essay about water management in s.a

Essay On Water Management

500 words essay on water management.

Water management refers to activities that plan, develop, distribute and manage the optimum use of water resources. Everyone can do this from local authorities to individuals at home. Good water management allows access to safe water for everyone. Through an essay on water management, we will go through it in detail.

Importance of Water Management

Water management impacts various aspects of our lives. As water is common, we do not think much of its management. But, if we ask the deprived people, they will know the importance of water management very well.

As we require drinking water, clean drinking water is a necessity. No human can survive without water. Further, we also need water management for cleaning and washing. For instance, we bathe, wash our clothes and utensils to maintain hygiene .

Further, agriculture requires water for growing the food that we eat every day. Thus, a good water supply becomes essential. Moreover, we also enjoy swimming, boating and other leisure activities in the water.

For instance, swimming pools and more. Thus, water needs to be managed so people can enjoy all this. Most importantly, water management ensures that our rivers and lakes do not contaminate. Thus, it helps maintain biodiversity.

Ways of Water Management

There are various ways available through which we can manage water. The major ways of water management include recycling and treating wastewater. When we treat wastewater , it becomes safe to be piped back to our homes.

Thus, we use it for drinking, washing and more. In addition, an irrigation system is a very good way of water management. It involves a good quality irrigation system which we can deploy for nourishing crops in drought-hit areas.

By managing these systems, we can ensure water does not go to waste and avoid unnecessarily depleting water supplies. Most importantly, conserving water is essential at every level.

Whether it is a big company or a small house, we all must practise water management. The big industries use gallons of water on a daily basis. At homes, we can conserve water by using it less.

Further, it also applies to our way of consumption of products. A large amount of water goes into the production of cars or a simple item like a shirt. Thus, we must not buy things unnecessarily but consciously.

It is also essential to care for natural supplies like lakes, rivers , seas and more. As you know, these ecosystems are home to a variety of organisms. Without its support, they will go extinct. Thus, water management becomes essential to ensure we are not polluting these resources.

It is also crucial to ensure that everyone gets access to enough water. Some parts of the world are completely deprived of clean water while some have it in abundance. This is unfair to those who do not get it which also causes many deaths. Thus, we need water management to avoid all this.

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Conclusion of the Essay on Water Management

If we look at the current situation of water depletion, it is evident that we are in dire need of water management. We must come together to do our best to ensure that everyone is getting access to safe water daily so that we can lead happy lives.

FAQ of Essay on Water Management

Question 1: What is meant by water management?

Answer 1: Water management refers to the control and movement of water resources for minimizing damage to life and property. Moreover, it is to maximize effective beneficial use.

Question 2: What are the ways of water management?

Answer 2: There are numerous ways of water management. Some of them are the treatment of wastewater, deploying good irrigation methods, conserving water whenever possible. Further, we must also care for natural sources of water like rivers, seas, lakes and more.

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3. Water management in South Africa

1. rivers, lakes and dams in south africa. 2. factors influencing the availability of water in south africa..

The South Africa Department of Water Affairs: https://www.dws.gov.za (external link) Knowing where the bulk of the rainfall in South Africa occurs can help in understanding the position of water masses in South Africa. Look at the map below in conjunction with the rest of the information on this page.

  1.1 Rivers

In map below, South Africa looks as though it has a lot of water, but South Africa is considered a dry country. Most of South Africa’s water is concentrated on the East Coast due to the influence of the warm Mozambique current in the Indian Ocean.

 1.2 Lakes

Lakes of South Africa:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_in_South_Africa  (external link) The maps below show a few lakes in South Africa. There are many more  that are listed in the link above,

 1.3 Dams

A list of dams in South Africa:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dams_and_reservoirs_in_South_Africa   (external link)

The top 10 dams in South Africa:

Dams of South Africa

3. Challenges of providing free basic water to rural and urban communities in South Africa.

South Africa is considered a water scarce region. This poses a major challenge to supplying basic water to rural and urban areas.

4. The role of government – initiatives towards securing water: inter-basin transfers and building dams.

South Africa’s Water management structure:

Institutional organisation of domestic water services in South Africa 

In 1994, the government made the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) responsible for ensuring that all South Africans had equitable access to water supply and sanitation. https://www.dws.gov.za

5. Role of municipalities: provision and water purification.

There is general agreement that due to their economic conditions, the poor majority cannot afford to pay the full price for essential municipal services. The adoption of the policy in 2000/1 to provide a basket of free basic services to all, linked to an indigent policy which targets the poorest sections of communities is an integral part of the programme to alleviate poverty among poor households. The basket of services includes solid waste, water, sanitation and electricity. Since the introduction of the policy by government in 2001, the emphasis has been on the provision of a basic amount of free water and electricity, though work has started over the last year or so on sanitation and solid waste. Many municipalities have also developed indigent policies to ensure that households with little or no income can be identified and can still get basic municipal services. In most areas all users get a certain amount of free water and electricity – enough for their most basic needs. Those who use a lot must pay higher rates. In this way people with big houses and gardens who use a lot of electricity and water pay more and the poor who use very little, pay nothing or very little. http://www.etu.org.za/toolbox/docs/government/basic.html  

6. Strategies towards sustainable use of water – role of government and individuals.

Sustainability of water services has been identified as a cornerstone for fulfilling the goals of the water policy in South Africa.

South Africa is one of the few countries in the world that formally recognise water as a human right. Its national water and sanitation programme, which is one of the largest national programmes in Africa, aims to deliver sustainably on that right. Read more:

Resource Quality Services: https://www.dws.gov.za

Published on 22 March 2016 in ISS Today

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Tackling South Africa's water supply problem

On world water day, south africa must face facts: infrastructure projects alone won't close the gap in water supply..

