How can we solve the global water crisis?

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Human activities are jeopardizing water at its source. Image:  Unsplash/mrjn Photography

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Ngozi okonjo-iweala, johan rockström, tharman shanmugaratnam.

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Stay up to date:, global governance.

This article is produced in collaboration with Project Syndicate.

  • Water-related crises around the world show that current systems of water management are unsuited for a world altered by global warming.
  • Water-use restrictions, power cuts and other stopgap measures are no longer fit for purpose.
  • The task now is to understand the links between water, climate change and biodiversity loss, and to properly govern water as a global common good.
  • The world needs to clearly define its plans, as this will help governments steer innovation and knowhow towards meeting critical goals.

The floods, droughts, heatwaves, and fires that are devastating many parts of the world underscore two fundamental facts. First, damage to freshwater supplies is increasingly straining human societies, especially the poor, with far-reaching implications for economic, social, and political stability. Second, the combined impact of today’s extreme conditions are unprecedented in human history, and are overwhelming policymakers’ ability to respond.

In East Africa, a devastating four-year drought has destroyed millions of livelihoods and left more than 20 million people at risk of starvation. In Pakistan, recent flooding has submerged one-third of the country, killing at least 1,500 people so far and wiping out 45% of this year’s crops. In China, an unprecedented heatwave has caused acute water shortages in regions that account for one-third of the country’s rice production .

Moreover, droughts and fires in the United States and Europe, and severe floods and droughts across India, have reduced global grain yields and food exports, highlighting the extent to which our food production depends on large, stable volumes of water. Add to this the impact of the war in Ukraine on grain and fertilizer supplies, and there is a substantial risk that today’s global food crisis will persist.

For the first time in our history, human activities are jeopardizing water at its very source. Climate change and deforestation are reshaping the monsoon season, causing ice on the Tibetan plateau to melt , and affecting freshwater supplies to more than one billion people. Rising global temperatures are changing evaporation patterns and reducing moisture feedback from forests, disrupting downwind rainfall. And a destabilized global water cycle is itself aggravating climate change. For example, the depletion of water in the soil and forests is reducing their ability to sequester carbon .

Water-use restrictions, power cuts, and other stopgap measures can no longer paper over the fact that our water governance and management systems are not suited for a world of radical environmental change. All our current arrangements rest on the assumption, now invalidated, that the water supply is relatively stable (within the bounds of natural variability), predictable, and manageable in localized ways. But the water crisis is global, and it can be solved only with transformational thinking and new governance.

We must recognize that all our key environmental challenges are connected to water – whether there is too much or too little, or whether it is too polluted for human use. The task now is to understand the links between water, climate change, and biodiversity loss, and to properly define, value, and govern water as a global common good. Thinking about water in this way will allow us to mobilize collective action and design new rules that put equity and justice at the center of our response.

For too long, most governments have either ignored market failures or responded to them with quick fixes, rather than mobilizing the public and private sectors around common ambitions. The public sector must see itself as a market shaper that works with all stakeholders in the water economy to create pathways for innovation and investment, ensure universal access to clean water and sanitation, and provide enough water for food, energy, and natural systems.

A key lesson from past challenges that demanded systemic innovation is that a clearly defined mission is needed to organize our efforts. Mission-oriented policies allow governments to steer innovation and knowhow directly toward meeting critical goals. When guided by an inclusive “common-good” approach, they are uniquely capable of delivering solutions to challenges that require tremendous levels of coordination and financing across many years. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and water crises are precisely such challenges.

Mission-based strategies can help governments innovate with purpose, direction, and urgency. But to be effective, policymakers must heed the experience and wisdom of the ordinary citizens, communities, and innovators who know how to prosper in a world of water scarcity, higher temperatures, and altered coastline and river systems.

We must now recognize threats to the global freshwater system and translate our awareness into collective action. Because water scarcity will jeopardize all the other Sustainable Development Goals, it should solidify our collective determination to limit temperature increases to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels (as specified in the Paris climate agreement), and to preserve the natural systems that ensure stable rainfall and runoff patterns.

Water security – both sustainable supply and clean quality – is a critical aspect in ensuring healthy communities. Yet, our world’s water resources are being compromised.

Today, 80% of our wastewater flows untreated back into the environment, while 780 million people still do not have access to an improved water source. By 2030, we may face a 40% global gap between water supply and demand.

The World Economic Forum’s Water Possible Platform is supporting innovative ideas to address the global water challenge.

The Forum supports innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships including the 2030 Water Resources Group , which helps close the gap between global water demand and supply by 2030 and has since helped facilitate $1Billion of investments into water.

Other emerging partnerships include the 50L Home Coalition , which aims to solve the urban water crisis , tackling both water security and climate change; and the Mobilizing Hand Hygiene for All Initiative , formed in response to close the 40% gap of the global population not having access to handwashing services during COVID-19.

Want to join our mission to address the global water challenge? Read more in our impact story .

In tackling these global challenges, we must hardwire the principles of equity and justice into whatever new arrangements we devise. No community can thrive without a reliable supply of clean water. But safeguarding this global common good requires new policies and systems.

Law and economics must both be reoriented to ensure universal access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, and to build more resilient and sustainable food systems. Incentives must change so that the private sector can do its part to provide access to technology and innovation to poor and rich countries alike. This will require long-term finance and novel mechanisms to regulate how the public and private sectors work together.

Have you read?

