MARÍA MAS MENGUALMARÍA MAS MENGUALMARÍA LÓPEZ RECHEMARÍA LÓPEZ RECHERAMÓN GARCÍA BALLESTEROSRAMÓN GARCÍA BALLESTEROSCRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ RODRÍGUEZCRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ RODRÍGUEZ

THE PROBLEM OF WATER THE PROBLEM OF WATER

IN THE VALENCIAN COMMUNITYIN THE VALENCIAN COMMUNITY

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONWhen we speak When we speak about problems about problems related to the water related to the water we refer to the five we refer to the five following ones:following ones:

· Sea level increase

· Freshwater shortage

· Expansion of desert areas

· Floods

· Shrinkage of glaciers

MAIN REGIONAL PROBLEMS MAIN REGIONAL PROBLEMS

In our region the most serious problems In our region the most serious problems related to the water are, in order of related to the water are, in order of importance, the following ones:importance, the following ones:

– Expansion of desert areas and floodsExpansion of desert areas and floods – Freshwater shortageFreshwater shortage

Shrinkage of glaciers and sea level increase, are not a problem, the Shrinkage of glaciers and sea level increase, are not a problem, the first one given the latitude to wich we are and the climatic conditions first one given the latitude to wich we are and the climatic conditions and the second one, at the moment it is only a future threat. and the second one, at the moment it is only a future threat. Nevertheless, a sea level increase would provoke catastrophic Nevertheless, a sea level increase would provoke catastrophic consequences in many areas of our region, given the geological and consequences in many areas of our region, given the geological and topographics characteristics of the same one, with the presence of topographics characteristics of the same one, with the presence of extensive areas placed to level of the sea, where they agree extensive areas placed to level of the sea, where they agree important cores of population and areas of high agricultural important cores of population and areas of high agricultural productivity.productivity.

Expansion of desert areasExpansion of desert areasFor desertification we For desertification we understand the process for understand the process for wich a territory that does wich a territory that does not possess the climatic not possess the climatic conditions of the desert conditions of the desert ends up by adquiring the ends up by adquiring the characteristics of these. characteristics of these. This happens as a result of This happens as a result of the destruction of the the destruction of the vegetation, the erosion of vegetation, the erosion of the soil and the lack of the soil and the lack of waterwater..

Human activities that accelerate the desertification

· Inmoderate shepherding

· Bad use of the soil and of the water

· Compactation of the soil

· Salinitation of the soil because of the use of agricultural technologies and

abuse of fertilizers

Natural disastersThe FOREST FIRE destroy a lot surface of vegetal cover leaving the soil naked

of and exposed to a strong erosion. If we add the scanty but torrential rainfalls

in autum season to all this, just after the summer the result is an important loss

of soil.

Reasons that favor the Reasons that favor the desertificationdesertification

FLOODSFLOODSFloods are produced by the torrential rains (though in some regions of Spain they are produced for the thaw) that are generated in autumn and spring mainly.

A situation of instability is created between the cold air from the north and the high temperature of the sea that propitiates a great quantity of water steam.Convective big clouds are created that precipitate with great force and intensity. The impermeability of the soil of the zone propitiates that the water passes by on the surface without infiltration.

FRESHWATER SHORTAGEFRESHWATER SHORTAGE

This is the problem that most influences our community both in economics terms and when it comes to basic needs.

This factor is what causes the expansion of the desert areas and, therefore, the loss of growing soil. In the summer period, when the rainfalls are scanty or void, the water shortage becomes more evident, having to resort on occasions to the restrictions in the homes.

The possible solutions for this problem (desalination plants, pourings, water recycling...) imply a great economic expense, and often these solutions turn out to be inefficient.

Our region belongs to a Mediterranean climate, Our region belongs to a Mediterranean climate, with scanty and irregular rains, with a very dry with scanty and irregular rains, with a very dry and warm summer where the evaporation is very and warm summer where the evaporation is very well-known, presenting a dry period of at least well-known, presenting a dry period of at least three monthsthree months    

REASONS OF THE SHORTAGE REASONS OF THE SHORTAGE

CHANGEABLE CLIMATECHANGEABLE CLIMATE

The agriculture consumes more than 80 % of The agriculture consumes more than 80 % of the total demand of water in the countries in the total demand of water in the countries in the south of the Mediterranean. There exists the south of the Mediterranean. There exists the perception of which the adverse effects the perception of which the adverse effects of the drought are associated with the of the drought are associated with the agrarian activities. The deforestation and the agrarian activities. The deforestation and the overgrazing favour the surface run-off and overgrazing favour the surface run-off and prevent the water infiltrationprevent the water infiltration

REASONS OF THE SHORTAGEREASONS OF THE SHORTAGE AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

The first natural reason is the prolongation of the periods of drought due to the global warming. In those regions near arid zones this incident of major arid cycles is much more evident than in the rest of the world, since it happens in the Mediterranean area

REASONS OF THE REASONS OF THE SHORTAGESHORTAGE

GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING

In the Mediterranean, the climate is an essential component of the natural capital and constitutes an important element in the sustainable development. The water is not only a socioeconomic main element but also a cultural essential one.

The Convention of the United Nations for the Fight against the Desertification attributes the origin of the desertification both to climatic variations and to human activities. The Convention insists on the fact that " the desertification is the desertification is caused by complex interactions among physical, caused by complex interactions among physical, biological, political, social, cultural and economic biological, political, social, cultural and economic factorsfactors”

REASONS OF THE REASONS OF THE SHORTAGESHORTAGE SOCIOPOLITICS QUESTIONSSOCIOPOLITICS QUESTIONS