The lack of safe water threatens 2.1 billion people worldwide
Raising awareness about the importance of freshwater resources is crucial for ensuring the continuation of life on Earth, especially in light of the global water scarcity crisis that deprives approximately 2.1 billion people of access to safe drinking water. This dire reality compels the international community to emphasize the imperative of sustainable water resource management and to seek innovative technological solutions that guarantee a secure future for generations to come. In this context, and on the occasion of World Water Day, Najoud Al-Harbi, a researcher at the Faculty of Marine Sciences at King Abdulaziz University, explained that the sustainability of water resources faces a fundamental challenge: the disruption of the water cycle due to accelerating climate change.
The roots of the water challenge and its far-reaching effects on development
Historically, human civilizations have been linked to riverbanks and freshwater sources, as water formed the foundation for human and agricultural settlement. With industrial development and rapid population growth during the 20th century, the unsustainable depletion of natural resources began, leading to the emergence of water crises in several regions around the world. The significance of this event and its anticipated impact extends beyond the environmental sphere to encompass profound economic and social dimensions. At the local and regional levels, water scarcity threatens food security and hinders agricultural development plans, while internationally, water scarcity is a major driver of geopolitical conflicts and waves of environmental displacement, making the achievement of water security a fundamental pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations.
Climate change and the worsening safe water crisis
Researcher Najoud Al-Harbi confirmed that the continuous rise in temperatures leads to increased evaporation rates and disrupts rainfall patterns. This disruption causes sudden, heavy rainfall followed by prolonged and severe droughts. Alongside melting ice and rising sea levels, the availability of fresh water is dwindling. This situation is exacerbated globally by the increasing risks of floods and droughts, and the intensification of extreme weather events, according to reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), making the provision of safe water a daily challenge for millions of people.
Local water security challenges and reliance on costly sources
At the local level, the challenges are particularly evident in Saudi Arabia due to limited renewable water resources and the rapid depletion of groundwater. This situation has led to a heavy reliance on seawater desalination, which accounts for approximately 60% of domestic water supplies, resulting in high energy and transportation costs, as well as significant environmental impact. These challenges are exacerbated in the agricultural sector, where heat and dry winds increase evaporation and transpiration rates, raising crop water requirements and placing immense pressure on available resources, thus reinforcing dependence on costly sources.
The revolution of modern technologies in extracting water from the air
To address these challenges, the researcher reviewed the role of modern technologies in water desalination and recycling. Reverse osmosis (RO) and advanced membrane technologies contribute to increased separation efficiency and reduced energy consumption. Photocatalytic techniques using nanomaterials are also employed to treat organic pollutants using solar energy. Among the most prominent innovations are advanced porous materials (MOFs) developed by the distinguished Saudi scientist, Professor Omar Yaghi, which have demonstrated high efficiency in extracting water from the air, even in arid environments, with the potential to produce up to 1,000 liters per day without the need for electricity.
Smart farming technologies and energy integration
Innovations are also focused on maximizing the utilization of brine and extracting minerals from it. In the field of smart agriculture, Teraxy has developed innovative materials such as CarboSoil to enhance soil water capacity and SandX to reduce evaporation losses by up to 80%. Nanobubble technology is also emerging to improve the removal of micro-pollutants. Within the framework of water and energy integration, green hydrogen is a strategic solution for decarbonizing the desalination sector, aligning with the Kingdom's drive to adopt it as an alternative to traditional energy sources, with global demand expected to reach 21% by 2050.
Conserving resources is a shared societal responsibility
Al-Harbi concluded by emphasizing that water pollution and mismanagement directly impact public health and ecosystems. She stressed the importance of promoting a culture of responsible consumption through raising awareness and adopting responsible daily behaviors, rooted in Islamic values that prohibit extravagance. This culture begins at home, where the role of the family, especially mothers (whose global celebration on March 21st coincides with water issues), is crucial in instilling gratitude for blessings and guiding children towards innovation and scientific research, thus building a conscious generation capable of protecting the nation's resources and ensuring their sustainability.
