SRI Consulting warns of water shortage

Menlo Park, Calif.-based SRI Consulting released a report today predicting a major global water shortage in less than 20 years.

The research group said worldwide demand for water is expected to exceed supply by 56 percent.

"An integrated eco-system approach that includes water conservation, reuse, redistribution, and the manufacture of new water is required for sustainable water resources," said Ron Smith, senior consultant at SRI and author of the report.

In its Water and Sustainability in the 21st Century report, the group said 71 percent of the demand for water is for agricultural applications, with 20 percent used in industry and 9 percent for domestic use.

SRI said desalination, the removal of salts and other minerals from seawater, brackish, waste, brine or contaminated rivers, is underutilized, producing less than one-half of one percent of the world's fresh water needs.

"The situation is complex and not all water uses require the same quality. While ultra pure water is sometimes required, agriculture requires medium quality and water for manufacturing purposes can be low quality," said Smith.

In the geographic areas with the greatest need for fresh water, SRI said the cost of technology and distribution are the main barriers to adopting desalination methods.

"Companies cannot assume that water of adequate quality will always be available. For example, in manufacturing, strategic plans should include tactics for reusing water from processes multiple times," said Bob Davenport, director of SRI's Safe & Sustainable Chemicals group.

SRI, which provides business research for the global chemical industry, is a division of Rockville, Md.'s Access Intelligence, a publisher and trade show and conference organizer.

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