ONE DROP CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Access to water and its efficient use will be a major global challenge of this century. Water shortage is both a national and international issue, which is being fueled by many factors such as increasing population, urbanisation, climate change, deforestation and water mismanagement. Statistics show that 1.1 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water, about half of the world’s population lack adequate water sanitation and half of the people who are hospitalised globally suffer from water-related diseases. These statistics are accepted by the United Nations, World Health Organisation and Millennium Development Goals and are just a few of many more statistics proving that there are many problems associated with access to fresh water and its availability. When it comes to problems associated with water, Mongolia is no exception. Mongolia is regarded as a country with limited water resources and those water resources seem to be becoming more and more “limited”. According to the report “Urban Water Vulnerability to Climate Change in Mongolia”, which was published by the Mongolian Water Authority in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, climate change is causing a decrease in Mongolia’s annual water resources, which will contribute to water shortage in the future. The annual mean temperature of Mongolia has risen by 2.140C since the 1940s and a temperature increase of one degree causes annual river flow to decrease by at least 2 percent. Moreover, higher temperatures and droughts will result in increased evapotranspiration, the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth's land surface to the atmosphere. Excessive evapotranspiration leads to a decrease in the recharge rate of underground water, which is the primary source of water supply for major urban and industrial centres.
Furthermore, extreme temperatures and natural disasters such as droughts, fl ooding and heavy snowfalls are becoming more frequent and the Mongolian climate is likely to change dramatically over the next century. Study results suggest that there will be higher temperatures all year round with more snow in winter and less rain in summer. Therefore, it looks like Mongolia has to get used to having much less water in the future. Mongolia is becoming more populated and urbanised. This population growth, along with rapid urbanisation, will result in an increasing demand of water. Cities, especially Ulaanbaatar, will soon struggle to provide water to its new residents under pressure of decreasing water resources. Ulaanbaatar is the biggest urban centre in Mongolia with a population of around 1.1 million, which is approximately 40 percent of the total Mongolian population. The average annual growth rate of Ulaanbaatar’s population during 2003–2008 was around 3.6%, which was three times the growth rate of the total population (1.2%) of Mongolia. The daily water consumption of Ulaanbaatar is about 150-170 thousand m3, which exceeds the average of that in developed countries. The water supplied to homes in Ulaanbaatar is pumped from four well fi elds located alongside the Tuul River.
There is a huge water supply disparity between apartments and ger districts. The daily water consumption of a ger area is between 5–10 litres per person while that of apartments exceeds 250 litres per person. Very few of those ger districts are connected to the distribution network of pipes. Therefore, Ulaanbaatar needs better urban land use planning that ensures effi ciency and regular water supply. Seventy percent of Ulaanbaatar’s sewage is treated and no water is recycled in Mongolia. Moreover, domestic waste-water in rural areas is discharged into the environment without any treatment. The main purpose of water treatment is to remove existing contaminants in the water or reduce the concentration of such contaminants so that the water becomes fi t for its desired use. The central core of all major urban areas are served by sewer collection systems and waste water treatment plants. Many of those sewage treatment plants and collection systems were built before 1995 and they are generally not functioning as they are supposed to due to a lack of proper operation and maintenance. As a result, wastewater is often discharged into a river or onto the ground. Furthermore, many industries discharge their waste into rivers, which causes water pollution.