Ensuring sustainable water management for all by 2030, we need to rethink how we manage our water systems — before it’s too late, low-income communities lack access to clean water. it’s time for change.

The UN 2023 Water Conference – the first in almost 50 years – will be a pivotal moment for the international community to start mapping out a future that works for everyone. In preparing for it, we can take inspiration from Nicholas Stern , who rewrote the economics of climate change , and Partha Dasgupta , who rewrote the economics of biodiversity . As the four co-chairs of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water , our goal is to transform the world’s understanding of the economics and governance of water, placing a much stronger emphasis on equity, justice, effectiveness, and democracy.

We can still redefine our relationship with water and redesign our economies to value water as a global common good. But the window of opportunity is closing. To have a chance of avoiding climate catastrophe and adapting to unavoidable change, we must ensure a resilient water future for poor and rich societies alike.

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Smart Cities: Promoting Urban Governance in India

Water Distribution System Challenges And Solutions

Article | September 9, 2014

Water distribution system challenges and solutions.

By O. Oyedele Adeosun , Obafemi Awolowo University

INTRODUCTION

Providing sufficient water of appropriate quality and quantity has been one of the most important issues in human history. Most ancient civilizations were initiated near water sources. As populations grew, the challenge to meet user demands also increased.

People began to transport water from other locations to their communities. For example, the Romans constructed aqueducts to deliver water from distant sources to their communities.

Today, a water supply system consists of infrastructure that collects, treats, stores, and distributes water between water sources and consumers. Limited new natural water sources, especially in the southwest region of the USA, and rapidly increasing population has led to the need for innovative methods to manage a water supply system. For example, reclaimed water has become an essential water resource for potable and nonpotable uses. Structural system additions including new conveyance systems and treatment and recharge facilities and operation decisions, such as allocating flow and implementing conservation practices, are made with the present and future demands in minds. As additional components and linkages between sources and users are developed, the complexity of the water supply system and the difficulty in understanding how the system will react to changes grows.

Many efforts on the development of a water supply system have been made through for sustainable water supply. However, the complexity of system limited the site specific application at the first era. As water demands pressures raise increasingly on the existing water supply system, many studies attempted to develop a general water supply system to assist decision makers to design more reliable systems for a long range operation period. These attempts also include the optimization of total system construction and operation cost. Under given situations such as pipeline maintenance, non-revenue water, advanced metering infrastructure, the ultimate goal of this paper is to ensure water distribution system challenges are overcome and   supply water sources to users reliably in a more sustainable and timely manner as a long-term plan.

Water Distribution Systems

The purpose of distribution system is to deliver water to consumer with appropriate quality, quantity and pressure. Distribution system is used to describe collectively the facilities used to supply water from its source to the point of usage.

Requirements of Good Distribution System

  • Water quality should not get deteriorated in the distribution pipes.
  • It should be capable of supplying water at all the intended places with sufficient pressure head.
  • It should be capable of supplying the requisite amount of water during firefighting.
  • The layout should be such that no consumer would be without water supply, during the repair of any section of the system.
  • All the distribution pipes should be preferably laid one metre away or above the sewer lines.
  • It should be fairly water-tight as to keep losses due to leakage to the minimum.

Layouts of Distribution Network

The distribution pipes are generally laid below the road pavements, and as such their layouts generally follow the layouts of roads. There are, in general, four different types of pipe networks; any one of which either singly or in combinations, can be used for a particular place. They are: Grid , Ring , Radial and Dead End System .

Grid Iron System:

It is suitable for cities with rectangular layout, where the water mains and branches are laid in rectangles.

Advantages:

  • Water is kept in good circulation due to the absence of dead ends.
  • In the cases of a breakdown in some section, water is available from some other direction.

Disadvantages

  • Exact calculation of sizes of pipes is not possible due to provision of valves on all branches.

Ring System:

The supply main is laid all along the peripheral roads and sub mains branch out from the mains. Thus, this system also follows the grid iron system with the flow pattern similar in character to that of dead end system. So, determination of the size of pipes is easy.

  • Water can be supplied to any point from at least two directions.

Radial System:

The area is divided into different zones. The water is pumped into the distribution reservoir kept in the middle of each zone and the supply pipes are laid radially ending towards the periphery.

  • It gives quick service.
  • Calculation of pipe sizes is easy.

Dead End System:

It is suitable for old towns and cities having no definite pattern of roads.

  • Relatively cheap.
  • Determination of discharges and pressure easier due to less number of valves.
  • Due to many dead ends, stagnation of water occurs in pipes.

NON-WATER REVENUE

Until the early 1990s, there were no reliable and standardized methods for accounting for water losses. Leakage management performance was measured in terms of “unaccounted-for water.” Since this term had no generally accepted definition, there was wide room for interpretation. Unaccounted-for water was typically expressed as a percentage of system input, which is already problematic.

Given this situation, utility performance could not be measured or compared, realistic targets could not be defined, and performance against targets could not be tracked reliably.

While this situation still exists in many countries, significant progress has been made to address these past shortcomings. Over the last 20 years, a number of organizations from around the world have developed a suite of tools and methodologies to help utilities evaluate and manage water losses in an effective manner.

One recommendation of the WLTF (Water Loss Task Force) was to use the term “non-revenue water” instead of “unaccounted-for water.” NRW (non-revenue water) has a precise and simple definition. It is the difference between the volume of water put into a water distribution system and the volume that is billed to customers. NRW comprises three components as follows:

Physical (or real): losses comprise leakage from all parts of the system and overflows at the utility’s reservoirs. They are caused by poor operations and maintenance, the lack of active leakage control, and poor quality of underground assets.

