The Role of Water Banks in Sustainable Development

Water banks encourage responsible water use and promote efficient water allocation strategies.

By 2030, the United Nations projects that nearly half the world's population will live in areas experiencing water scarcity. By 2050, the agency also estimates that there will be a global water deficit of 4.8 trillion cubic meters. This means water demand will exceed supply by a surprising amount.

Climate change is intensifying the crisis, with increasing droughts in some regions and extreme weather events disrupting water infrastructure. The need for innovative solutions to manage this precious resource is an important concern. Here, the concept of water banking emerges as a powerful tool for building resilience and ensuring a future where water is a source of shared prosperity, not conflict.

Traditionally, water management relies on surface reservoirs such as dams and lagoons. However, this solution faces limitations and is not sustainable. Drought can significantly reduce storage capacity, and evaporation contributes to water loss.

The construction of dams can disturb the ecosystem and displace communities. In addition, sedimentation can reduce the storage capacity over time. On the contrary, water banking utilizes the natural power of underground aquifers.

Also read: Managing Water for Life Sustainability

Imagine a scenario where a region experiences a period of above-average rainfall. Instead of letting excess water flow into the sea, water banks allow communities to store it underground in aquifers (managed aquifer recharge/MAR technique).

This "deposit" can then be withdrawn during drought periods, ensuring a reliable source of water when most needed. This system is essential in managing water resources sustainably, ensuring that communities can survive drought periods and other water-related challenges.

In drought-prone areas, such as California in the United States and parts of Australia, water banks have proven effective. For example, the Kern Water Bank in California successfully recharges groundwater supplies, providing a buffer against dry seasons. This model can be replicated in other areas experiencing water shortages, thereby offering a proactive approach to water management.

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Rainwater storage using infiltration wells.

Buffer

Water banking can occur in two main ways. Firstly, surface water banking, where excess water from rivers or lakes is diverted and stored in artificial reservoirs or by allowing natural wetlands to expand and hold more water. Secondly, aquifer recharge, where water is pumped back into underground aquifers during periods of high rainfall, allowing natural underground "domes" to contain large amounts of water for later use.

As for water banks, they have several important benefits, including improving water security by providing a buffer against unpredictable weather patterns, especially in areas vulnerable to floods and droughts. By storing excess water during the wet season, communities can ensure a reliable water supply during dry spells.

In addition, water banks improve water management by promoting responsible water usage and promoting efficient water allocation strategies. This also offers alternatives to reduce dependence on new dams, thereby minimizing environmental and social impacts.

The cost of building water banking infrastructure requires a large initial investment.

From an environmental perspective, water banks help recharge depleted aquifers, reduce saltwater intrusion, and prevent land subsidence due to excessive groundwater extraction. In addition, surface water banks can restore wetlands, provide important habitats for wildlife, and filter pollutants, which improve groundwater quality.

From an economic perspective, water banking opens up new opportunities for water trade, encourages economic activity, and provides incentives for water conservation, all of which contribute to improving ecosystem health and water quality.

Despite its promising benefits, water banking also faces significant challenges. The cost of developing water banking infrastructure requires a large initial investment, and this program needs to be carefully designed to ensure fair access to water for all stakeholders. In addition, surface water coral can disrupt natural river flows if not managed properly, and its successful implementation requires expertise in hydrology, engineering, and water management.

Another challenge is the suitability of geology, as not all aquifers are suitable for water banking. Geological studies are needed to ensure that the selected aquifers have sufficient capacity and appropriate filtration properties.

Also read: Successfully Managing Water, Minister of Home Affairs Will Give IDR 10 Billion to Regions

Maintaining the quality of stored water is also critical, possibly requiring treatment prior to injection and withdrawal from the aquifer. A clear legal and regulatory framework is needed to govern water ownership, trading rights, and environmental protection, critical to the success of water banking programs.

The global water crisis is an urgent problem that requires immediate attention. Water banks offer a solution to this crisis by providing means of storing water during times of plenty and releasing it during times of scarcity. It is important for us to adopt effective strategies to address the water crisis and ensure clean water and sanitation for all.

Jose Segitya Hutabarat,Chairman of the Young Nusantara Maritime Branch, Manado City

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Jose Segitya Hutabarat