Also, as the mining industry rapidly develops in Mongolia, mines threaten the natural environment causing water pollution and deforestation. Water pollution is always a threat because it decreases the amount of water that can be used. Therefore, signifi cant investments are needed in urban water infrastructure systems and water management should be improved by introducing wastewater recycling plants and increasing performances of other existing water management facilities. All in all, water shortage in the future is almost unavoidable in Mongolia. Environmental problems such as climate change and water pollution are rising as Mongolia develops. Even though it could be a long, long time before Mongolia faces water shortage, actions and policies should be introduced to prevent it from happening or to be ready when it happens. There are many factors contributing to the future water shortage such as climate change, increasing population and urbanisation, most of which are not likely to disappear. Therefore, the government should introduce new, appropriate policies to manage Mongolian water resource properly and ensure its availability for future generations. It requires an understanding of current condition of water resources and those policies should be made to sustain development while sustaining water resources. Moreover, the simplest things such as taking a shower instead of having a bath or turning off the tap while brushing teeth can contribute to saving water. The more water you save, the more water is there to use. 2.7 million drops are enough to make a difference. If everyone in Mongolia saves one drop of water a day, 945 litres of water will be saved a week, which is equal to the recommended amount of consumption per day of 630 people.
Furthermore, extreme temperatures and natural disasters such as droughts, fl ooding and heavy snowfalls are becoming more frequent and the Mongolian climate is likely to change dramatically over the next century. Study results suggest that there will be higher temperatures all year round with more snow in winter and less rain in summer. Therefore, it looks like Mongolia has to get used to having much less water in the future. Mongolia is becoming more populated and urbanised. This population growth, along with rapid urbanisation, will result in an increasing demand of water. Cities, especially Ulaanbaatar, will soon struggle to provide water to its new residents under pressure of decreasing water resources. Ulaanbaatar is the biggest urban centre in Mongolia with a population of around 1.1 million, which is approximately 40 percent of the total Mongolian population. The average annual growth rate of Ulaanbaatar’s population during 2003–2008 was around 3.6%, which was three times the growth rate of the total population (1.2%) of Mongolia. The daily water consumption of Ulaanbaatar is about 150-170 thousand m3, which exceeds the average of that in developed countries. The water supplied to homes in Ulaanbaatar is pumped from four well fi elds located alongside the Tuul River.
There is a huge water supply disparity between apartments and ger districts. The daily water consumption of a ger area is between 5–10 litres per person while that of apartments exceeds 250 litres per person. Very few of those ger districts are connected to the distribution network of pipes. Therefore, Ulaanbaatar needs better urban land use planning that ensures effi ciency and regular water supply. Seventy percent of Ulaanbaatar’s sewage is treated and no water is recycled in Mongolia. Moreover, domestic waste-water in rural areas is discharged into the environment without any treatment. The main purpose of water treatment is to remove existing contaminants in the water or reduce the concentration of such contaminants so that the water becomes fi t for its desired use. The central core of all major urban areas are served by sewer collection systems and waste water treatment plants. Many of those sewage treatment plants and collection systems were built before 1995 and they are generally not functioning as they are supposed to due to a lack of proper operation and maintenance. As a result, wastewater is often discharged into a river or onto the ground. Furthermore, many industries discharge their waste into rivers, which causes water pollution.
Also, as the mining industry rapidly develops in Mongolia, mines threaten the natural environment causing water pollution and deforestation. Water pollution is always a threat because it decreases the amount of water that can be used. Therefore, signifi cant investments are needed in urban water infrastructure systems and water management should be improved by introducing wastewater recycling plants and increasing performances of other existing water management facilities. All in all, water shortage in the future is almost unavoidable in Mongolia. Environmental problems such as climate change and water pollution are rising as Mongolia develops. Even though it could be a long, long time before Mongolia faces water shortage, actions and policies should be introduced to prevent it from happening or to be ready when it happens. There are many factors contributing to the future water shortage such as climate change, increasing population and urbanisation, most of which are not likely to disappear. Therefore, the government should introduce new, appropriate policies to manage Mongolian water resource properly and ensure its availability for future generations. It requires an understanding of current condition of water resources and those policies should be made to sustain development while sustaining water resources. Moreover, the simplest things such as taking a shower instead of having a bath or turning off the tap while brushing teeth can contribute to saving water. The more water you save, the more water is there to use. 2.7 million drops are enough to make a difference. If everyone in Mongolia saves one drop of water a day, 945 litres of water will be saved a week, which is equal to the recommended amount of consumption per day of 630 people.
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