Some of these sources include desalinization and reuse. In the process of desalinization, the extracted seawater is converted to fresh water in the desalinization plants. This source of water adds a significant volume of water, which is necessary for consumption and other economic activities. Additionally, since the costs of desalinization are high, the country adopts reuse procedures to supplement other sources.
Secondly, with the resolution of water crisis, the countrys economy will advance since production will increase and the living conditions for the citizens will improve. These developments would sustain the need to look for a variety of water sources that counter water crisis during harsh climatic conditions. On individuals perspective, water crisis poses a challenge of adopting means of conserving the valuable resource.
As a result, the consumption levels would be moderate. This implies that with the increase in population size, the country would be able to sustain its population in relation to water demands. Based on the prevalent water crisis in UAE, citizens have been able to appreciate the need to conserve water and utilize it appropriately. Similarly, industries have developed measures that facilitate wastewater reuse. This contributes to an increase in the total volume of water useful for similar purposes.
Another crucial importance of water entails electricity generation, where water plays a key role in the country. It is possible to enhance the countrys production processes with the availability of water and its sufficient supply. This implies that the management of water crisis is significantly important to the progress of the country.
Similarly, various agricultural activities, which supply the population with the necessary food or raw materials for industries, can only be successful with the availability of sufficient water. Therefore, the two activities could be undertaken simultaneously by using the wastewater from industries for irrigation purposes. In UAE, this concept has been applied comparatively well and the attempts for water management have been considered.
In the search for the appropriate strategies to counter water crisis, there are a lot of demerits associated with it. Some of the crucial impacts include environmental effects during water extraction and the health of the population. Water exploitation from other sources apart from the surface and underground water involves a lot of environmental pollution.
For example, water desalinization leads to environmental pollution through the waste materials released such as smoke and salt. These pollutants cause environmental degradation resulting in climate change.
Climate change affects the availability of water by interfering with the precipitation level and temperatures of a region. Hence, countries would lose fresh water from the surface and underground sources. This considerably hinders other economic factors and contributes to severe water crisis.
On the analysis of the role played by nature and people, it indicates that the people have significant contribution. This is due to the uncertainty associated with nature in serving the need for water. Therefore, nature cannot be controlled. In addition, people have to adopt other varied sources of water. With the activities that people undertake, they are necessitated to look for alternative sources of fresh water to meet their needs.
Some of the vital progress in countering water crisis has been desalinization and reuse. This indicates that people are the main cause of water crisis and put all their efforts to counter the effects on this perspective. As a result, the processes yield the success of engaging in water sourcing to counter the disastrous activities associated with water crisis.
Another crucial demerit of water crisis entails the cost of the problem. In the process of implementing the projects for solving of water crisis, the country has spent multiple resources. Similarly, the process of addressing the problems of the water crisis has led to pollution of environment resulting in water crisis. This is because the consumption level of the UAE people is extremely high. Thus, the prevalence of water crisis has adverse effects on its major contributors who are the people.
Conclusion
In consideration of the effects of water crisis, most nations undertake measures to counter this vice and prevent its impacts on humanity and economic performance. At the core of the importance of clean and safe water is the consumption need. In this case, humans as well as other biodiversity are at risk of dehydration.
For this reason, most nations without the adequate supply of surface water engage in considerable inputs to ensure the sustainability of sufficient water. Some of the major plans include water reuse, extraction of underground water and seawater desalinization. In UAE, the need for water supply has been constantly met through the desalinization process. Despite the harmful effects such as pollution that desalinization plants have on the environment, significant volumes of water are derived through this process.
The efforts employed in the process of seawater desalinization have been significant towards the realization of its sufficiency. Comparing the severity of water crisis as between the people and nature, the government of UAE has imposed regulations that ensure water preservation and its uniform distribution to all industries.
Similarly, since nature plays a critical role considering that UAE is in an arid region, any precipitations that results within the year are optimally harvested to supplement other sources of water. Under the study, the world, with specification of UAE, has realized the fact that humanity contributes considerably to water crisis compared to nature. This implies, people are attributed as the main cause of water crisis.
Recommendations
The water crisis demands appropriate solutions considering that water is one of the vital reasons for population survival as well as the growth of economic activities. UAE, being one of the countries with high immigration rates that influence population growth, ought to address its water crisis amicably. This need has compelled the government to invest heavily in water treatment and generation.