Commercial (or apparent): losses are caused by customer meter under registration, data handling errors, and theft of water in various forms.

Unbilled authorized consumption: includes water used by the utility for operational purposes, water used for firefighting, and water provided for free to certain consumer groups.

Although it is widely acknowledged that NRW levels in developing countries are often high, actual figures are elusive. Most water utilities do not have adequate monitoring systems for assessing water losses, and many countries lack national reporting systems that collect and consolidate information on water utility performance. The result is that data on NRW is usually not readily available. Even when data is available, it is not always reliable, as some poorly performing utilities are known to practice “window dressing” in an attempt to conceal the extent of their own inefficiency.

Lost water can be calculated as (A + L + R) [d] × flow rate [m3/d] = water lost [m3]

The volume of water lost from an individual pipe burst does not only depend on the flow rate of the event, but is also a function of run time. This is often overlooked. The leak run time consists of three components:

  • Awareness time: time until the utility becomes aware that there is a leak
  • Location time: time spent to precisely locate the leak so that a repair job order can be issued
  • Repair time: time between issuing of repair job order and completion of the repair

PIPELINE MAINTENANCE

Many water utilities in Asia practice passive leakage control, meaning that they repair only those leaks that are visible. This is clearly not enough since 90% of the leaks are usually not visible on the surface. This means it takes far too long, often many years, until the utility is even aware that there is a leak. Since awareness time largely determines the volume of water lost from a pipe burst, utilities need a strategy to reduce awareness time.

The most traditional and basic method is to have a team of leak detection specialists who check all pipes on a regular basis. Since leak noise can be detected, this work is done with a wide range of listening devices, ranging from simple mechanical listening sticks to electronic ground microphones or even leak noise correlators. Leakage inspectors use this equipment to listen to the network and identify problems, much like doctors use stethoscopes. If every part of the network is surveyed once a year, the average leak run time (awareness time) is 6 months. To reduce awareness time, the survey frequency can be increased. However, leak detection efforts will still not be well targeted. To be able to determine how much water is lost in specific parts of the network, the network must be split in hydraulically discrete zones and the inflow to these zones must then be measured. By computing the volume of leakage in each zone, leak detection specialists can better target their efforts. Clearly, the smaller the zone, the better the information and the efficiency of leak detection. The smallest zones are called District Metered Areas (DMAs). A DMA is hydraulically discrete and ideally has only a single inflow point. The inflow and corresponding pressure is measured and monitored on a continuous basis. Ideally, when the entire distribution network is split into DMAs, the utility has several advantages. For instance:

  • The volume of NRW (the difference between DMA inflow and billed volume) can be calculated on a monthly basis.
  • The components of NRW (physical and commercial losses) can be quantified by analysing flow and pressure data.
  • Leak detection works can be prioritized.
  • New pipe bursts can be identified immediately by monitoring the minimum night flow, and therefore awareness time will be reduced from several months to several days (or even less).
  • When leakage is eliminated, utilities can better gauge the existence of illegal connections or other forms of water theft and can take action.

Furthermore, DMAs (District Metered Area) can be helpful in managing pressure. At the inflow to the DMAs, pressure reducing valves can be installed, and the pressure in every DMA can be adjusted to the required level. There is no ideal size for a DMA. The size, whether it is 500 or 5,000 service connections, is always a tradeoff. The decision has to be made on a case-by-case basis and depends on a number of factors (e.g., hydraulic, topographic, practical and economic).

The size of DMAs has an impact on the cost of creating them. The smaller the DMA, the higher the cost. This is because more valves and flow meters will be required and maintenance is costlier. However, the benefits of smaller DMAs are that:

  • new leaks can be identified earlier, which will reduce awareness time;
  • location time can be reduced because it will be faster and easier to pinpoint the leak; and
  • as a byproduct, it is easier to identify illegal connections.

Topography and network layout also play an important role in DMA design and size. Therefore, there will always be DMAs of different sizes in a distribution network. An important influencing factor is the condition of the infrastructure. If mains and service connections are fragile, then bursts will be more frequent and the optimal DMA will be relatively small. On the other hand, in areas with brand new infrastructure, DMAs can be larger and still manageable.

According to the recommendations of the International Water Association’s (IWA) Water Loss Task Force, if a DMA is larger than 5,000 connections, it becomes difficult to discriminate small bursts (e.g., service connection bursts) from variations in customer night use. In networks with very poor infrastructure conditions, DMAs as small as 500 service connections might be warranted. A calibrated hydraulic model should always be used for DMA design irrespective of the size of the DMAs.

Water losses from larger diameter pipes can be quite significant, especially in the Asian context with predominantly low-pressure systems, where leaks will not come to the surface and remain unnoticed for many years. Leaks on large diameter pipes are always difficult to detect and often specialized equipment is required (e.g., inside pipe inspection and leak detection). These techniques are costly but might be economically well justified where water availability is limited and every cubic meter of water recovered can be sold to existing or new customers.

ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE

Commercial losses are nearly always less in volume than physical losses, but this does not mean that commercial loss reduction is any less important. Commercial loss reduction has the shortest possible payback time, as any action immediately results in an increase in billed volume and an increase in revenues. Commercial losses consist of three main elements:

  • customer meter under-registration;
  • illegal connections and all other forms of water theft; and
  • problems and errors in metering, data handling, and billing.

