The world is facing an unprecedented water crisis. According to data published by the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas (WRI), at least 50% of the world’s population (around 4 billion people) live in conditions of water scarcity for at least one month a year. In addition, a quarter of the world’s population, located in 25 countries, face high water stress year after year.
Despite this situation, the obsolescence of water supply and sanitation networks leads to the loss of 30% of drinking water in cities. A situation that is only aggravated by the fact that agriculture is responsible for the consumption of 85% of fresh water in countries such as Spain.
In this context, iconic cities such as Cape Town, Beijing and Chennai have reached the brink of “Day Zero”, the day when the taps run dry. That is why experts from Agforest, a startup pioneer in the application of geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) to build sustainable “ smart cities” , analyse what water stress is, its evolution and how technology can help mitigate its impact on the habitability of cities.
What is water stress?
Water stress occurs when the demand for water in a region exceeds the amount available, or when the amount of water is insufficient to meet human needs. In other words, water stress refers to the pressure that human activity exerts on water resources due to excessive use or water scarcity.
The problem can be measured by a simple calculation. There are clearly defined values for the water challenge faced by a region: when the amount of renewable freshwater in a country is less than 1,700 cubic metres per person per year, it is called water stress. If this amount falls below 1,000 cubic metres, it is called water scarcity; when it falls to less than 500 cubic metres, the region faces the most critical of situations: absolute water scarcity.
Four causes that contribute to water stress
Today, the demand for water worldwide exceeds the amount of water available. Since 1960, water demand has doubled due to several crucial factors:
- Population growth : population growth increases the demand for water for domestic consumption, agriculture and industry.
- Climate change : Global warming is altering precipitation patterns and increasing the frequency of droughts, exacerbating water scarcity.
- Industrialization : Industrial activities consume large amounts of water and often pollute available water sources.
- Intensive agriculture : Agriculture is one of the largest consumers of freshwater. Inefficient irrigation techniques and water-intensive crops contribute significantly to water stress.
GeoAI to predict water leaks in an outdated system
By 2050, one billion more people will be affected by high water stress. Despite measures taken to limit the temperature increase to between 1.3°C and 2.4°C by 2100, this problem must be addressed immediately.
The correlation of relevant variables in the water supply and sanitation network can be a turning point in mitigating water stress in cities around the world, regardless of their level of development.
Combining geospatial data, artificial intelligence (GeoAI) and information on the water supply network can provide an answer to the water challenge facing cities. This information must be cross-referenced with data such as the history of leaks in the network, the material of the pipes, their length and diameter.
Geospatial data is essential for detecting water leaks that cause the loss of 30% of drinking water in cities. Factors such as seismic movements, observable through radar data, or fluctuations in vegetation in certain areas, observable through satellite images, are crucial.
The development of a predictive model based on artificial intelligence (AI) that takes these factors into account makes it possible to anticipate leaks in the supply network. This technology can identify the 20% of the network most at risk of leaks, making it possible to reduce the amount of water lost by 55% thanks to the anticipation of these breakdowns, as demonstrated by numerous projects.
Changes in the economy as a result of water stress
Water stress threatens the sustainability of countries’ economic growth in a complex economic climate. So much so that 31% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) will be exposed to water stress by 2050.
Making sound decisions based on accurate information, something that only innovative technologies such as GeoAI allow , can help avoid industrial disruptions, power outages or losses in agricultural production. These phenomena, despite their importance, are not always visible in the current context.
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