Man and WaterMan and Water

Pongthep Suwanwaree, Ph.D.Pongthep Suwanwaree, Ph.D. School of BiologySchool of Biology Institute of ScienceInstitute of Science Suranaree University of TechnologySuranaree University of Technology

February 1, 2005February 1, 2005

Water moleculeWater molecule

Earth’s waterEarth’s water

GlacierGlacier

Hydrologic cycleHydrologic cycle

CondensationCondensation

Rain formationRain formation

Snow formationSnow formation

Air circulationAir circulation

Too much waterToo much water

Old flood controlOld flood control

New flood controlNew flood control

Water pollutionWater pollution

SedimentSediment

EutrophicationEutrophication

DDTDDT

MinamataMinamata

Saltwater intrusionSaltwater intrusion

SalinizationSalinization

Center pivot irrigationCenter pivot irrigation

Drip irrigationDrip irrigation

Reducing water waste in irrigationReducing water waste in irrigation

Lining canals bringing water to irrigation Lining canals bringing water to irrigation ditchesditches

Leveling fields with lasersLeveling fields with lasers Irrigating at night to reduce evaporationIrrigating at night to reduce evaporation Using soil and satellite sensors and Using soil and satellite sensors and

computer systems to monitor soil computer systems to monitor soil moisture and add water only when moisture and add water only when necessarynecessary

PolyculturePolyculture

Organic farmingOrganic farming Growing water efficient crops using Growing water efficient crops using

drought-resistant and salt-tolerant crop drought-resistant and salt-tolerant crop varietiesvarieties

Irrigating with treated urban waste waterIrrigating with treated urban waste water Importing water intensive crops and Importing water intensive crops and

meatmeat

Sustainable use of water resourcesSustainable use of water resources

Not depleting aquifersNot depleting aquifers Preserving ecological health of aquatic Preserving ecological health of aquatic

systemssystems Preserving water qualityPreserving water quality Integrated watershed managementIntegrated watershed management Agreements among regions and countries Agreements among regions and countries

sharing surface water resourcessharing surface water resources

Outside party mediation of water Outside party mediation of water disputes between nationsdisputes between nations

Marketing of water rightsMarketing of water rights Wasting less waterWasting less water Decreasing government subsides for Decreasing government subsides for

supplying watersupplying water Increasing government subsides for Increasing government subsides for

reducing water wastereducing water waste Slowing population growthSlowing population growth