By Steve Hedden

In South Africa the consumption of water is outstripping reliable supply. This overexploitation of water resources at the national level could leave the water system vulnerable, especially in its ability to respond to droughts and demands from increased temperatures due to climate change.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has many ‘reconciliation strategies’ to balance water supply and demand , but are these strategies enough to meet rising demand?

The African Futures Project (AFP), together with the Water Research Commission (WRC), have created a national water balance for South Africa to the year 2035.

Using the International Futures (IFs) forecasting system, the AFP has forecasted in its latest paper Parched prospects II that water withdrawals in the municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors will increase over the next 20 years. By 2035, municipal water demand is expected to increase by 43% due to population growth, rising income and urbanisation. Industrial water demand is set to increase by 12% due to non-renewable electricity generation and manufacturing. Agricultural water demand is expected to increase by 9% due to an expansion of land under irrigation. Together, water demand could increase from 15.6 km 3  to 18.9 km 3  by 2035.

The DWS has published reconciliation strategies – the official long-term plans for reconciling water supply and demand – for most of the water catchments in South Africa. The AFP compiled all of the completed large-scale reconciliation strategies to create a national water supply forecast.

The DWS plans for an increase in yield of over 3.5 km 3  per year by 2035. This increase is due to a number of extensive infrastructure projects, like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project phase 2 (LHWP2), as well as the raising and constructing of dams throughout South Africa. This means the total system yield will increase from 15.3 km 3  per year in 2014 to 17.8 km 3  per year in 2035.

Graph: Planned yield increases extracted from all published large-scale reconciliation strategies

In addition to the planned yield increases, the strategies also identify water conservation and water demand management interventions. These occur in most catchments and account for a demand reduction of 0.571 km 3  by 2035. This could reduce growth in water withdrawals from 18.9 km 3  to 18.3 km 3  by 2035, which is still above the 17.8 km 3  per year of expected available supply.

Proposed interventions to increase supply and reduce demand are not enough to reconcile the gap between withdrawals and supply. Current plans are not enough to bring the South African water sector into balance and reconcile future national water withdrawals with future national supply.

Additional measures will be required to close the gap by 2035. Parched prospects II presents a Closing the Gap scenario. In this scenario, not only is every intervention in every reconciliation strategy pursued, but the government implements additional interventions such as groundwater development, wastewater treatment, and increased conservation and demand management efforts.

Current plans are not enough to bring the South African water sector into balance

The largest increases in water supply outlined in the existing reconciliation strategies come from large-scale surface water infrastructure projects, such as the LHWP2, the Vioolsdrift and Gariep Dams in the Orange River catchment, the Mielietuin Dam in the Richards Bay catchment, along with many others. Although such infrastructure projects are often necessary, there are other ways to reconcile supply and demand.

Groundwater is an overlooked renewable water resource, particularly well suited for agricultural use. Research from the WRC has found groundwater to be a reliable source when managed properly, with costs comparable with those of surface water resources. The  WRC project argues  that ‘the main reason groundwater sources fail is because of mechanical breakdowns and other issues related to operations and management, and not a failure of the groundwater resource itself’.

Another potential source is treated wastewater. Treating wastewater increases the available supply (through direct reuse) and the quality of water. According to another  WRC report , South Africa is at a ‘tipping point’ in terms of wastewater treatment. Although the state of wastewater treatment facilities has been improving, the latest Green drop report finds that one-quarter of all systems are in a ‘critical state’ and only 16% are in a ‘low risk’ state.

While seven of the reconciliation strategies set explicit targets for increasing the use of treated wastewater, these interventions amount to just 0.22 km 3  of increased yield by 2035. The IFs model, however, forecasts that nearly 5.1 km 3  of municipal wastewater will be produced in 2035, so there is certainly the possibility of increasing yield through the treatment of municipal wastewater. Failure to do so will endanger the quality of water resources in South Africa.

Groundwater is an overlooked renewable water resource

Non-revenue water – that which is either unbilled or ‘lost’ before it reaches the consumer – is both a challenge and an opportunity in South Africa.

A  2012 WRC report found that the proportion of non-revenue water is 36.8%, most of which is the result of physical losses or leaks. In fact, 25.4% of municipal water is lost through leaks. Although this level of non-revenue water is in line with the global average, there is significant room for improvement. According to the report, ‘when comparing the unit water use per capita, South Africa appears to have a relatively high per capita water use, which suggests consumers waste water, and there is significant scope to reduce the unit consumption’.

Parched prospects II is the second step in creating a long-term national water balance. The AFP will continue working with the WRC to refine the data and assumptions in the model. Setting and achieving the necessary targets to close the gap between withdrawals and supply requires strategic foresight based on plausible forecasts. Strategic foresight is an iterative process, and the forecasts in Parched prospects II must be analysed and improved as more data becomes available and assumptions change.

While large-scale infrastructure projects are necessary to increase South Africa’s water supply, they are not sufficient to close the gap. Groundwater extraction must be increased; wastewater treatment facilities must be improved, and non-revenue water must be decreased to reconcile water withdrawals with supply.

Facing South Africa’s water challenges is not just a long-term, governmental problem, however; all South Africans can contribute to the solution.

