This week on Earth Beat we're awash in water stories to mark World Water Day. We take you from instant water purification in Amsterdam to waterless toilets in Mexico, and from water wars in India to disappearing water sources in La Paz, Bolivia.
What's a water footprint?
This week we mark World Water Day with a whole show about water. To open the show, Marnie speaks with Derk Kuiper, the director of the Water Footprint Network, about what exactly a water footprint is. Mr. Kuiper stays in the studio with Marnie throughout the show to put each water story into context.
Use the Water Footprint quick calculator or extended calculator.
Clean water from a dirty source
Most residents of Amsterdam wouldn’t drink canal water if their life depended on it… and that includes our host Marnie Chesterton. But what about drinking it through a Life Straw? Supposedly, it filters out bacteria and makes even the dirtiest water perfectly potable... but does it taste ok? Marnie tests it out with Peter Clearey, from Vestegaard - Frandsen, the company that came up with the product.
Studio guest Derk Kuiper responds and highlights other ways to improve access to clean water
Watch a video of the Life Straw in action:
Inefficiency and corruption
Delhi faces a huge water shortage. The city’s water system no longer functions due to inefficiency and corruption, so the people who can afford it are drilling deeper to get their own water. Others have to fight it out when private water tankers roll into their neighbourhoods to sell drinking water. Reporter Lesley Branagan tells us more about the situation.
Studio guest Derk Kuiper reacts to the Delhi example and talks about how other big cities are dealing with their shortages.
No flush toilets
Many Mexicans in Mexico City carefully ration their water. It’s scarce and expensive. Toilets consume a HUGE amount of water, so people are turning to the “dry toilet”. This toilet uses no water AND it produces manure for gardens. A win-win situation, if only people can get used to the idea. Oaxaca resident Shannon Young explains the situation to Marnie.
Derk Kuiper responds to the story and talks about how changing people's ideas and behaviour can influence water supply and accessibility
Envirominute
A 60-second look at a how Mexico’s favourite food can shrink its water footprint.
The Glacier over La Paz
A large amount of the water which feeds the Bolivian city of La Paz comes from a nearby glacier. As the climate warms up in the region, the glacier is retreating and there are fears that soon La Paz will suffer a serious water shortage. Jean Friedman-Rudovsky talks to Marnie about the problem.
Derk Kuiper responds to the glacier story and suggests that, as water becomes a reason for people to migrate away from their homes, it may also become a source of conflict.
Water wars?
Author Wendy Barnaby was asked to write a book about the likelihood of future wars by countries fighting over water. When she looked into the problem it became apparent that countries solved most of their water problems peacefully through trade. Her honesty may have lost her a book deal - but it earned her a commentary on Earth Beat.
A final word from Derk Kuiper
Derk Kuiper sums up the water debate.
Next week on Earth Beat...
Eating insects. Munching on mealworms, crunching on crickets… think it’s not something for you? Think again: "You eat insects already in all the processed foods that you’re eating - chocolate, fruit juice, tomato soup, flour, you name it. Everyone eats about 500 grams per year. They’re everywhere, so they’re also in our food."
A creepy, crawly, but environmentally friendly new way to get a little meat in your meal.
Email this Radio Show
Printer-friendly version
Urban population in India is responsible for the water crisis in the cities. They have dug submersible pumps for individual use, instead of relying on community water supply. The cities are concrete jungles with little or no green space in colonies or homes, from where rain water can seep in, to recharge the ground water. There is no provision for rain water harvesting. Most people misuse water that runs down the drains. In rural areas paddy plantation takes away bulk of water through tubewells. Plantation of Euclyptus as a cash crop is another reason of ground water depletion, as this tree sucks ground water like a dracula. And as always lack of family planning in India is putting pressures on the natural resources. These are reasons of scarcity of water, apart from the reasons cited in the earthbeat programme.
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.