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Introduction:
An
estimated one-third of the world's population will suffer from chronic
water shortage by the year 2025 due to increasing demand for drinking
water caused by growing population, decreasing quality of the water
resulting from pollution, and augmenting requirements of expanding
industries and agriculture. The shortage will be particularly felt
by people in arid areas and by rapidly growing coastal populations
and mega cities. The increasing water scarcity, combined with its
deteriorating quality, will have far reaching global impacts on human
health, socio-economic development potential of affected countries,
freshwater and marine resources, and biodiversity, and may cause international
conflicts over water rights.
Pollution
of coastal and freshwater is escalating throughout the world, affecting
in many places the quality of drinking water and the integrity of
freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems. The freshwater hydrological
cycles are inseparably linked with marine systems and the problems
besetting river basins have profound impact on coastal and marine
environment. Pollution from land-based sources is currently the most
imminent problem affecting the aquatic biological resources and biodiversity.
Coastal ecosystems, particularly those of small island developing
states, are at special risk. The freshwater crisis is already visible
in India involving enormous social, political and environmental costs.
This crisis is not the result of natural factors such as drought,
but has been caused by humans - by increased pollution of both surface
and groundwater and improper water resource management. The complex
nature of problems and issues within this theme requires an integration
that covers all components of the hydrologic cycle, including: surface
water bodies (lakes and rivers), groundwater aquifer, coastal areas
(including mangroves), and open-sea marine environments. This integrated
approach gives due consideration to both water quantity and quality
aspects. Particular emphasis is provided on management of transboundary
water resources.
Water comprises a most basic and critical
component in all aspects of human life. Freshwater resources are an
essential component of the earth's hydrosphere and an indispensable
part of all terrestrial ecosystems. Also, transboundary water resources
and their use are of great importance to riparian States. Similarly,
the marine water environment - including the oceans and all seas and
adjacent coastal areas - forms an integrated whole that is an essential
component of the global life-support system. The marine ecosystems
are a positive asset that presents opportunities for sustainable development.
On the whole, the water environment
is characterized by the hydrological cycle, including floods and droughts,
which in some regions have become more extreme and dramatic in their
consequences. The widespread scarcity, gradual destruction and aggravated
pollution of water resources in many world regions, along with the
progressive encroachment of incompatible activities have triggered
a range of water crises. Additionally, global climate change and atmospheric
pollution could also have an impact on water resources and their availability.
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