Steve Hedden, Research System Developer, Pardee Center for International Futures, University of Denver

Watch the video Parched prospects 2 here: https://www.issafrica.org/media-room/videos-and-infographics/parched-prospects-2

Read the paper Parched prospects II here:  https://www.issafrica.org/publications/papers/parched-prospects-ii-a-revised-long-term-water-supply-and-demand-forecast-for-south-africa

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Management of water resources in South Africa : a review

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Five Main Causes of water shortage in South Africa

The five main causes of water shortage in South Africa are:

• Climate Change
• Population Growth and Urbanization
• Aging and Insufficient Infrastructure
• Inefficient Water Use and Management

South Africa faces significant challenges with water scarcity, a critical issue that impacts millions and threatens both its ecological and economic stability. This scarcity is driven by a complex interplay of factors, which range from natural conditions to human activities. Understanding these causes is essential for addressing the water shortage and developing sustainable solutions to ensure a secure water future for the nation.

Article Highlights

• Climate Change : South Africa is experiencing increasingly erratic weather patterns due to climate change, including prolonged droughts that significantly reduce water availability across the country.
• Population Growth and Urbanization : Rapid urbanization and population growth, particularly in major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town, have led to increased demand for water resources that the existing infrastructure struggles to meet.
• Aging and Insufficient Infrastructure : Much of South Africa’s water infrastructure is aging and inefficient, with significant water losses occurring through leaks and bursts in the system, exacerbating the water scarcity issue.
• Pollution : Water sources are increasingly contaminated with pollutants from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and improper waste disposal, reducing the amount of clean water available for use.
• Inefficient Water Use and Management : Inadequate water management practices, both in agriculture, which consumes the majority of the country’s water, and in urban settings, lead to substantial water wastage and inefficiency in its use.

These factors highlight the multifaceted nature of the water scarcity issue in South Africa, underlining the need for comprehensive and integrated water management strategies to secure water for all its citizens.

Here are seven hard facts highlighting the main causes of water shortage in South Africa:

• Decreased Rainfall : South Africa has experienced below-average rainfall in many regions over the last decade. The country’s Western Cape region, for example, faced a severe drought from 2015 to 2018, which saw dam levels drop to critical lows.
• High Evaporation Rates : South Africa’s high temperatures contribute to significant evaporation. The country loses approximately 1,300 to 1,600 million cubic meters of water per year to evaporation from its major dams.
• Aging Water Infrastructure : According to South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation , about 35% of the country’s water supply is lost due to leaks in aging infrastructure. This amounts to a financial loss of roughly R7 billion annually.
• Population Growth : The population of South Africa has grown from about 40 million in the early 1990s to approximately 60 million today , increasing the demand on the already strained water supply systems.
• Urbanization : The rapid urbanization rate, especially in cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town, has put additional pressure on water resources , with urban areas experiencing more pronounced shortages during drought periods.
• Water Pollution : Industrial discharge, mining activities, and agricultural runoff significantly contaminate water sources. Key water systems like the Vaal River are heavily polluted, affecting water quality and usability for millions of people.
• Inefficient Agricultural Water Use : Agriculture consumes about 60% of South Africa’s water supply, much of which is used inefficiently . Traditional irrigation methods contribute to significant water loss, exacerbating shortages during periods of drought.

These facts underscore the multifaceted nature of water scarcity challenges in South Africa, pointing to the need for comprehensive solutions that address both supply and demand issues, as well as infrastructure upgrades and better resource management practices.

Climate Change: Leading to Reduced Rainfall and More Frequent Droughts

Climate change has had a profound effect on South Africa, exacerbating water scarcity through decreased rainfall and increased frequency and severity of droughts. For instance, the Western Cape experienced a severe drought between 2015 and 2018, which was considered one of the worst in a century. This drought brought Cape Town dangerously close to “Day Zero,” a moment when municipal water supplies would have been largely shut off. Scientific studies indicate that Southern Africa’s climate is warming at about twice the global rate, suggesting that such extreme weather events are likely to become more common.

Decreased rainfall impacts not only the amount of water available but also agricultural productivity and water quality. The government’s data indicates that annual rainfall has become highly variable, compounding long-term planning difficulties and resource management. Furthermore, as temperatures continue to rise, evaporation rates increase, further reducing available water in reservoirs and rivers.

Population Growth and Urbanization: Increasing Demand on Existing Water Supplies

South Africa’s population is growing and urbanizing at a rapid rate, placing additional pressure on its limited water resources. The population has increased from around 40 million in the early 1990s to approximately 60 million today. Urban areas, in particular, have seen substantial growth — for example, Johannesburg and the surrounding Gauteng province are now home to over 14 million people. This urban migration has led to increased demand for municipal water services, stretching the existing infrastructure to its limits.

Urbanization also impacts water supply in indirect ways. The expansion of cities and the corresponding increase in impervious surfaces reduce the ground’s ability to naturally recharge aquifers with rainwater. Additionally, the concentration of pollutants in urban areas can degrade water quality, further limiting the amount of water safely available for use.

Aging and Insufficient Infrastructure: Resulting in Significant Water Losses

South Africa’s water infrastructure is grappling with the challenges of aging and underinvestment, leading to substantial water losses across the country. Many of the water delivery systems are old and not well-maintained, resulting in leaks and bursts that cause significant losses. According to a report by the South African Water and Sanitation Department, the country loses about 35% of its municipal water supply due to leaks and aging infrastructure. This equates to a loss of approximately 1,660 million cubic meters of water per year. The financial implications are also considerable, with the economic losses attributed to water leaks estimated at around R7 billion annually.

Pollution: Contaminating Available Water Sources

Water pollution remains a severe issue in South Africa, driven by industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and inadequate waste management. Industrial effluents and mining activities release heavy metals and other hazardous substances into water bodies, severely affecting water quality. Agricultural runoff, which often contains pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, further contributes to the contamination of rivers and groundwater. The Vaal River , one of South Africa’s main water sources, has been particularly affected by pollution from sewage spillages and industrial waste, compromising water quality for millions of users.

