2. Agenda
1. What is water conservation ?
2. Why is water conservation so important ?
3. How can we reduce water consumption ?
4. Water cycle
5. Water crisis in iran
6. Iran’s water outlook
7. What are some water conservation methods?
8. Reference
3. What is water conservation?
▪ Water conservation involves reducing the usage of water and
recycling of waste water for various purposes such as cleaning,
irrigation and manufacturing. Another method for implementing
water conservation is by improving water management practices.
These improve the use of water resources to benefit people and
the environment. Conserving water is important because water is
a finite and vulnerable resource that sustains life, economic
development and the environment.
4. Why is water conservation so important?
▪ Water conservation is important because it keeps water clean and pure
and conserves the environment. It is also important because the supply
of water is not endless. About 2 percent of Earth’s fresh water is locked
in glaciers and ice caps, while 97 percent is salt water. Therefore, only 1
percent of water on Earth is available for drinking.
▪ Water conservation involves refraining from water pollution. It is
important because, currently, only about 10 percent of Earth’s waste
water is disposed of appropriately, discloses About.com. In addition,
water conservation saves money, minimizes the effects of water shortage
and ensures that future generations have an adequate water supply.
Strategies used in water conservation include reducing wastage,
preventing damaging water quality and improving the practices of water
management.
5. How much do you need water ?
▪ The importance of drinking water, did
you know that the human body is made
up of 70% to 80% water? The brain is
made of 75% water and is home to
some important glands that have a
direct influence on the organs of the
body? Muscles 75%, heart 75%, bones
22%, kidneys 83%, lungs 86%, eyes
95%, and your blood 82%.
6. How can we reduce water consumption ?
▪ There are two way (Engineering practices and Behavioral
practices).
▪ Engineering practices: practices based on modifications in
plumbing, fixtures, or water supply operating procedures.
▪ Behavioral practices: practices based on changing water use
habits.
8. Water Cycle
Evaporation and transpiration
Evaporation
Stream
Infiltration
Water tableInfiltration
Unconfined aquifer
Confined aquifer
Lake
Well requiring a pump
Flowing
artesian well
Runoff
Precipitation
Confined
Recharge Area
Aquifer
Less permeable material
such as clay Confirming permeable rock layer
9. Water Cycle
▪ Water evaporates from oceans, rivers and lakes (water in its liquid
form) and rises into the atmosphere (water in its gas form) where it
condenses to form clouds. Precipitation then falls to the earth in the
form of rain (water in its liquid) or snow (water in its solid form)
where it flows into oceans, rivers and lakes and the process begins
again.
10. Water crisis in iran
1. Water use 70% higher than the global average.
2. Iran has a national population of 75 million people, 12 million of
whom reside in the capital.
3. According to the Institute for Forest and Pasture Research,
groundwater levels have dropped two metres in recent years
across 70 plains, affecting as much as 100 million hectares.
4. According to the UN Development Program, the level of Iran’s per
capita water resources are predicted to fall to as little as 816m³
in 2025, down from 2,025m³ in 1990.
11. Water crisis in iran
5. Due to high evaporation of surface water.
6. Groundwater is free to all users, with no price charged even for
irrigation.
7. Iran is divided into six key and 31 secondary catchment areas.
Besides the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman Basins, all of Iran’s
basins are located in the interior, where renewable freshwater
sources are limited. Close to half of Iran’s total renewable water
is located in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman Basins,
representing one quarter of its land mass. Conversely, the
Markazi Basin covers more than half of Iran’s land mass, but
holds less than one-third of the available freshwater.
12. Water crisis in iran
8. Three of Iran’s lakes, Lake Maharlu, Lake Bakhtegan and Lake
Parishan, have dried and turned to desert according to the
Habitats Office of the National Department of Environment. All of
these lakes are Ramsar sites and have faced irreversible
ecosystem destruction. Once the second largest lake in Iran, Lake
Bakhtegan has dried completely, due to the combined effects of
prolonged drought and dam construction along the Kor River.
Lake Urmia meanwhile is following a similar path, with a 70%
surface water reduction over the last 20 years. There are an
estimated 40 dams on the 14 rivers emptying into Lake Urmia.
9. Agriculture accounts for over 90% water use in Iran.
13. Water crisis in iran
10. Climate change impacts, while not a direct cause of Iran’s current
water scarcity, will exacerbate water shortages and reduce
already limited rainfall. According to Massoumeh Ebtekar, head
of Iran’s Environmental Protection Organisation,Iran’s climate
has already warmed by 1.5 to 3 degrees due to greenhouse gas
emissions.
14. Iran’s Water Outlook
▪ President Rouhani has outlined his proposal for a National Water
Conservation Plan, aimed at reorganising water resources and re-
evaluating water projects. Encouragingly, he has stated that to
begin addressing water shortages: domestic water use needs to be
reduced; the agricultural sector must be made more water
efficient; groundwater must be protected; and the drilling of wells
regulated. Given the heightened tensions over water insecurity and
the increasing civil unrest as water is diverted from towns to cities,
the population’s response to water restrictions may lead to
internal instability, resentment of the government and little or no
progress on water conservation. Strong governance will be
required if rationing and increased industry efficiency are to
succeed.