With the underground and saline water being the major sources of water, the government has invested in the extraction of clean and safe water. Regarding the underground water, the anticipation of climate change necessitates the government to counter the possible impacts of the phenomenon since most of its underground water originates from other regions. While desalinization is the largest contributor of safe and clean water, the government needs to adopt measures to counter its effects on the environment.
Therefore, it needs to adopt policies that ensure that the establishment of new desalinization plants conforms to the needs of environmental conservation and preservation. The implementation of policies that regulate the establishment of ecologically friendly industries will facilitate the realization of this objective. Incidentally, the effects of plants on climate change would decline facilitating the continuous supply of underground water.
For the growing population, there are needs to address the populations policies and strategic water management. To counter the rapidly growing population due to high fertility rates and immigration, the government should formulate policies and strategies that will ensure the regulation of population.
This will assist in controlling the population size, and the water generated would be sufficient for the general population. On the other hand, the formulation of strategic water management would guide the country into efficient water utilization. In this regard, the country would plan on the management of the water used for consumption and prevent any wastage that may occur in the course of the process.
Concerning economic activities such as agriculture, energy generation, and industrial usage, the adoption of proper policies is vital in order to minimize water wastage. In addition, water could be recycled in any plant that produces wastewater and facilitate the preservation of the vital resource. In this regard, the country will be able to counter the impacts of the water crisis.
References
Ali, F. (2010). Development of water stress index as a tool for measurement of water stress areas. International Sustainable Development, 1(1), 551.
Boberg, J. (2005). Liquid assets: how demographic changes and water management policies affect freshwater resources. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corp.
Environmental Agency. (2010). Impact, vulnerability and Adaptation in the UAE. Climate change and the UAE, 1(1), 52.
Human, D. R. (2006). Reports (1990-2011) | Global Reports | HDR 2006 | Human Development Reports (HDR) | United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Human Development Reports (HDR) United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Web.
Jain, S., & Singh, V. (2010). Water crisis. Journal of Comparative Social Welfare, 26(2), 2-3.
Jennifer, k. (2010). Global water intelligence. International Issues, 42(1), 25-85.
Landrais, E. (2010). School in Dubai make progress in reducing carbon emissions. Gulf News, 4, 56-156.
Mehmet, O. (2000). Water balances in the eastern Mediterranean. Ottawa: International Development Research Centre.
UAE.Report (2008.). Seawater desalination leads response to global water crisis | International Desalination Association | AMEinfo.com. Middle East business & financial news | business directory & current events. Web.
Waterbury, J. (1997). Yes, California, there is a water crisis: observations on the UN water conference. Hanover, NH: American Universities Field Staff.
World Bank Report. (2007). Making the most of security: Accounting for better water management: Results in middle East. World Bank Reports, 5(1), 146.
World, Bank Report (2010). Regional Desalinization study for the Middle East. World Bank Reports, 1(1), 13.
The history of water service in the State of Texas dates back to 1878, when Houstons City Council decided to build a water works facility. In part, this decision was triggered by the necessity to cope with devastating fires, which occurred on a regular basis (Smyer, p 2). At that moment, the entire consumption of water was 3.000.000 gallons per day (Smyer, p 2). This fact indicates that at that time, water needs of people, living in Texas were relatively small.
It stands to reason that water needs of this region have drastically increased since that time. At the given moment, the population of Texas numbers more than 21 million people. Moreover, it is one of the biggest industrial centers of the US. According to the most recent estimations, the daily usage of water constitutes approximately 18 million gallons, while the annual usage 657 billion gallons (Texas Conservative Coalition, p 2).
It is often argued that Texas is one of those US regions where the rate of water consumption far exceeds the replenishment rate. In addition to that, many scholars insist that local government should work out strategies, which would contribute to the reduction of water consumption. The thing is that many underground waters are going to be depleted, if the level of consumption does not drop. This is perhaps the key drawback of water distribution system in the State of Texas.
At present, the local government tries to make a more efficient use of underground waters; in particular, we can mention such an aquifer as Brazos River Alluvium. The surface waters include such rivers and bayous as The Brazos and Trinity Rivers (Window on State Government, unpaged). We can say that water distribution system in Texas has to rely more on surface waters but at this moment, this source of water supply remains relatively unexplored.
