The World is in a Water Crisis: How Smart Water Technology Can Alleviate the Problem

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released some terrifying information in its latest report. They wanted to make it clear to the world that the time for climate action is right now: 

Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F) is beyond reach. In the scenarios assessed, limiting warming to around 1.5°C requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest, and be reduced by 43% by 2030; at the same time, methane would also need to be reduced by about a third.

It is not the first time that this organization has met, but most agree that it was likely their most "red-alert" statement since the organization formed. This is because the evidence is no longer something that can be denied. Without dramatic action on the part of governments and individuals, it will be virtually impossible for the world to save itself from the most dramatic and devastating impacts of climate change. Thus, there is now a strong rallying call from all circles to take action in ways big and small, including wider adoption of smart water technology. 

What Can We Do About Water? 

A big concern around the topic of climate change is what we will do about freshwater. The planet only has a certain amount available and it is an extremely precious resource. As the fundamental building block of all life, water is something that must be preserved to the best of our ability. 

Farmers play an important role in the battle to preserve our water resources for the future. We know that farms need to use significant amounts of water for growing the crops that feed us. You might be able to see the predicament here. This is why farmers are now looking at ways that they can scale back their water usage when possible, thanks to new smart water technology that is being developed. 

The Ongoing Water Crisis

One thing that you are not likely to hear about in the mainstream sources of media that we all watch is the fact that the world is in the midst of an ongoing water crisis at this time. 

Water.org reports that some one million people worldwide die each year due to a lack of access to healthy and clean water. This estimate also contends that approximately every two minutes a child dies from a water-related disease. This truly devastating fact paints the picture for you that the lack of equitable distribution of water around the world leads directly to pain, suffering, and death for many. It is a devastating number that we must not allow ourselves to forget about. 

No single individual can fix the water crisis for the entire planet, but we all have an important role to play. If we are willing to pitch in and do what we can to play our part, we might be able to collectively reduce excess water consumption. That could mean that more resources are available to go around and that parts of the world without access to clean water won't have to suffer quite as much as they are right now. It is certainly a heavy lift, but it is something that we are called upon to do. 

Smart Water Technology for Irrigation

70% of total global freshwater use is allocated to agriculture, which means farmers can have a significant impact on water availability by reducing their consumption, even if in small amounts. 

Smart water technology for irrigation helps farmers better control the amount of water delivered to their crops. This is useful both from a cost savings point of view, but also because it is more environmentally friendly. This is what all farmers should aim for when they are running their operations. 

More specifically, smart irrigation systems work by using a system of smart valves that monitor and control the precise amount of water expended. Those valves can:

• Automate schedules- Never worry again about manually opening and closing valves or overwatering. This never used to be a problem, but now many farmers don't want to use even a drop more of water than they absolutely need to. Thus, they would prefer to set the amount of water they want to use ahead of time and let it go from there. 
• Data-Filled Reports - There are stories to be told in data, and smart valves have a lot of stories to tell. After they are set up, the valves can begin to report back data to the user to let them know how their system is operating and how much water is being used. The data enables farmers to see in real-time where all of their water consumption is happening. 
• Eliminate the Gap Between Planned Water Usage and Actual Water Usage - Most farmers have good intentions about how much water they intend to use on their farms. Unfortunately for them, their planned usage does not always line up just right with the actual usage that they experience. When that is the case, they may experience a gap between the two numbers. Smart valves help to reduce or eliminate that gap entirely. 
• Lower Operating Costs - The profit margins in farming are not what they used to be. In fact, many farmers are not making money for themselves at all anymore. This is something that can be changed by reducing costs. Smart water technology products can reduce water consumption and thus lower overall water costs. 

Smart water technology can not only help farmers by lowering their operating costs, but can also prove useful in tackling some of the biggest challenges of climate change at the same time. This is certainly something worth taking a look at both from an economic as well as a moral standpoint. If you are going to run a farm operation to the maximum efficiency, then you need the latest smart water technology to make it happen. 

To learn more about smart water technology and smart irrigation systems to help resist water shortages, contact Lumo here or email us at [email protected]