Water security is the capacity of a population to ensure that they continue to have access to potable water. It is an increasing concern arising from population growth, drought, climate change, oscillation between El Nino and La Nina effects, urbanisation, salinity, upstream pollution, over-allocation of water licences by government agencies and over-utilisation of groundwater from artesian basins. Water security is rapidly declining in many parts of the world.[1]
According to the Pacific Institute, "While regional impacts will vary, global climate change will potentially alter agricultural productivity, freshwater availability and quality, access to vital minerals, coastal and island flooding, and more. Among the consequences of these impacts will be challenges to political relationships, realignment of energy markets and regional economies, and threats to security".[2]
It impacts regions, states and countries. Tensions exist between upstream and downstream users of water within individual jurisdictions.[3]
During history there has been much conflict over use of water from rivers such as the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.[4] Another highly politicized example is Israel's control of water resources in the Levant region since its creation,[5] where Israel securing its water resources was one of several drivers for the 1967 Six Day War.
Water security is sometimes sought by implementing water desalination, pipelines between sources and users, water licences with different security levels and war. . Water allocation between competing users is increasingly determined by application of market-based pricing for either water licenses or actual water.[6]
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Based on the map published by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR),[7] the countries and regions suffering most water stress are North Africa, the Middle East,[8] India, Central Asia, China, Chile, South Africa and Australia. Water scarcity is also increasing in South Asia.[9]
More than 50 countries on five continents are said to be at risk of conflict over water.[10]
Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Project (Guneydogu Anadolu Projesi, or GAP) on the Euphrates has potentially serious consequences for water supplies in Syria and Iraq.[4].
In Australia there is competition for the resources of the Darling River system between Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
In Victoria, Australia a proposed pipeline from the Goulburn Valley to Melbourne has led to protests by farmers.[11]
In the Macquarie Marshes of NSW grazing and irrigation interests compete for water flowing to the marshes
The Snowy Mountains Scheme diverted water from the Snowy River to the Murray River and the Murrumbidgee River for the benefit of irrigators and electricity generation through hydro-electric power. During recent years government has taken action to increase environmental flows to the Snowy in spite of severe drought in the Murray Darling Basin. The Australian Government has implemented buy-backs of water allocations, or properties with water allocations, to endeavour to increase environmental flows.