Water supply treatment, which aims to remove all possible contaminants, consists of such stages as pre-chlorination, aeration, desalination. Each of these processes is supposed to ensure that the water is suitable for drinking. These procedures are aimed at removing bacteria, viruses, various fungi and so forth. These purification techniques are instrumental for maintaining the highest quality of water.
The water distribution system in Texas provides several options for pressurizing water:
By means of pumps (there is a whole network of pumping stations in Texas);
By using the force of gravity feed, in other words by means of water towers;
Through pressure vessels.
This infrastructure is owned by both public and private organizations.
It should also be pointed out that according to the standards, adopted by local government, water pipes must meet the following requirements:
First, all water lines have to be rubber gasket pipes only (The State of Texas, unpaged);
Secondly each of the pipes has to be furnished with a rubber ring at each joint (The State of Texas, unpaged).
Moreover, the pipes must be of a specific diameter, which would not exceed 12 inches. These specifications are necessary for maintaining optimal pressure. Besides, water pipes must be made of ductile iron, polyvinyl chloride, or copper. This choice can be explained by the fact that these materials are durable, and more importantly, they do not contaminate water.
Water supply system is an inseparable part of fire protection; especially we are speaking about fire hydrants or fire plugs, which provide firefighters with instantaneous access to water suppliers. In Texas, the firefighters use various types of dry barrel hydrants. This means that water is not preserved directly in the hydrant, but in the piping.
This decision of the state government can be accounted by the fact that the climate in this region significantly varies and in some areas, the temperature drops below zero. Provided that water is stored directly in the hydrant, it may freeze in winter.
Consequently, hydrant, itself, will be of no use. According to the safety standards, established in the state of Texas, fire hydrant testing has be conducted twice a year. These tests aim to measure conveyance capacity and pressure. Such tests are an integral part of fire protection precautions.
In some rural areas, where there are no hydrants, local firefighters mostly rely on water towers. One should take it into consideration that the shortage of fire hydrants cannot always be compensated by water towers because such means of water delivery is not quite suitable for the needs of firemen. On the whole, this is one of the key issues that local government ought to address.
Therefore, we can come to the conclusion that in terms of infrastructure, water distribution system, used by the State of Texas, is quite advanced, especially if we are referring to urban areas. Yet, rural areas often suffer from the shortage of water supply. As it has been mentioned before, this region is one of the largest consumers of water across the United States and it is strongly dependent on underground water sources, which can be exhausted in the near future.
Work Cited
Rister M., Lacewell. R. & Strurdivant A. Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 (San Juan) Relining Lateral A Preliminary. Texas Water Resources Institute. 2003. Web.
Smyer Susan. History of the City of Houstons Drinking Water Operations. 2008. Web.
Texas Conservative Coalition. Open Markets Will Meet Texas Water Needs . TCCRI. 2007. Web.
The Official Website of the State of Texas. Specifications of PCV Water Pipes 2010. Web.
Window on State Government. Texan in Focus: Infrastructure 2010. Web.
One of the primary needs that support human life is water. The film Chinatown explores a series of conflicts and disputes in Los Angeles. The Water Department (WD) undertakes different measures to divert water from the existing reservoirs.
This practice is the leading cause of conflicts in the movie. Water is a critical commodity in the film because it motivates every character, causes conflicts, and affects the lives of the ranchers and farmers in the community. The citizens are bitter because the Water Department has evicted them from their lands. The department has attempted to demolish their tanks. It has also been trying to poison their wells.
The audience observes how water is a critical issue throughout the film. Many people in the film want to kill Hollis Mulwray because he is against the idea to create a new water reservoir. The film explains why Mulwray supports the needs of every affected person in the community. The chief engineer works for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
The movie explains why the water demands of the community have increased in the recent past. The situation forces the Water Department to undertake new measures to deal with the problem. One of the malpractices undertaken by the department is to divert huge quantities of water from the existing reservoir. This happens without the knowledge of the public.
Every person who appears to oppose this move faces a lot of trouble. The film also explains why many landowners have lost their properties. The astounding fact is that this change of ownership is suspicious and illegal. The tycoons get these new lands. According to Jakes Gittes, the new landowners must have killed Mr. Mulwray.