The impact on public health is significant, with communities relying on these contaminated sources experiencing higher incidences of waterborne diseases. Addressing these pollution issues is crucial, requiring stringent enforcement of environmental regulations and the adoption of cleaner technologies.

Inefficient Water Use and Management: Leading to Wastage and Suboptimal Allocation of Water Resources

Inefficiency in water use and management in South Africa is a significant concern, particularly in the agricultural sector, which consumes about 60% of the country’s water supply. Traditional irrigation techniques, which are prevalent in South Africa, are often inefficient and lead to considerable water wastage. Additionally, there is a lack of widespread adoption of water-saving technologies and practices across both agricultural and urban settings.

Water management practices also suffer from suboptimal allocation of resources, where water rights and access can be uneven, sometimes prioritizing higher-value crops or wealthier communities. This can lead to overuse in some areas while leaving others in dire need. The country’s water management challenges are compounded by sporadic enforcement of water usage policies and a lack of comprehensive data to inform decision-making.

To address these challenges, South Africa needs to invest in updating its water infrastructure, introduce and enforce stricter pollution controls, and adopt more efficient water use practices and technologies. Moreover, enhancing the management strategies to ensure equitable and sustainable water distribution is essential for securing the nation’s water future.

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Water Management

South Africa is a water scarce country and as such requires a comprehensive water management system to ensure that we make the most of what we have by effectively monitoring and managing our freshwater resources and wetlands.

As cities in South Africa grow, there is an ever-increasing demand for clean, potable and affordable water from residents and industries alike. In addition, increasing urbanisation and industrial practices affect the quality of the already limited water resources.

As cities in South Africa grow, there is an ever-increasing demand for clean, potable and affordable water from residents and industries alike. In addition, increasing urbanisation and the growth of informal settlements in South African cities are resulting in increasing levels of pollution and bacteria caused by human effluent in our water resources. This is further compounded by various industry groups such as mines that pump chemically contaminated waste water into our water system.

South African cities can play their part by ensuring that we make optimum use of our water resources in a number of ways:

Providing adequate sanitation

Properly cleaning contaminated water before releasing it back into the water system

Encouraging water recycling and water reduction amongst residents

Promoting water conservation and proper management of dams

Reducing water losses by maintaining water distribution networks

An excellent example of good water management was shown by the City of Cape Town during their water crisis in 2017-2018 when dam levels dropped to just 11% of their capacity and Cape Town faced the very real risk of being the first city in the world to completely run out of water.

By implementing major water restrictions, the City of Cape Town managed to reduce its daily water usage by more than 50%, a water saving of about 500 million litres per day. These significant water savings, combined with good rains in June 2018, meant that the dam levels gradually rose again and by September 2018 the dams levels had returned to 70% of their capacity.

VIEW ALL WATER MANAGEMENT REPORTS 

South Africa: Innovative Methods in Water Management Decentralisation (#387)

With the introduction of IWRM, South Africa has shifted the design and implementation of water management to local institutions. This has created a demand for innovative methods for local stakeholders’ participation. Action was taken to introduce the participatory process Companion Modelling that is based on the use of simulation models and role playing games. Consequently, this case study illustrates new methods and tools that facilitate dialogue and improve decision-making skills of local stakeholders.

With the introduction of IWRM, South Africa has shifted the design and implementation of water management and allocation policies from the state to local institutions. This has created a demand for innovative methods for local stakeholders’ participation in water management. Action was taken to introduce a participatory process called Companion Modelling that is a scientific posture based on the use of simulation models and role playing games. Consequently, this case study illustrates new methods and tools that facilitate dialogue and improve decision-making skills of local stakeholders.

Most Southern African countries have enacted or amended their water laws and policies during the last 15 years or so, and restructured their institutional and governance frameworks accordingly. Integrated Water Resource Management inspired new Southern African water policies.

Following the subsidiary principle, the design and implementation of water management and allocation policies are transferred from the state to local institutions, which often have a better knowledge of the catchment functioning and where representatives of local water stakeholders are allowed to negotiate and jointly decide water management strategies and measures.

Action taken

In order to address the need for innovative methods for local stakeholders’ participation in water management, within a project supported by the Water Research Commission of South Africa, a participatory process called Companion Modelling (ComMod) was implemented in the Kat River valley (Eastern Cape Province), where the local Water User Association was busy drafting its catchment plan.

ComMod is a scientific posture based on the use of simulation models and role playing games (RPG) to assist participatory management of natural resources. ComMod consists of an iterative process of comprehension, confrontation and analysis that involves local users, institutions and researchers. This iteration is also aimed at validating or refuting the tools, such as models and role playing games, which will be then adopted by stakeholders for local negotiation. In addition to ComMod, other models were applied (KatAware model, Wat-A-Game).

A number of shortcomings were identified by an ex-post external evaluation of the exercise. The ComMod process was considered too long by most of the local stakeholders. KatAware was perceived as a prescriptive and normative tool rather than an interface to facilitate discussions. Also, Wat-a-Game is still at a prototype stage, was successfully tested in real negotiation contexts and in educational arenas.

Lessons learned

This case study shows new methods and tools that facilitate dialogue and improve decision-making skills of local stakeholders for effective, equitable and sustainable water management.

Applied research might support decentralization efforts in Southern Africa. This research is designed and implemented in very close collaboration with all parties involved in water policy decentralization.