15. Iran’s Water Outlook
▪ When these factors are linked with the predictions of climate
change impacts on water resources, it is clear Iran is facing an
impending water crisis of staggering proportion. Lower
precipitation and continued population growth are leading to
increased demand for a dwindling supply. Addressing such
significant water reductions will require a concerted effort across
Iran and urgent government investment to identify potential water
sources. Wastewater treatment, undervalued thus far in Iranian
water plans, may prove to be one of the most cost-effective and
realistic options to ensure continued water supply.
16. Iran’s Water Outlook
▪ The government has been constructing dams to address water
shortages since the 1950s, but this will not address the growing
gap between demand and supply. With the Caspian Sea Water
Transfer given the green light by parliament in February 2013, it
also seems inter-basin transfers are likely to continue despite the
significant environmental impact these transfers cause. More of
the same thinking is unlikely to address shortages in the long-
term, no matter what re-directions are taken. Real change will
require considerable policy reconstruction, changes in water
allocation priorities and a commitment to reduce water wastage
across all sectors.
17. What are some water conservation methods?
1. Eat less meat
According to the U.S. Geological survey, it takes 2,607 gallons of water
to produce a single serving of steak and 408 gallons for a serving of
chicken. A handful of almonds requires only 12 gallons to grow, rice
needs 36 gallons, and lettuce and potatoes need only 6 gallons each.
2. Wash only full loads
In both the dishwasher and washing machine, or set the water levels
to accommodate smaller loads.
18. What are some water conservation methods?
3. Turn off the faucet
While brushing your teeth, shaving, washing your hands,or rinsing
dishes or vegetables. Each minute you have it off saves at least 3
gallons. In the shower, get wet, turn off the water to lather, then turn
the water back on to rinse. To make this easy, some low-flow
showerheads have levers to temporarily stop the water flow.
19. What are some water conservation methods?
4. Install low-flow showerheads, taps, faucets, and toilets
According to the Albuquerque Water Conservation Office, older
faucets use between 3 and 7 gallons per minute, while low-flow
aerators reduce flow to 1.5 gallons per minute. Likewise, a low-flow
toilet can reduce water used per flush by 30 percent, from
approximately 5 gallons to 1.6 gallons.
20. What are some water conservation methods?
5. Wash fruits and veggies in a bowl
Running water uses up to four times as much and is lost down the
drain. Use a bowl instead and the water can be used in your garden
when you're done.
6. Monitor your water bill
A peak in your consumption should be questioned, as it could mean a
hidden leak.
7. Report city or business water waste
8. Take shorter showers
21. 7 Water Organizations You Should Know
Clean water as a right, not a privilege
1. Charity water : www.charitywater.org
2. Miya : www.miya-water.com
3. Water : www.water.org
4. Columbia Water Center (CWC) : www.water.columbia.edu
5. Three Avocados : www.threeavocados.org
6. Waterilife : www.waterislife.com
7. Puremadi : www.puremadi.org
23. Charity water : www.charitywater.org
▪ What: Nonprofit that brings clean and safe drinking water to
people in developing countries.
How: 100% of the nonprofit’s public donations go directly to clean
water technologies that range from wells to water filtration.
Answering this basic human need, charity water offers a lot of
opportunities to get involved, from volunteering to fundraising. One
creative way to raise funds is to pledge your birthday, a campaign
in which individuals decide that instead of receiving gifts, friends
and family are encouraged to donate to charity water.
Where: 20 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and
the Caribbean.
24. There a lot of way that you can help charity water
1. You can host a music festival for clean water.
2. You can give up Christmas gifts for clean water.
3. You can bake cookies for clean water.
4. You can ride across the U.S. for clean water.
5. You can lose weight for clean water.
6. You can make a music video for clean water.
7. You can grow a mustache for clean water.
8. You can sell t-shirts for clean water.
9. You can take photos for clean water…
10. or donate instead!
25. What are some good water conservation slogans?
▪ Many water slogans focus on not wasting the resource. Examples
include:
▪ "You never know the worth of water until the well runs dry,“
▪ "How many drops make up an ocean? Conserve water; every drop
counts,“
▪ "If we don’t learn to conserve, we’ll all be fish out of water,"
▪ "Don’t flush our planet’s most valuable resource."
▪ Slogans sometimes stress the importance of keeping water clean:
"Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink."
26. Reference
▪ http://www.waterforlife.alberta.ca
▪ http://chartsbin.com/view/1455
▪ http://www.drinking-water-for-health.com
▪ http://water.usgs.gov
▪ http://www.un.org
▪ http://www.goodnet.org
▪ Law Library Scholar in Residence by Sanaz Alasti October 2013
▪ Overview of Water Management in Iran , Reza Ardakanian
▪ Global Food and Water Crises Research Programme, Sinéad Lehane
27. Do you have any questions ?
Parham Sagharichi Ha