South Korea will strengthen efforts to secure stable water supply as water has emerged as a key resource for the nation's sustainable growth.
The Korea Water Resources Corporation (KOWACO) said it will remind the nation of the importance of water reserves on World Water Day, which falls tomorrow under the theme ''Water for Life.'' In particular, participants at the 13th World Water Day will proclaim the start of the second international initiative for water-related issues, succeeding the first international drive on ''Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation 1981-1990.''''Water for Life'' is the next global campaign, starting this year and continuing until 2015, and will focus on the implementation of water-related programs and projects, while striving to ensure the participation and involvement of women in water-related development efforts, and the furtherance of cooperation at all levels.
To commemorate Global Water Day this year, the KOWACO has held a variety of programs, including an academic symposium at the headquarters of the Federation of Korean Industries in Yoido on March 18 and a music concert for water love in the Han River Citizen Park on March 19.
Global Water Shortage Global Water Day, falling on March 22 every year from 1992, is held to alert people to the seriousness of possible water shortages.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the world could suffer from water shortage in the future unless global solutions are found.
The United Nations (UN) weather agency predicts almost 1 billion people might face moderate or severe water shortages caused by climate change, contamination and population growth by 2025. The number could double by 2050, which means about 70 percent of the world's population could be stressed due to water shortages.
Ismail Serageldin, chairman of the Global Water Partnership, forewarned of the impending water crisis in a 1995 interview to Newsweek, saying many of the wars in the 20th century were about oil, but those of the 21st century will be over water.
Water is critical for mankind to survive, but the quantity of water available is small.
A UN report found 97.5 percent of the total volume of water available on the globe is salty. Of the remaining 2.5 percent, two-thirds are locked up in ice caps and glaciers and is not available for human use.
Of the remaining one-third of the 2.5 percent, large quantities are far beyond the reach of human settlements.
Meanwhile, of the remaining, which is accessible, 80 percent comes sporadically, such as in monsoons.
Under the situation, in the future, countries with quality water will ''weaponize'' water like oil-affluent nations have done, and disputes over water control will increase, particularly, in water-poor countries, the KOWACO said.
An international body is expected to be formed in response to the need for a coordinator of possible water disputes.
At the moment, the Water Cooperation Facilities takes on a similar role, providing interdisciplinary and international expert advice by relying on a global network of individuals and institutions involved in water issues.
Korea, Water Stressed Nation South Korea is not an exception to the water supply problem.
According to a report by the Population Action International, Korea is one of the most water stressed nations along with Zimbabwe, Denmark, Lebanon, Somalia and Poland, whose water supply is considered insufficient with per capita usable water supply between 1,000 cubic meters and 1,700 cubic meters.
Despite a variety of programs to procure and save water resources, the nation is forecast to have some 1.2 billion cubic meters of water in short by 2011, the KOWACO said.
Although Korea's average annual precipitation is 1,283 millimeters, some 1.3 times larger than the world's average, per capita annual precipitation is 2,705 cubic meters equaling 12 percent of the global average.
Korea's geographical and climatic features _ rivers along steep slopes and the extreme disparity of rainfall according to region, year and season _ have been disadvantageous for the management of water resources and for preventing climatic disasters.
What makes matters worse is that, while the growing world population must meet its needs with a finite amount of water, usable freshwater supplies are being reduced by pollution from industries and sewage, as contamination is added to a high human consumption.
Domestic wastewater and industrial wastewater have been increasing in comply with the economic development.
Fortunately, the environmental infrastructure has been constructed with sustained investment and various attempts to remove water pollution have been implemented since 1990.
Climate changes such as the greenhouse effect and the El Nino phenomenon worsen the water supply by causing severe droughts and floods.
Effort to Improve Water Management Despite the seriousness of the situation, the level of public consciousness on the need for water conservation remains low. Many Koreans, who have had little problems for water-use, tend to consider water as something that is permissible to waste.
The perception of water is reflected a Korean saying that says a person spends money ''like water." The perception is perhaps partially responsible for Korea's wasteful water habits.
Korea's per capita rate of water consumption, which stood at 362 liters in 2002, is higher than Japan's 357 liters, Britain's 323 liters and France's 281 liters, while it is less than Italy's 383 liters, Canada's 497 liters and Australia's 480 liters, according to KOWACO.
Waste in water consumption is also attributed to the water prices in Korea, which are relatively cheap compared to other products or prices at other countries.
Still about 5.2 million people, most of whom live in islets and remote mountain villages, face a chronic water shortage problem.
However, fortunately, the daily tap water consumption per head in Korea has been decreased to 359 liter in 2003 for the sixth consecutive year since it peaked at 409 liter in 1997.
Thus, the focus of water policy should be on the conservation and adequate management of existing resources, which will both secure the supply and prevention of climatic disasters.
The increase of multi-purpose dams is one important solution for water shortages.
Multi-purpose dams will be built continually until 2011, securing new water resources of 5.1 billion meters square, increasing the water reserve rate to 8.5 percent.
Promotion on conservation has already proved to be the best means of fighting water shortages in other countries, which crucially require people's voluntary participation for its success.
Water thrift campaigns, which are a more adequate way of fighting the shortage than building new dams, will get Koreans accustomed to water conservation.
The KOWACO said it is necessary to develop subterranean water supplies. The nation is utilizing 3.5 billion cubic meters of underground water, which equals to some 30 percent of the usable amount.
Groundwater development costs a great deal and can cause environmental damage as well as the pollution of groundwater.
The government is making efforts to prevent underground water pollution, while devising eco-friendly measures for water resources development.
The corporation has currently pushed for the construction of eco-friendly dams pursued projects to promote the welfare and income of residents around dams.Korea Times