Metering: Minimizing customer meter under-registration requires substantial technical expertise, managerial skills, and upfront funding. Customer meter management should be undertaken holistically, best described by the term “integrated meter management.”

In this effort, utilities should seek to select appropriate meter types and prepare tailored specifications. This can prove difficult, especially where procurement laws and regulations encourage purchasing the cheapest products on the market.

A number of meter manufacturers produce meters that “on paper” meet the specifications but deteriorate at an amazing rate in the field. This is one of the major obstacles for sustained improvement of customer meter accuracy. Contributing to this problem is the lack of good quality meter testing facilities, especially when it comes to larger diameter meters, and the lack of experience in how to best utilize such facilities. This makes it easy for manufacturers to supply meters from second class quality manufacturing batches with little risk that the utility would ever find out.

Another common problem is the reluctance to invest in high quality but more costly meters for large customers. Normally, the top accounts of a utility generate such a large portion of their revenues that any investment in more advanced meters can be economically justified. The payback time is often just a matter of months. Yet, many water utilities opt to maintain and calibrate old meters over and over again instead of taking appropriate action and installing new meters.

Billing system issues: The billing system is the only source of metered consumption data that can help determine the volume of NRW through an annual water audit. However, most billing systems are not designed to retain the integrity of consumption data. Rather, they are designed to deliver accurate bills to customers and correctly account for the bills. However, there are many day-to-day processes in operating a billing system that have the potential to corrupt the integrity of the consumption data, depending on the design of the particular system. Issues that can affect consumption volumes include

  • meter reading practices
  • handling of reversals of over-estimation
  • processes used for dealing with complaints about high bills
  • customer leaks
  • estimation of consumption
  • meter change-outs
  • tracking inactive accounts, and
  • the processes for the identification and rectification of stuck meters.

Water theft: While meter under-registration is more of a technical problem, water theft is a political and social issue. Reducing this part of commercial losses is neither technically difficult nor costly, but it requires making difficult and unpleasant managerial decisions that may be politically unpopular. The reason is that illegal connections are nearly always wrongly associated with only the urban poor and informal settlements. However, water theft by high-income households and commercial users, sometimes even large corporations, often accounts for sizable volumes of water lost and even higher losses of revenue.

In addition to illegal connections, other forms of water theft include meter tampering and meter bypasses, meter reader corruption, and illegal hydrant use. Another common problem is “inactive accounts.” In cases where a customer’s contract has been terminated, the physical service connection, or at least the tapping point on the main, still exists and is easy to re connect illegally. A stringent inactive account management and verification program can easily solve this problem.

Water distribution system should be based on a pipe layout that is suitable and have no or less water stagnation within the pipe to avoid tuberculation, encrustation and sediment deposits

Through a wealth of specialized publications and software development is now well understood that water distribution system management is technically difficult, but with current technologies, software systems, and highly specialized equipment (flushing and scraper), this is simply not the case anymore.

Water utilities will also need to practice appropriate design of system expansions/distribution (e.g., new network parts already constructed as DMAs) and use higher quality works, materials, and equipment. In addition, regulators and policy makers should require water utilities to do periodic water audits and regularly publish detailed water distribution system data, which can then be independently audited.

Again, water distribution system management should not be a one-time activity. Although an intense and comprehensive water distribution system reduction program is suitable to reduce the backlog of required water distribution system reduction measures, it should not lead to a sustainable low level of water distribution system unless water distribution system management becomes part of the normal day-to-day activities of the water utility.

Contact the author at [email protected] .

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Seven Infrastructure Problems in Urgent Need of Fixing

The Biden administration has pledged a $2 trillion investment in the nation’s infrastructure. With century-old water systems and schools vulnerable to earthquakes, there is no shortage of need.

The Brent Spence Bridge on the Ohio-Kentucky border near Cincinnati. Credit... Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times

Supported by

By Rick Rojas

  • Published April 2, 2021 Updated April 5, 2021

Engineers say that when infrastructure works, most people do not even think about it. But they recognize it when they turn on a faucet and water does not come out, when they see levees eroding or when they inch through traffic, the driver’s awareness of the highway growing mile after creeping mile.

President Biden has announced an ambitious $2 trillion infrastructure plan that would pump huge sums of money into improving the nation’s bridges, roads, public transportation, railways, ports and airports.

The plan faces opposition from Republicans and business groups, who point to the enormous cost and the higher corporate taxes that Mr. Biden has proposed to pay for it.

Still, leaders in both parties have long seen infrastructure as a possible unifying issue. Urban and rural communities, red and blue states, the coasts and the middle of the country: All are confronting weak and faltering infrastructure.

“It’s a dire need,” said Greg DiLoreto, a former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, which publishes an extensive report card on the subject every four years.

solutions to water transportation problems

The 2020 report gave the country a grade of C-minus, a slight improvement after two decades of Ds. Far more needs to be done, Mr. DiLoreto said: “It’s a terrible report card to take home to your folks.”

Roadways and bridges are still in use decades after the end of their projected life spans. Sewer and water systems are aged and decaying. And a changing climate threatens to worsen old vulnerabilities and expose new ones.

In the broad contours of the plan released by the Biden administration, specific proposals and figures are given for some of these infrastructure needs. The plan, for instance, proposes an extra $115 billion to modernize bridges, highways and roads that are in “most critical need of repair.” But other projects, such as levee systems, are not explicitly mentioned, and it is unclear how they might factor into the proposal.

