Non-conventional water resources and opportunities for water augmentation to achieve food security in water scarce countries |
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Authors: | M Qadir BR Sharma A Bruggeman R Choukr-Allah F Karajeh |
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Institution: | 1. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria;2. International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Asia Regional Office, CG Block, NASC Complex, DPS Marg, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, India;3. Salinity and Plant Nutrition Laboratory, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, B.P. 773 Agadir, Morocco;4. Department of Water Resources, Recycling and Desalination Branch, Office of Water Use Efficiency, 901 P Street, P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, CA 94236-0001, USA |
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Abstract: | Given current demographic trends and future growth projections, as much as 60% of the global population may suffer water scarcity by the year 2025. The water-use efficiency techniques used with conventional resources have been improved. However, water-scarce countries will have to rely more on the use of non-conventional water resources to partly alleviate water scarcity. Non-conventional water resources are either generated as a product of specialized processes such as desalination or need suitable pre-use treatment and/or appropriate soil–water–crop management strategies when used for irrigation. In water-scarce environments, such water resources are accessed through the desalination of seawater and highly brackish groundwater, the harvesting of rainwater, and the use of marginal-quality water resources for irrigation. The marginal-quality waters used for irrigation consist of wastewater, agricultural drainage water, and groundwater containing different types of salts. In many developing countries, a major part of the wastewater generated by domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors is used for crop production in an untreated or partly treated form. The protection of public health and the environment are the main concerns associated with uncontrolled wastewater irrigation. The use of saline and/or sodic drainage water and groundwater for agriculture is expected to increase. This warrants modifications in the existing soil, irrigation, and crop management practices used, in order to cope with the increases in salinity and sodicity that will occur. |
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Keywords: | Water scarcity Seawater desalination Rainwater harvesting Marginal-quality water Wastewater Saline&ndash sodic water Virtual water Water transportation |
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