With the growth of the world ’ s population comes the increase in the demand for power and water .
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An Analysis of Water and Electricity Crisis
With the growth of the world ’ s population comes the increase in the demand for power and water .
The Water and Electricity Crisis .
For most of us , having electricity and water in our homes , schools or offices is a foregone conclusion . These days , turning on the tap and finding that water is freely flowing no longer merits hurrahs and hallelujahs . In the same vein , connecting a charger to your mobile phone and seeing the battery bar virtually fill up should no longer come as a surprise . Indeed , water and electricity are ubiquitous , that life without them is unimaginable .
This , however , is not the case for everyone . Currently , there are 650 million people without access to water , and more than a billion without access to electricity . And with the continuous growth in the world ’ s population , which spurs a proportional increase in the demand for power and water , meeting the future demand for the two assets is set to become more challenging in the coming years . As power and water are intertwined in more ways than one , a collective analysis of both holds the potential to greatly help stakeholders in coming up with sustainable solutions to the world ’ s escalating utility challenges .
How power and water are intertwined
Water for power
All types of electric power generation involve the use of water , either in processing raw materials utilized in the energy facilities , constructing or maintaining power plants , or in producing electricity . In fact , even renewable sources of energy , like solar and wind , which use very little or no water in generating energy , may still require water in the development of raw materials used in building turbines and solar panels .
One of the methods of power generation that is highly dependent on the availability of water is , of course , hydropower generation . A consistent supply of water is extremely important in hydropower plants , that even minute variations in rainfall and ambient temperature , and a small dip in water levels in dams and reservoirs can have a huge effect on hydropower generation and on the health of the turbines . Water-related weather phenomena like droughts , El Niño , or floods can lead to exceedingly low levels of water in dams , or to destruction of and damage to turbines due to silt , respectively . When these happen to hydropower plants , a shortage in electricity supply may ensue , which may jeopardize business and industrial operations , and the daily activities of common residents .
Power for water
Water supply and sewage disposal requires power . A considerable amount of electricity is needed to extract , transport , treat and use water in urban and rural areas . For instance , drinking water must be pumped to treatment facilities , pre-treated , and then pushed or transported to consumers . According to experts , energy consumed in pumping groundwater is within the area of 537 kWh and 2,270 kWh per million gallons depending on the pumping depth .
14 Construction Leaders • April 2017