We took a look at seven examples of urgent infrastructure vulnerabilities across the country, ranging from specific projects to broader problems.

Deteriorating rail tunnels under the Hudson River

Connecting New York City to New Jersey

The 111-year-old tunnels used by commuter trains and Amtrak have deteriorated rapidly since Hurricane Sandy flooded them with salt water in 2012.

Officials in New York and New Jersey have beseeched federal officials for years to help build new tunnels, arguing that the failure of one could have a devastating economic impact far beyond the region. The Trump administration resisted their appeals. Riders have been plagued by delays and cancellations , with similar problems affecting railways along the Northeast Corridor.

Passenger railways across the country have struggled with a lack of federal funding, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers report card, creating a repair backlog of $45.2 billion. The Biden administration says its plan would replace buses and rail cars and expand transit and rail into new communities; it is unclear how the Hudson River tunnels might be involved.

The creaky Brent Spence Bridge

Crossing the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Ky.

President Barack Obama stood at the base of this bridge in 2011, describing legislation that would help improve it. In 2016, President Donald J. Trump also made assurances to replace the structure.

Yet the bridge has remained a source of frustration . Rusty and creaky, it has been listed as “functionally obsolete” in the federal bridge inventory since the 1990s, and it has a history of bottlenecks and crashes.

There is a $2.5 billion plan to fix the bridge and build a new one alongside it, but in Covington, Ky., some have expressed worries about the proposal. The mayor told The Cincinnati Enquirer that it was an “existential threat,” citing the size of the proposed bridge (some traffic would still cross over the old one, as well).

Mr. Biden’s plan vows to fix the nation’s 10 most economically significant bridges but has not specified which ones those are. “If there is any project eligible, this would be it,” Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, told local reporters at a news conference on Wednesday. “Hopefully somewhere in the bowels of this multitrillion bill, there’s a solution.”

Crumbling schools vulnerable to earthquakes

Puerto Rico

While children around the world have been going to school remotely since the coronavirus pandemic struck last year, many students in Puerto Rico had been out of class months earlier. That was because a school in southern Puerto Rico had crashed to pieces after a serious earthquake on Jan. 7.

The collapse brought attention to the more than 600 schools on the island that shared a “short column” architectural design, which makes them vulnerable to tremors. Teachers and parents were wary of reopening, and the schools with that design risk remain closed. Children who had gone to them are still learning remotely.

In addition, nearly 60 schools were closed after inspections following the earthquakes showed structural deficiencies. About 25 had “persistent” problems that predated the earthquake and its aftershocks, Puerto Rico’s education secretary told The New York Times last year.

Government officials recently acknowledged that in the year the schools were closed for the pandemic, no repairs had been made on any of the hundreds of vulnerable schools.

Hundreds of rural bridges, all closed

Across the country

Major bridges that carry tens of thousands of cars and eighteen-wheelers are not the only ones showing their age. So are smaller bridges in rural areas, which have much less traffic but are no less vital to a community’s ability to function. (In Mississippi alone, officials list 355 bridges that have been closed because of their age or dilapidation.)

Under the president’s infrastructure plan, 10,000 of these bridges would be fixed.

Of the nation’s bridges, 71 percent are rural. They make up 79 percent of the bridges rated as poor or structurally unsound, according to Trip, a transportation research nonprofit group.

Advocates for rural communities say the problems with bridges are indicative of a wider lack of connectivity — by roadways and through broadband internet. (The president’s plan also says it will deliver access to reliable high-speed internet to the 35 percent of residents of rural communities without it.)

Rural roads and bridges have a $211 billion backlog in improvements. Some of these projects, such as adding guardrails and widening lanes, could make it safer to drive on rural, noninterstate roads, which account for a disproportionately high number of the country’s traffic deaths.

Water crisis in Mississippi

Jackson, Miss.

Many vulnerabilities in infrastructure were exposed when a powerful winter storm swept through Texas and into the Southeast in February. One of them was the water system in Jackson, Miss., the state capital, where residents went weeks with a boil notice in place .

The water crisis inflamed enduring tensions in Jackson, ones that grip many communities where white residents have fled and tax bases have evaporated. The city has old and broken pipes. It does not have the funding to repair them. City officials estimated that modernizing Jackson’s water infrastructure could cost $2 billion.

The storm also caused power failures for millions of people across Texas, which has prompted lawmakers there to weigh an overhaul of the state’s electric infrastructure. At least 111 people died as a result of the storm, according to state officials, and it also caused widespread property damage and left some residents to face huge electric bills.

Under Mr. Biden’s plan, lead pipes and service lines would be eliminated, and more transmission lines for electricity would be installed.

Dams increasingly battered by climate change

Michigan and many other states

When Michigan state officials investigated what had led to the collapse of the Edenville and Sanford dams last year, which caused thousands to evacuate and inundated hundreds of homes and businesses, the conclusions were stark : A historic flooding event had caught up with years of underfunding and neglect.

The country has roughly 91,000 dams, a majority of which are more than 50 years old, and many are an exceptional rainfall away from potential disaster. As dams have aged, the weather has grown more severe , rendering old building standards outdated and creating conditions that few considered when many of the dams were built.

Residential development has also steadily spread into once rural areas that lie downstream from the weakening infrastructure. According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials , about 15,600 dams in the country would most likely cause death and extensive property damage if they failed. Of those, more than 2,330 are considered deficient, the group said.

While the Biden plan mentions “dam safety,” it gives no details.