  African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Journal / African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology / Vol. 5 No. 12 (2011) / Articles (function() { function async_load(){ var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; var theUrl = 'https://www.journalquality.info/journalquality/ratings/2409-www-ajol-info-ajest'; s.src = theUrl + ( theUrl.indexOf("?") >= 0 ? "&" : "?") + 'ref=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location.href); var embedder = document.getElementById('jpps-embedder-ajol-ajest'); embedder.parentNode.insertBefore(s, embedder); } if (window.attachEvent) window.attachEvent('onload', async_load); else window.addEventListener('load', async_load, false); })();  

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Article Details

Main article content, management of water resources in south africa: a review, ip molobela.

In South Africa, there are many challenges regarding water management. Inadequate rainfall, may contribute to mismanagement, hence political breakdowns and racial groups do also contribute to the problem. To list some of the major challenges for effective management are: limited physical resources, a long cycle of inadequate rainfall, a rapid growing population, and stagnant economies. Water resource management is crucial for human security. In South Africa, almost everyone is affected by mismanagement of water resource, hence those living in poor area are the most affected as they do not have access to potable water and proper sanitation. Many policy-makers, researchers, and water managers advocate that water must be managed at the level of river basins, based on the argument that river basins are a ‘‘natural’’ unit and thus the logical unit for water management. Although stakeholder participation in water management is advocated, actually including the poor and achieving substantive stakeholder representation has proven elusive in practice. More often than not, participation is little more than token consultation, with no decision-making power in the hands of the people concerned? Too often, the participation discourse draws attention away from the very real social and economic differences between people and the need for the redistribution of resources, entitlements, and opportunities. This is typified by the definition of stakeholders as water.

Keywords : Water, management, resources, stakeholder, population, economy.

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Essay on Water Management

Students are often asked to write an essay on Water Management in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Water Management

Introduction.

Water management is the control and movement of water resources to minimize damage to life and property. It involves managing water usage, quality, and distribution.

Importance of Water Management

Water is a limited resource. With increasing population, the demand for water is rising. Hence, effective water management is essential to ensure its availability for future generations.

Methods of Water Management

Water management methods include water conservation, recycling, and rainwater harvesting. These methods help to reduce water wastage and ensure its efficient use.

Water management is crucial for our survival. By conserving water, we can contribute to a sustainable future.

250 Words Essay on Water Management

Water is an essential resource for life on Earth, and managing this resource effectively is crucial for the survival and prosperity of human societies. Water management refers to activities that manage water resources to meet the needs of society, including the provision of safe drinking water, irrigation for agriculture, and water for industry and energy production.

Water management is vital to maintain the health of ecosystems, to ensure economic productivity, and to sustain human health. Without effective water management, we risk depleting water resources, causing environmental degradation, and exacerbating social and economic inequalities.

Challenges in Water Management

There are numerous challenges in water management. These include overuse and wastage of water, pollution of water sources, and the impacts of climate change, which can alter rainfall patterns and increase the frequency of droughts and floods.

Strategies for Effective Water Management

Strategies for effective water management include reducing water use and waste, protecting and restoring water sources, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. This can involve a range of measures, from implementing water-saving technologies and practices, to enforcing regulations to prevent pollution, to planning for the impacts of climate change on water availability.

In conclusion, water management is a critical issue that requires urgent attention. By adopting effective strategies, we can ensure the sustainable use of this vital resource, benefiting both people and the planet.

500 Words Essay on Water Management

The necessity of water management.

Water management is not merely a matter of ensuring a sufficient supply for human consumption. It is a multifaceted endeavor that involves environmental, economic, and social considerations. With climate change intensifying water scarcity issues and population growth increasing demand, effective water management has become more critical than ever.

Water management is also essential for preserving ecosystems. It helps to maintain the health of wetlands, rivers, and lakes, which are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. These ecosystems play a crucial role in filtering pollutants, buffering against floods, and providing habitats for wildlife.

Another challenge is the increasing pollution of water bodies. Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage can contaminate water sources, making them unfit for consumption or use. Addressing this issue requires robust laws and enforcement, as well as public education about the importance of protecting water resources.

Given these challenges, what strategies can be employed for effective water management? One approach is the use of technology. Advances in data collection and analysis can help us understand water usage patterns and identify areas for improvement. For instance, remote sensing technology can monitor changes in water levels, while smart meters can provide real-time data on water use.

In conclusion, water management is a complex but vital task. It requires a comprehensive approach that considers environmental, economic, and social factors. By harnessing technology and adopting sustainable practices, we can make strides towards more effective water management. As we face an uncertain future with climate change and population growth, the importance of managing our water resources wisely cannot be overstated.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Water, wastewater and waste management for sustainable development.

1. Introduction

2. overview of the special issue.

• Reuse of Treated Slaughterhouse Wastewater from Immediate One-Step Lime Precipitation and Atmospheric Carbonation to Produce Aromatic Plants in Hydroponics (Contribution #1).
• Possibilities for Anaerobic Digestion of Slaughter Waste and Flotates for Biomethane Production (Contribution #2).
• Evaluation of the Characteristics of Pollutant Discharge in Tomato Hydroponic Wastewater (HWW) for Sustainable Water Management in Korea (Contribution #3).
• The Impact of Various Types of Cultivation on Stream Water Quality in Central Poland (Contribution #4).
• A Newly Isolated Rhodococcus sp. S2 from Landfill Leachate Capable of Heterotrophic Nitrification and Aerobic Denitrification (Contribution #5).
• An Extensive Analysis of Combined Processes for Landfill Leachate Treatment (Contribution #6).
• Application of the Monte-Carlo Method to Assess the Operational Reliability of a Household-Constructed Wetland with Vertical Flow: A Case Study in Poland (Contribution #7).
• Pharmaceuticals Removal by Ozone and Electro-Oxidation in Combination with Biological Treatment (Contribution #8).
• Study on Properties of Micro-Nano Magnetic Composite Prepared by Mechanochemical Method of NdFeB Secondary Waste and Removal of As (V) from Mine Water (Contribution #9).
• Integrated Process of Immediate One-Step Lime Precipitation, Atmospheric Carbonation, Constructed Wetlands, or Adsorption for Industrial Wastewater Treatment: A Review (Contribution #10).

