 |
MEDITERRANEAN AREA/GROUNDWATER OVEREXPLOITATION
source: www.panda.org/downloads/
europe/medpotourismreportfinal_
ofnc.pdf
|
|
The growth of tourism is often associated with the search for complementary water sources to satisfy the great demands on water for this economic sector…
Let’s use again the example of the Mediterranean countries to make clear the relationship between picks in consumption (demand) and consequent overexploitation (supply) of this precious resource:- according to Plan Bleu (1999), aquifer overexploitation is considerable in Cyprus (13%), Malta (24% in 1990), Gaza (29%), Israel (32% in 1994) and Spain (20%).
The combination of water needs for agriculture and tourism has led to the construction of a significant number of dams:- at present, in the Mediterranean basin there are at least 500 big dams, with a combined storage capacity of 230 km3. Spain has the highest number of dams per capita in the world and several water transfer schemes in the works;
- dams reduce the speed of the river’s flow and provoke water stagnation, which decreases the capacity of the river to break down organic pollutants and therefore to combat water pollution.
Globally, there are more than 45,000 large dams operational in over 150 countries and it is estimated that another 1500 or so are currently under construction…- dam technologies have improved over time. A large dam today can be more ecologically accommodating than past projects. However, considering the high costs of many dam projects (economic, social and environmental costs), it is astonishing that much of the water they supply is actually wasted: up to 1500 trillion litres of water are wasted annually.
So minimizing and better planning water consumption remains the best option.
|