Levees that can no longer consistently hold

The country has tens of thousands of miles of levees, which safeguard millions of people and trillions of dollars’ worth of property.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers operates a small fraction of the nation’s levees, while the rest are maintained by a patchwork of levee districts, local governments and private owners.

But floodwaters care little about who is in charge of maintenance, as the catastrophic 2019 floods in the Midwest showed. When record-breaking rains fell, levees were breached or overtopped across the region, drenching farmland, inundating homes and causing billions of dollars in damage.

The rainfall is not likely to let up soon , given new weather patterns driven by climate change. And some of the officials whose towns and cities were most affected by the 2019 floods are adamant: Simply refurbishing levees is not going to work anymore.

“Levees aren’t going to do it,” said Colin Wellenkamp, the executive director of Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative, an association of 100 mayors along the Mississippi River. His group presented a plan to the White House last month detailing a “systemic solution” to flooding. It includes replacing wetlands, reconnecting backwaters to the main river and opening up areas for natural flooding.

A plan that simply replaces infrastructure, rather than rethinking what it encompasses, will be ineffective and ultimately unaffordable, Mr. Wellenkamp said. He is not sure whether his group’s proposals have been folded into the Biden plan. But he sees little choice.

“This is a losing game unless we incorporate other, larger solutions,” he said.

Campbell Robertson and Frances Robles contributed reporting.

Rick Rojas is a national correspondent covering the American South. He has been a staff reporter for The Times since 2014. More about Rick Rojas

America’s Vulnerable Water Systems

Paying the Price: Siemens and other corporations vowed to fix water woes in Mississippi and save cities across the state millions. The deals racked up debt instead , leaving many worse off than before.

A Tax on Groundwater: While American farmers elsewhere can freely pump the water beneath their land, growers in California’s Pajaro Valley pay hefty fees. Experts say the approach is a case study in how to save a vital resource .

A Diet Feeding a Crisis: America’s dietary shift toward far more chicken and cheese in recent decades has taken a major toll on underground water supplies .

First Come, First Served?: As the world warms, California is re-examining claims to its water that are  based on a cherished frontier principle and have gone unchallenged for generations.

Jets Powered by Corn: America’s airlines want to replace jet fuel with ethanol to fight global warming. That would require lots of corn, and lots of water .

Blocking Change :  Groundwater is dwindling in much of the United States, but only a powerful few have a say over its use. Meet the people fighting conservation efforts .

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7.2 Water Supply Problems and Solutions

Water supply problems: resource depletion.

As groundwater is pumped from water wells, there usually is a localized drop in the water table around the well called a cone of depression. When there are a large number of wells that have been pumping water for a long time, the regional water table can drop significantly. This is called groundwater mining , which can force the drilling of deeper, more expensive wells that commonly encounter more saline groundwater. Rivers, lakes, and artificial lakes (reservoirs) can also be depleted due to overuse. Some large rivers, such as the Colorado in the U.S. and Yellow in China, run dry in some years. The case history of the Aral Sea discussed later in this chapter involves depletion of a lake. Finally, glaciers are being depleted due to accelerated melting associated with global warming over the past century.

solutions to water transportation problems

Another water resource problem associated with groundwater mining is saltwater intrusion, where overpumping of fresh water aquifers near ocean coastlines causes saltwater to enter fresh water zones. The drop of the water table around a  cone of depression in an unconfined aquifer can change the direction of regional groundwater flow, which could send nearby pollution toward the pumping well instead of away from it. Finally, problems of subsidence  (gradual sinking of the land surface over a large area) and sinkholes (rapid sinking of the land surface over a small area) can develop due to a drop in the water table.

Water Supply Crisis

The water crisis refers to a global situation where people in many areas lack access to sufficient water, clean water, or both. This section describes the global situation involving water shortages, also called water stress . In general, water stress is greatest in areas with very low precipitation (major deserts), large population density (e.g., India), or both. Future global warming could worsen the water crisis by shifting precipitation patterns away from humid areas and by melting mountain glaciers that recharge rivers downstream. Melting glaciers will also contribute to rising sea level, which will worsen saltwater intrusion in aquifers near ocean coastlines.

solutions to water transportation problems

According to a 2006 report by the United Nations Development Programme, 700 million people (11% of the world’s population) lived with water stress. Most of them live in the Middle East and North Africa. By 2025, the report projects that more than 3 billion people (about 40% of the world’s population) will live in water-stressed areas with the large increase coming mainly from China and India. The water crisis will also impact food production and our ability to feed the ever-growing population. We can expect future global tension and even conflict associated with water shortages and pollution. Historic and future areas of water conflict include the Middle East (Euphrates and Tigris River conflict among Turkey, Syria, and Iraq; Jordan River conflict among Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories), Africa (Nile River conflict among Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan), Central Asia (Aral Sea conflict among Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan), and south Asia (Ganges River conflict between India and Pakistan).

Sustainable Solutions to the Water Supply Crisis?

The current and future water crisis described above requires multiple approaches to extending our fresh water supply and moving towards sustainability. Some of the longstanding traditional approaches include dams and aqueducts.

solutions to water transportation problems

Reservoirs that form behind dams in rivers can collect water during wet times and store it for use during dry spells. They also can be used for urban water supplies. Other benefits of dams and reservoirs are hydroelectricity, flood control, and recreation. Some of the drawbacks are evaporative loss of water in arid climates, downstream river channel erosion, and impact on the ecosystem including a change from a river to lake habitat and interference with migration and spawning of fish.