3. Conclusions

Conflicts of interest, list of contributions.

• Madeira, L.; Ribau Teixeira, M.; Nunes, S.; Almeida, A.; Carvalho, F. Reuse of Treated Slaughterhouse Wastewater from Immediate One-Step Lime Precipitation and Atmospheric Carbonation to Produce Aromatic Plants in Hydroponics. Water 2024 , 16 , 1566. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111566
• Philipp, M.; Ackermann, H.; Barbana, N.; Pluschke, J.; Geißen, S.U. Possibilities for Anaerobic Digestion of Slaughter Waste and Flotates for Biomethane Production. Water 2023 , 15 , 1818. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15101818
• Son, J. Evaluation of the Characteristics of Pollutant Discharge in Tomato Hydroponic Wastewater (HWW) for Sustainable Water Management in Korea. Water 2024 , 16 , 720. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050720
• Stępniewski, K.; Karger, M.; Łaszewski, M. The Impact of Various Types of Cultivation on Stream Water Quality in Central Poland. Water 2024 , 16 , 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010050
• Chen, X.; Li, S.; Zhang, W.; Li, S.; Gu, Y.; Ouyang, L. A Newly Isolated Rhodococcus sp. S2 from Landfill Leachate Capable of Heterotrophic Nitrification and Aerobic Denitrification. Water 2024 , 16 , 431. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030431
• Jamrah, A.; AL-Zghoul, T.M.; Al-Qodah, Z. An Extensive Analysis of Combined Processes for Landfill Leachate Treatment. Water 2024 , 16 , 1640. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16121640
• Migdał, K.; Jóźwiakowski, K.; Czekała, W.; Śliz, P.; Tavares, J.M.R.; Almeida, A. Application of the Monte-Carlo Method to Assess the Operational Reliability of a Household-Constructed Wetland with Vertical Flow: A Case Study in Poland. Water 2023 , 15 , 3693. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15203693
• Audino, F.; Arboleda, J.; Petrovic, M.; Cudinach, R.G.; Pérez, S.S. Pharmaceuticals Removal by Ozone and Electro-Oxidation in Combination with Biological Treatment. Water 2023 , 15 , 3180. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15183180
• Feng, X.; Rao, Y. Study on Properties of Micro-Nano Magnetic Composite Prepared by Mechanochemical Method of NdFeB Secondary Waste and Removal of As (V) from Mine Water. Water 2024 , 16 , 1234. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16091234
• Madeira, L.; Carvalho, F.; Almeida, A.; Ribau Teixeira, M. Integrated Process of Immediate One-Step Lime Precipitation, Atmospheric Carbonation, Constructed Wetlands, or Adsorption for Industrial Wastewater Treatment: A Review. Water 2023 , 15 , 3929. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15223929
• Chen, X.M.; Sharma, A.; Liu, H. The Impact of Climate Change on Environmental Sustainability and Human Mortality. Environments 2023 , 10 , 165. [ Google Scholar ] [ CrossRef ]
• Iqbal, A.; Yasar, A.; Tabinda, A.B.; Haider, R.; Sultan, I.A.; Kedwii, A.A.; Chaudhary, M.M.; Sheikh, M.M.; Nizami, A.-S. Waste as Resource for Pakistan: An Innovative Business Model of Regenerative Circular Economy to Integrate Municipal Solid Waste Management Sector. Sustainability 2023 , 15 , 6281. [ Google Scholar ] [ CrossRef ]
• Tsai, C.-H.; Shen, Y.-H.; Tsai, W.-T. Analysis of Current Status and Regulatory Promotion for Incineration Bottom Ash Recycling in Taiwan. Resources 2020 , 9 , 117. [ Google Scholar ] [ CrossRef ]
• Czekała, W.; Pulka, J. Water, Wastewater, Waste Management in Agriculture and Agri-Food Industry. Water 2024 , 16 , 1817. [ Google Scholar ] [ CrossRef ]

Share and Cite

Czekała, W. Water, Wastewater and Waste Management for Sustainable Development. Water 2024 , 16 , 2468. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172468

Czekała W. Water, Wastewater and Waste Management for Sustainable Development. Water . 2024; 16(17):2468. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172468

Czekała, Wojciech. 2024. "Water, Wastewater and Waste Management for Sustainable Development" Water 16, no. 17: 2468. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172468

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Academic literature on the topic 'Water management – South Africa'

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Journal articles on the topic "Water management – South Africa"

Taljaard, Susan, and Willem A. M. Botes. "Marine water quality management in South Africa." Water Science and Technology 32, no. 2 (July 1, 1995): 281–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1995.0118.

Muller, Mike. "Polycentric governance: water management in South Africa." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Management, Procurement and Law 165, no. 3 (August 2012): 193–200. http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/mpal.11.00018.

Claassen, Marius. "Integrated Water Resource Management in South Africa." International Journal of Water Governance 1, no. 3 (July 1, 2013): 323–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.7564/13-ijwg12.

