Agricultural production is the leading consumer of water. Future population growth, income growth, and dietary shifts increase the water demand. With more requests comes a drawback of environmental issues on the water in agriculture.
Agriculture has a vast impact on water according to the demand. Currently, agricultural production is responsible for 85% of the world’s fresh water consumption. With increasing populations and demand for food, this consumption will double by 2050, alongside increasing land use for agriculture.
How does water usage affect the environment?
The demand for water increases when the need for food increases; they are directly proportional. Freshwater is consumed in agriculture, which means there will be a depletion of water for aquatic life. The environmental effects of using water explain that if water is consumed in agriculture and fertilizers, the groundwater is swept into the land, making it polluted with chemicals. When manure or commercial fertilizers enter surface water, the nutrients they release stimulate microorganism growth, hence environmental factors of water.
Environmental effects of water shortage
Numerous factors cause environmental issues concerning water. One of the biggest drivers of water shortage is drought. A drought is an event of prolonged shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or groundwater. Climate change and rising global temperature affect rainfall in different parts of the world. It is one of the environmental issues on the water.
The warmer places where the temperature is high cause soil moisture to be absorbed in the air, leaving the land dry. Urbanization and an exponential increase in freshwater demand for households are driving factors behind water usage and the environment.
How does water scarcity affect the environment?
We have been asking this question for many years: how does water consumption affect the environment? Water scarcity can lead to many severe problems, including food insecurity, Increased human conflicts, and no aquatic life. These are a few of the environmental issues concerning water.
1. Food insecurity
The impact of water on food is enormous and may be out of our understanding. We need water to produce the food that we eat. Today, around 70% of freshwater withdrawals go into agriculture, from irrigation and pesticide to fertilizer application and sustaining livestock. Environmental issues concerning water are vast, and they can lead to prolonged droughts and livestock deaths, causing food prices to rise.
2. Increase human conflicts
It is an essential environmental issue concerning water. Increased human conflicts are one of the environmental effects of water shortage. One of the most significant effects of water shortage is increased competition between water users, thus potentially sparking conflicts and putting millions of lives at risk.
3. No aquatic life
The impact of water on aquatic ecosystems is everything. There will be no life if there is no water. The environmental effects on water life are too big of a risk and are for granted. The freshwater is already depleting, and if it does, we will be purifying seawater to meet our needs. Environmental factors of water are immense, and we humans are dependent on it.
Malaysia was facing severe environmental effects of water shortage due to lack of precipitation. It’s hard to imagine Malaysia going through something like this as it’s placed on the equator which makes it a very country where it rains a lot. Drought can affect anywhere in the world and it can make us wonder how it is impossible for us to survive without water.
Final verdict: there are many environmental factors of water, and it’s alarming to see how much water is being used and wasted in crop production. Hence, the high water demand makes it hard for us to preserve it for our future generations.