Aqueducts can move water from where it is plentiful to where it is needed. Aqueducts can be controversial and politically difficult especially if the water transfer distances are large. One drawback is the water diversion can cause drought in the area from where the water is drawn. For example, Owens Lake and Mono Lake in central California began to disappear after their river flow was diverted to the Los Angeles aqueduct. Owens Lake remains almost completely dry, but Mono Lake has recovered more significantly due to legal intervention.

One method that can actually increase the amount of fresh water on Earth is desalination , which involves removing dissolved salt from seawater or saline groundwater. There are several ways to desalinate seawater including boiling, filtration, and electrodialysis. All of these procedures are moderately to very expensive and require considerable energy input, making the water produced much more expensive than fresh water from conventional sources. In addition, the process creates highly saline wastewater, which must be disposed of and creates significant environmental impact. Desalination is most common in the Middle East, where energy from oil is abundant but water is scarce.

solutions to water transportation problems

Conservation means using less water and using it more efficiently. Around the home, conservation can involve both engineered features, such as high-efficiency clothes washers and low-flow showers and toilets, as well as behavioral decisions, such as growing native vegetation that require little irrigation in desert climates, turning off the water while you brush your teeth, and fixing leaky faucets.

Rainwater harvesting  involves catching and storing rainwater for reuse before it reaches the ground. Another important technique is efficient irrigation, which is extremely important because irrigation accounts for a much larger water demand than public water supply. Water conservation strategies in agriculture include growing crops in areas where the natural rainfall can support them, more efficient irrigation systems such as drip systems that minimize losses due to evaporation, no-till farming that reduces evaporative losses by covering the soil, and reusing treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants. Recycled wastewater has also been used to recharge aquifers.

Suggested Supplementary Reading:

Weiss, K.R. 2018. Drying Lakes . National Geographic.  March. p. 108-133.

        This article documents how many lakes across the globe are drying up, the reasons why, and the effect on humans. Overuse and a warming climate threaten lakes that provide sustenance and jobs for humans, while also providing critical habitat for animals. 

Attribution

Essentials of Environmental Science  by Kamala Doršner is licensed under CC BY 4.0 . Modified from the original by Matthew R. Fisher.

Environmental Biology Copyright © 2017 by Matthew R. Fisher is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Three Cities Explore Water-Based Transport to Improve Urban Mobility

Istanbul, Turkey's ferries run across the Bosphorus Strait to connect the European and Asian sides of the city. Photo by Axeltriple/Flickr.

Rapidly developing cities worldwide, while diverse, have a number of factors in common. Issues that seem nearly universal are congestion and enormous traffic jams , which have, in some extreme cases, stretched the typical commute into a weeklong sojourn. While cities have taken great strides to address these issues, some have decided to rock the boat by leaving crowded urban roadways for more open avenues on the water.

Sometimes these solutions to urban transport problems emerge over years and become integral to the city's identity, like Venice, Italy's iconic gondolas. In others cases, cities like Manila, Philippines are so eager to clear automobiles out from the roads that they are repurposing buses as boats . Three cities experimenting with water-based transport systems are Istanbul, Turkey; Bangkok, Thailand; and Lagos, Nigeria. Each of these cities illustrates the benefits and challenges at different stages of developing urban water transport systems. A common thread throughout each city is the need to effectively connect and integrate water transport with land-based transport for people-centered urban mobility.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is home to a bustling ferry network that traverses the Bosphorus Strait, connecting the European and Asian sides of the city. The recently privatized Istanbul Ferry Lines (IDO), which controls roughly 40% of total ferry traffic, carried 50 million passengers in 2010 . The terminals are well placed to serve commuters. The real success of the system, however, lies in its connection to other transport modes , which allows users to transfer between ferry, bus, or rail to complete their trips. A look at Istanbul's transit map shows bus terminals or stops adjacent to every major ferry station, and the boats are also fully linked with Istanbul's metro, its Metrobüs bus rapid transit (BRT) system, and its funiculars.

Bangkok, Thailand

Once called the "Venice of the East," Bangkok retains an extensive series of canals, initially created in 1522. Much of the canal system remains intact and is traversed by khlong boat services , which carry as many as 100,000 passengers per day. The boats are not for the casual commuter, however, as they often stop for mere seconds at each dock – (or don't stop at all ) – which forces passengers to jump on or fall into putrid water. However, these khlong boats do provide an effective transport service, one which some observers would like to see expanded, formalized, and fully integrated with the rest of Bangkok's transport network.

Lagos, Nigeria

One of Africa's rapidly growing megacities, Lagos's population reached 21 million in 2012 , up from 1.7 million in 1970. The city's layout, organized around a central lagoon with a major job center concentrated on an island, would seem to offer a multitude of opportunities for water-based transport. However, the city's waterways are currently " neglected and grossly underutilized ." Several private companies have begun fledgling service in the city, but the 18,000 daily passengers currently carried by the ferries don't make a dent in transport demand. Still, the growing demand for mobility options, also evidenced by the city's extensive informal transport networks , suggest the potential for truly transformative sustainable transport, including on the water.

solutions to water transportation problems

Surface Transportation, Sea Level Rise, and Coastal Storms: A Sustainable Path to Increased Resilience

Research Area(s): Coastal Change / Natural and Nature-based Features , Sea Level Rise ;  Other Topics / Sponsored Research Region(s) of Study: Waterbodies / Gulf of Mexico ;  U.S. States and Territories / Alabama Primary Contact(s): [email protected]

This project began September 2021 and is projected to be completed in August 2025.