Olayemi, Bakre, and Dorasamy Nirmala. "Creating economic viability in rural South Africa through water resource management in subsistence farming." Environmental Economics 7, no. 4 (December 9, 2016): 68–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ee.07(4).2016.07.

van Koppen, Barbara, and Barbara Schreiner. "Moving beyond integrated water resource management: developmental water management in South Africa." International Journal of Water Resources Development 30, no. 3 (May 15, 2014): 543–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2014.912111.

(Kobus) du Plessis, J. A. "Integrated water management for municipalities in South Africa." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Municipal Engineer 167, no. 2 (June 2014): 77–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/muen.13.00001.

Backeberg, Gerhard R. "Water institutional reforms in South Africa." Water Policy 7, no. 1 (February 1, 2005): 107–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2005.0007.

Viljoen, MF, and GR Backeberg. "Management of water extremes: A South African perspective on guidelines for policy and strategy development." South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences 7, no. 4 (November 30, 2004): 693–700. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v7i4.1300.

Maphela, Bulewa. "The evaluation of the heritage of the 1956 South African water policy." Environmental Economics 7, no. 4 (December 21, 2016): 113–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ee.07(4-1).2016.03.

Gravelet-Blondin, L. R., S. J. Barclay, C. M. Carliell, and C. A. Buckley. "Management of water resources in South Africa with respect to the textile industry." Water Science and Technology 36, no. 2-3 (July 1, 1997): 303–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1997.0544.

Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Water management – South Africa"

Zonde, Memory. "Empowered women in water management." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2007. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_9523_1258026827.

Following South Africa's independence from apartheid rule, there has been progressive developments in policies that promote equity in all spheres including the water sector. Equality in the water sector is not only limited to water access, but also management of the water. This study investigated the factors that empower women in the water sector as an example of gender equity.

Smet, Michiel. "Rangeland degradation around water-points under different management systems." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50074.

Wassung, Natalie. "Water scarcity and electricity generation in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/18158.

Mensah, Paul Kojo. "Environmental water quality management of glyphosate-based herbicides in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001987.

Draper, Desré. "Water management practices in selected Cape Town hotels." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2879.

Steyl, Ilse. "Integrated water assessment : decision support approaches for water resource management in South Africa." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.418010.

Pahlow, Markus, Jen Snowball, and Gavin Fraser. "Water footprint assessment to inform water management and policy making in South Africa." SciELO, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68813.

Ngabirano, Lillian. "Case study review of advanced water metering applications in South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26893.

Brettenny, Warren James. "Efficiency evaluation of South African water service provision." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14741.

Phiri, Charles M. "An investigation of community learning through participation in integrated water resource management practices." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003504.

Books on the topic "Water management – South Africa"

Africa, Statistics South. Water management areas in South Africa . Pretoria: Statistics South Africa, 2010.

Schreiner, Barbara, and Rashid Hassan, eds. Transforming Water Management in South Africa . Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9367-7.

Mirrilees, R. I. The application of economics to water management in South Africa . [Pretoria: Water Research Commission, 1994.

Buckle, J. S. Water demand management in practice: Case studies of water demand management in the Republics of South Africa and Namibia. [Nairobi]: UN-HABITAT, 2000.

Simpungwe, Eliab. Water, stakeholders and common ground: Challenges for multi-stakeholder platforms in water resource management in South Africa . [Wageningen: s.n.], 2006.

WEDC Conference (23rd 1997 Durban, South Africa). Water and sanitation for all: Partnerships and innovations : selected papers of the 23rd WEDC Conference, Durban, South Africa, 1997 . London: Intermediate Technology Publications in association with The Water, Engineering and Development Centre, 1998.

Regional Dialogue on Climate Change, Water, and Wetlands in Southern Africa (2002 Johannesburg, South Africa). Report on a Regional Dialogue on Climate Change, Water, and Wetlands in Southern Africa: Held at the Randburg Towers Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa, 6-7 November, 2002 . Harare, Zimbabwe: IUCN Regional Office for Southern Africa, 2003.

International Consultations on Partnership in the Water Sector for Cities in Africa (1997 Cape Town, South Africa). Report of the International Consultations on Partnership in the Water Sector for Cities in Africa: Cape Town, South Africa, 8-10 December 1997 . Nairobi, Kenya: Habitat, 1997.

Smith, Laila. The struggle to deliver water services to the indigent: A case study on the public-public partnership in Harrismith with Rand Water . Hohannesburg: Centre for Policy Studies, 2003.

Chikozho, Claudious. Towards community-based natural resources management in the water sector: An analysis of legislative changes made under the South African and Zimbabwean water reforms . [Bellville, South Africa]: Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies, School of Government, University of Western Cape, 2001.

Book chapters on the topic "Water management – South Africa"

van Koppen, Barbara, Barbara Schreiner, and Eiman Karar. "Mainstreaming Gender in Water Management in South Africa." In Global Issues in Water Policy , 203–14. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9367-7_10.

Patrick, Hosea O. "Climate Change, Water Security, and Conflict Potentials in South Africa: Assessing Conflict and Coping Strategies in Rural South Africa." In Handbook of Climate Change Management , 1–18. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22759-3_84-1.

Karar, Eiman, Gugu Mazibuko, Thomas Gyedu-Ababio, and Derek Weston. "Catchment Management Agencies: A Case Study of Institutional Reform in South Africa." In Global Issues in Water Policy , 145–63. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9367-7_7.

Mokgobu, Matlou Lesley, and Roger B. Mason. "Space Technology and the Management of Water Infrastructure in South Africa." In The 1st International Conference on Maritime Education and Development , 397–410. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64088-0_38.

Eales, Kathy. "Water, Sanitation and Wastewater Management: Some Questions for National Water Security in South Africa." In Global Issues in Water Policy , 73–96. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9367-7_4.

