Global Water Perspective

Global Water Perspective
Beyond the basin, the Great Lakes face a new set of problems and hazards in the twenty-
first century. We are seeing unsustainable limits placed on our planet's resources, causing
irreversible harm to them. The urgency of comprehensive solutions is highlighted by the
increasing severity and intensity of these challenges. To stop the depletion of our priceless
natural resources, we need to be flexible and tackle these problems from new angles.
The current global population is seven billion. Over a billion people do not currently
have access to sanitary facilities or clean drinking water. Every year, diseases associated to
water cause the deaths of about 3.4 million people, many of whom being youngsters.
Our natural resources will be under increased stress due to the expanding global
population's needs and the need for clean, easily accessible drinking water. Moreover,
developing nations are using more consumptive goods. Water security is still a persistent
problem.
Regional water shortages such as those occurring in China, Australia and Africa have in
some cases been linked to climate change. The U. S. and Canada are not immune. Texas,
Alberta, and several western states are predicted to endure future water shortages, while some
water legislation already over-allocates resources without room for safeguards and management.
The water-intensive processes involved in energy operations are also concerns as energy
usage increases further pushing our resources to the brink. And issues of water quality and
quantity persist in and around our communities.
Feeding and fueling the world as well as keeping pace with increasing consumptive
demands of growing world economies will place the burden squarely upon fresh, clean water
never before seen in human history. Consider that the Great Lakes account for over 20% of all
fresh surface water in the world. The pressure from political, economic and social forces to
divert water from the Great Lakes will be immense. Maintaining the quality and water levels of
the Great Lakes Basin and protecting the water rights of its citizens through all of this in the 21st
century will be a challenge.
Water Consumption in Industry
Industrial water use differs from domestic water use only in the type of contaminants
released in large quantities. For instance, accidental cyanide spills from goldmine operations
have long-lasting effects on aquatic ecosystems (Gacsi et al. 2005; Lakatos et al. 2003; Shehong
et al. 2005). Heavy metals and toxic chemicals in large quantities rarely originate from domestic
sources.
Industrial water use per capita shows a widespread among different countries and appears
to be completely decoupled from human development (Figure 6). This decoupling probably
reflects the tendency for poor countries to become exporters of more water-intensive raw
materials and industrial products. As in the case of domestic water use, industrial wastewater
either needs more diluting water when released into surface waters or needs to be treated, which
is typically energy intensive.
Integration of Industrial Water
Water-intensive industries are primarily the chemical industry, followed by the metal,
food and beverage, paper, and textile industries. The chemical industry offers the highest
potential for increasing eco-efficiency in industrial water management: on the one hand, it is the
largest industrial consumer of water; on the other hand, the chemical industry offers innovative
products and technologies for efficient water management 11. The process industry in total offers
a high potential for reducing freshwater demand and wastewater release as well as increasing
eco-efficiency in industrial water management. These are actions that are directly linked to
individual production processes as well as actions and collaborations far beyond an industrial
process, unit, or even site 11. The expected increase in energy and water consumption in the
upcoming decades will result in changes regarding the general integrated water management,
which will in turn also influence the industrial integrated water management.
To achieve a sustainable water management in chemical industry and related process

industry sectors, technological and non-technological aspects must be taken into account.
Integrated industrial water management considers interactions, interdependencies, and synergy
potentials between different measures of water use and water/wastewater treatment in and across
various scales: process plant site, local, regional.
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). The Global Perspective.
https://forloveofwater.org/issues/the-global-perspective/
Baider, L., Uziely, B., & Kaplan De-Nour, A. (1994). Industrial Water Use.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/industrial-water-use
Ball, T. M., Shapiro, D. E., Monheim, C. J., & Weydert, J. A. (2003). Integrated Industrial Water
Management – Challenges, Solutions, and Further Priorities.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cite.201900086#:~:text=Integrated
%20industrial%20water%20management%20considers,%E2%80%93%20site
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Global Water Perspective

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Global Water Perspective

Water Consumption in Industry

To achieve a sustainable water management in chemical industry and related process

American Psychological Association. (2017). The Global Perspective.

Management – Challenges, Solutions, and Further Priorities.

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