They killed Mulwray because he was against their plans. The plan was to irrigate their properties with the newly constructed water reservoir. The individuals completed the deals associated with the new estate surreptitiously. The property would only accommodate a few landowners. The tycoons also evicted the residents. The situation led to Mulwrays death.
Many people such as Evelyn, Cross, and Mulvihill are at loggerheads because of the issue of water. The viewer also observes that Gittes efforts were fruitless. Gittes uncovers the mysterious death of Mulwray. The film goes further to explain why most of the local citizens are against every decision made by the Water Department.
The movie also explores why people continue to lose their lands mysteriously. Water shortage appears to be the leading cause of conflicts and challenges in Chinatown. The situation explains why water is a very important commodity. The natural resource can cause conflicts when society fails to manage it properly.
Towards the end of the movie, Mr. Cross and Escobar encourage Gittes to stop his investigative duties. This scenario explains why Gittes and the government can do nothing about Chinatown. The town has always encountered different conflicts because of water. Water scarcity is the cause of every conflict encountered in the community.
The film also explores why water is the source of motivation for many characters. The society should manage this natural resource efficiently to have a better society. Every person should learn a lot from this film and come up with the best measures to manage water. The practice will make the world more sustainable.
Six helpful tips on reducing your potential exposure to lead in your drinking water
Lead is one of the metals that are toxic to our bodies. Toxic metals form part of a group of elements that are harmful to mankind. However, some of these elements are not injurious to the body when consumed in the right quantities. Therefore, exposure to lead must be minimized at all costs. This section provides six helpful tips on how a person can reduce exposure to lead in drinking water.
Firstly, a tap should run until it becomes cold. The exercise makes water that has stood for long in the tap safe for domestic use. Secondly, people must always use cold water. Cold water contains less lead than hot water. Research has shown that dissolution of lead is slower in cold tap water than hot water. The third tip discourages people from boiling water to reduce lead. In actual sense, boiling water concentrates lead rather than removing it or lowering its concentration. Proper cleaning of the faucet is the fourth tip. Lead and other residues collect on faucet screens after a certain period of time. For that reason, faucet screens should be cleaned periodically. Fifthly, it is advisable to test for lead if one still thinks his plumbing is not safe. This is done after trying the other four tips. Luckily, kits for this test are offered free of charge. Lastly, home treatment devices must be inspected and renovated regularly. They should also be tested immediately after installation. Furthermore, a person must ensure that these devices are approved for use in reducing the amount of lead or contact with the element. For further clarity, relevant authorities must be consulted through their various contacts.
Metal
Chemical symbol
Where it occurs in the natural environment.
Major health effects in humans.
Food, household, beauty products containing the metal.
Cadmium
Cd
Majority of metal ores.
Affects DNA repair and replication. In addition, cadmium increases aggression in human beings.
Fish, mascara and car parts such as brake linings.
Chromium
Cr
Bran and germ from most whole-grain cereals.
Excessive exposure can cause lung cancer, liver, kidney and blood toxicity and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD)
Blender, refrigerators and other household appliances. Most whole-grain foods contain chromium in large quantities.
Mercury
Hg
Gold and silver ores.
Exposure to high quantities damages the nervous system and kidney
Eggs, electronic appliances and creams such as Aichun Beauty (Aloe Vera).
Nickel
Ni
Forms part of planets iron-nickel molten core.
Leads to Cancer, birth defects, heart disorders and respiratory failures.
Eyeliners, lipsticks, chocolates, bra hooks and bracelets
Copper
Cu
Binds naturally to soil and water sediments.
Causes irritation of body organs, stomachaches, headaches. Excessive exposure damages the liver and the kidney.
Electronics and copper wires, sea foods and beauty products containing copper peptide.
Zinc
Zn
Occurs naturally in the soil, air and water.
Induces vomiting, skin irritation, stomach cramps, destruction of pancreas and interruption of metabolism.
Beef products, lozenges and galvanized products such as nails and iron sheets.
Iron
Fe
Occurs in the earths core and crust as iron oxide.
May cause lung cancer and conjunctivitis.
Utensils and cutlery, spinach and wrinkle-removing creams such as Matrixyl.
Aluminum
AL
Occurs on the earths surface as an isotope, aluminium-27.
Causes memory loss. Moreover, antiperspirants containing aluminum are touted to cause breast cancer.
Deodorant/Antiperspirants, Utensils and cutlery and table salts.