Dye, P. J., and J. M. Bosch. "Sustained water yield in afforested catchments — the South African experience." In Sustainable Forest Management , 99–120. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2000. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9819-9_3.

Meissner, Richard. "Water Governance and Management and Climate Change." In Paradigms and Theories Influencing Policies in the South African and International Water Sectors , 25–87. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48547-8_2.

Knüppe, Kathrin, and Claudia Pahl-Wostl. "Water Governance and Management Systems and the Role of Ecosystem Services: Case Study Insights—Groundwater Management in the Sandveld Region, South Africa." In The Global Water System in the Anthropocene , 271–87. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07548-8_18.

Cilliers, Catharina J., D. Zeller, and G. Strydom. "Short- and long-term control of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) on seasonal water bodies and on a river system in the Kruger National Park, South Africa." In Management and Ecology of Freshwater Plants , 173–79. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 1996. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5782-7_27.

Schulze, Roland E. "Some foci of integrated water resources management in the “South” which are oft-forgotten by the “North”: A perspective from southern Africa." In Integrated Assessment of Water Resources and Global Change , 269–94. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5591-1_17.

Conference papers on the topic "Water management – South Africa"

Nieuwoudt, W. L. "Pollution policies and market approaches in the Olifants River, South Africa." In WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IV . Southampton, UK: WIT Press, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.2495/wrm070481.

Brunner, N., L. Essl, T. Gounden, S. Mbatha, N. Ngubane, and M. Starkl. "Are Roof Tanks Pro-Poor Service Levels? A Case Study from Ethekwini (Durban), South Africa." In Water Resource Management . Calgary,AB,Canada: ACTAPRESS, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.2316/p.2010.686-043.

Nyabeze, P. K., J. S. Venter, J. Olivier, and T. R. Motlakeng. "Characterisation of the Thermal Aquifer Associated with the Siloam Hot Spring in Limpopo, South Africa." In Water Resource Management . Calgary,AB,Canada: ACTAPRESS, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.2316/p.2010.686-059.

MNGUNI, ELKINGTON SIBUSISO. "REVIEW OF WATER RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA." In SDP 2020 . Southampton UK: WIT Press, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.2495/sdp200161.

Wooldridge, T. H. "Biotic response to altered freshwater inflow patterns to the Kromme River Estuary, South Africa." In WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IV . Southampton, UK: WIT Press, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.2495/wrm070641.

Odiyo, J. O., and R. Makungo. "Water quality problems and management in rural areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa." In WATER POLLUTION 2012 . Southampton, UK: WIT Press, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.2495/wp120121.

Kumarasamy, Muthukrishnavellaisamy. "Simulation of spatial and temporal variations of dissolved oxygen of Baynespruit stream in South Africa." In WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 2011 . Southampton, UK: WIT Press, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.2495/wrm110351.

Pankomera, Richard, and Darelle van Greunen. "Comparative Analysis of the Status of ICT Usage in Healthcare: South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi." In Environment and Water Resource Management . Calgary,AB,Canada: ACTAPRESS, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.2316/p.2014.815-021.

NAKIN, MOTEBANG DOMINIC VINCENT, ANELISA QHAWEKAZI BOVUNGANA, and VANESSA NONTSIKELELO MAJIZA. "SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATIONS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES ALONG THE VUVU RIVER, SOUTH AFRICA." In WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 2017 . Southampton UK: WIT Press, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.2495/wrm170051.

Nyete, Abraham M., and Thomas J. O. Afullo. "Predictive Models of the K-Factor Variation in South Africa for LOS Link Budget Applications." In Environment and Water Resource Management . Calgary,AB,Canada: ACTAPRESS, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.2316/p.2014.813-017.

Water Management

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• Latief Ahmad 4 ,
• Gazi Mohammad Shoaib Shah 5 &
• Asim Biswas 6  

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Excessive, indiscriminate, and unscrupulous use of water has resulted in the crisis of water everywhere. Usable water is a critical output for agriculture. Therefore, there is an immediate need to devise a thoughtful water management plan in order to utilize the potential of every droplet of water toward successful crop production. This chapter dwells deep into core concepts of water management like water resources of India (with special reference and focus on India), plant water relations, functions of water, irrigation and fertigation, droughts and floods, and water harvesting.

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Division of Agrometeorology, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Latief Ahmad

Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

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What percent of water of total water on earth is suitable for human use?

Irrigated agriculture accounts for ____ of the total cultivated land.

Eighty-two percent of the all the devastation caused by droughts is experienced by.

Infrastructure.

Agriculture.

Human health.

Horticulture.

Which word mentioned below refers to, “the rate of evapotranspiration from a wide surface of 8–15 cm tall green grass cover of uniform height that is actively growing, fully shading the ground, and not water-stressed.”

Potential Evapotranspiration (PET).

Reference Evapotranspiration (ET O ).

Actual Evapotranspiration.

None of the above.

The amount of water consumed in a 24-hour period is referred to as.

Peak Consumptive Use.

Daily Consumptive Use.

Hourly Consumptive Use.

About ____ of the water absorbed by plants is used for metabolic processes and body weight production.

Submergence under water at tillering and flowering stages are the critical stages of crop growth for irrigation of?

Early vegetative growth, flowering, and pod development are critical phases for?

Pulses and Legumes.

Commercial fertigation began in the middle of the _______.

Nineteenth Century.

Twentieth Century.

Eighteenth Century.

Wheat has a water requirement of (in mm)?

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Ahmad, L., Shah, G.M.S., Biswas, A. (2024). Water Management. In: Fundamentals and Applications of Crop and Climate Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61459-0_6

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