New Plan Needed to Ensure Stable Supply of Water in South Korea
South Koreans usually describe someone who throws money away as "spending money like water". But ironically, this expression can no longer be in use, as Korea faces a shortage of water in a few decades. It’s hard to deny that people have long used water as if it were an unlimited resource like air (also not unlimited). But now, water is becoming scarcer and scarcer, not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also across the globe, due to factors including climate change.
Sunday marked World Water Day. It was a meaningful day as it reminded us of the importance of water as a source of life. Water has also already emerged a source of growth and development. Some scholars call water “blue gold” comparable to “black gold,” or crude oil. Many global corporations are rushing to a “water war” to make money, while a number of people are suffering from drought and a lack of water.
In its Environmental Outlook to 2030, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECDE) forecast the possibility of a water crisis by 2030. It said more than 3.9 billion people would suffer from severe water shortages worldwide. It warned that the most-feared scenario could be a reality in the near future if the world fails to take immediate action to tackle water challenges.
The water shortage is a common global problem. Demand for water is expected to double in 35 years, but it is inevitable that the problem will exacerbate. About 550 million people currently live in countries undergoing water shortages. The number is feared to surge to 2.4 to 3.4 billion by 2025. Prof. John Beddington of the United Kingdom has warned that a “perfect storm” will occur in 2030 with simultaneous shortages of energy, food and fresh water devastating an overpopulated planet.
Beddington said demand for food and energy will jump 50 percent by 2030 and for fresh water by 30 percent as the global population climbs to 8.3 billion. The United Nations Environment Program also predicted widespread water shortages across Africa, Europe and Asia by 2025. In this regard, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emphasized the potential of water as a unifying force rather than a catalyst for conflict. He said the world’s collective future depends on how it manages this precious resource.
In South Korea, some parts of the country are grappling with drought that have never had drought. According to the Ministry of Environment, there are about 120,000 people suffering from water shortages in the nation. The severely affected regions include Taebaek in Gangwon Province and Andong and Yeongcheon in North Gyeongsang Province.
The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs predict that the country will face a water shortage of 797 million cubic meters in 2011 and 925 million cubic meters in 2020, indicating we cannot achieve sustainable development and lead decent lives without actively dealing with this shortage of the limited resource.
Therefore, it is urgent to devise a long-term plan to maximize the efficient management and use of water. The government is now implementing a project of refurbishing four major rivers, including the Han River and the Nakdong River, to ensure a stable water supply and restore ecosystems. It is urgent to establish a better water service system to prevent a looming water crisis. A nationwide water conservation campaign is also required to change people’s way of living and avoid the waste of water.
Is their still time to save the water in South Korea? Only time will tell. Even though many of Kohler’s faucets & toilets are water conserving, South Korea does not have the budget for such fixtures and needs a new solution to this new problem..
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