Asian water crisis worsening, Asian Development Bank says

[News_Editor]

Asian water crisis worsening, Asian Development Bank says

2010-10-12 23:37:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday said Asia is facing a water crisis that continues to worsen and threaten the region's economy.

ADB's Special Senior Advisor Arjun Thapan urged the region's political and industrial leaders to stop wasting so much water.

“Asia’s water world has gone past its tipping point. The challenge now is to urgently halt, if not reverse, the decline in freshwater availability,†said Thapan (Infrastructure and Water). “Asia needs to aggressively adopt measures that dramatically improve water use efficiencies and safeguard the region’s food and energy security.â€

Around 80 percent of Asia’s water is used to irrigate crops, but much of it is used inefficiently, while many of the region’s most water-stressed countries lose large volumes of treated water through leakage in urban water supply systems. According to the ADB, it is estimated that the region loses as much as 29 billion cubic meters of treated water a year, conservatively valued at $9 billion.

"The water footprint in our towns and cities, in our irrigation systems, our energy production systems and in industry in general, is extravagant," Thapan said during the “Water: Crisis and Choices – ADB and Partners Conference 2010."

About 600 representatives from water constituencies in government, think-tanks, non-profits, and industry from 53 countries are currently participating in the conference held at the ADB headquarters from 11 to 15 October to discuss issues and solutions to the water crisis that threatens the region’s economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

"It needs to shrink and Asia needs to become acutely conscious of the scarcity value of its accessible freshwater, and the imperative of efficiency in managing it," Thapan added, stating that the food production will be hit the hardest as it will inevitably impact the overall economic growth.

"In short, Asia is witnessing a despoliation of its freshwater resources with disastrous consequences for ecological balance and environmental sustainability," the ADB stated.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-10-12