In collaboration with the Alabama Department of Transportation, we are evaluating the effects of sea level rise on road and ferry access infrastructure in coastal Alabama and determining the ability of natural and nature-based features to mitigate those effects.

Why We Care Sea level rise and extreme climate events are complex problems that require a multidisciplinary solution to address surface transportation resilience. Water, through sea level rise or extreme climate events, is the main stressor on the transportation system, affecting not only the surface transportation infrastructure, but also the surrounding socioecological aspects of the system. The infrastructure, considered in this project to be the pavement system due to the immense financial investment involved (an estimated 60,000 lane miles in the U.S. coastal zone), is not typically designed to withstand extreme, long-term water stress.

What We Are Doing The main study site is Alabama State Route 180, a coastal roadway impacted by severe coastal storms, high groundwater tables, and future sea level rise (Figure 1). AL-180, also known as Fort Morgan Road, serves as an evacuation route, facilitates local tourism, and is an east-west route via the ALDOT ferry system.

We are bringing together engineering, ecosystem, and economic expertise in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Transportation to address three main objectives: 1) quantify the vulnerability of coastal communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems to sea level rise and inundation; 2) quantify the social, economic, and ecological benefits that natural and nature-based features ( NNBF) provide communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems in comparison to gray protective infrastructure; and 3) predict the effects of sea level rise and inundation on ecosystems, communities, and infrastructure under varying risk management strategies to inform technical and policy actions that increase long-term coastal resilience.

solutions to water transportation problems

Figure 1. (A) Alabama State Road 180 on the Fort Morgan peninsula and nearby areas in a tw0-foot sea level rise scenario; (B) Impacts of Hurricane Sally (2020) to pavements in the research area; and (C) Revetment repairs following the event. Credit: B. Webb, University of South Alabama.

To meet these objectives the project team is undertaking 10 tasks. Tasks 1–3 deal directly with the system stressors, using advanced approaches to quantify coastal roadway vulnerability through multi-scale hydrological/hydrodynamic models, and applying those models to predict the extent and duration of roadway flooding, saturation, and erosion due to sea level rise, groundwater, storm surge, and waves. These models will explicitly incorporate various NNBF and conventional adaptation strategies to quantify the mitigation of pavement inundation and saturation. Task 4 deals directly with the surface transportation infrastructure itself, using instrumented sections of pavement and automated distress survey data, along with historical pavement data, to capture the effect of extreme events on pavement deterioration. Task 4 also incorporates findings from Tasks 1–3 in pavement performance prediction models used by practitioners to develop pavement design options. Tasks 5–7 capture the socioecological aspects of the project, predicting how NNBF and hybrid features will change over time, and examining the long-term social and ecological benefits of different adaptation strategies. Tasks 8–10 coalesce the work of the three objectives, assessing and quantifying the feasibility of different adaptation scenarios.

Benefits of Our Work Our research will develop detailed models and tools that enable the evaluation of vulnerability and resilience under a range of expected future sea level rise and extreme event scenarios. Project results will help inform justifiable adaptation strategies in transportation planning and a systems approach to infrastructure resilience. Ultimately, guidelines for vulnerable roadway adaptation, including NNBFs, will result from this multidisciplinary effort. The research team will work directly with stakeholders to ensure that final products add value in roadway resilience and adaptation decision making.

The project is led by Dr. Benjamin Bowers of Auburn University with co-investigators Jose Vasconcelos (Auburn University), Robert Holmes (Auburn University), Bret Webb (University of South Alabama), Daniel Wright (University of Wisconsin-Madison), J. Brian Anderson (Auburn University), and Frances O’Donnell (Auburn University). This project is part of NCCOS's Effects of Sea Level Rise Program (ESLR) Program .

Additional Resources

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News & Feature Stories

  • Drilling Holes in Alabama Roads to Learn How to Protect Them (NCCOS News, January 31, 2023)
  • NOAA, FHWA Federal Agency Partnership Recognized with Environmental Excellence Awards (NCCOS News, June 21, 2022)

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Your Article Library

Water transport: kinds, advantages and disadvantages of water transport.

solutions to water transportation problems

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Water transport is the cheapest and the oldest mode of transport. It operates on a natural track and hence does not require huge capital investment in the construction and maintenance of its track except in case of canals. The cost of operation of water transport is also very less. It has the largest carrying capacity and is most suitable for carrying bulky goods over long distances. It has played a very significant role in bringing different parts of the world closer and is indispensable to foreign trade.

Kinds of Water Transport :

Water transport consists of:

(i) Inland water transport

(ii) Ocean-transport

Water Transport

Inland Water Transport :

As shown in the chart, inland water transport consists of transport by rivers, canals and lakes.

Rivers are a natural waterway which can be used as a means of transport. They are suitable for small boats as well as big barrages. River transport played a very important role prior to the development of modern means of land transport. Their importance has gradually declined on account of more reliable and cheaper transport services offered by the railways.

They are artificial waterways made for the purpose of irrigation or navigation or both. Canal transport requires a huge amount of capital investment in construction and maintenance of its track i.e., the artificial waterways. The cost of the canal transport is, therefore, higher than that of river transport. To add to it, the cost of providing water for the canals is also a very big problem of canal transport.

Lakes can be either natural like rivers or artificial like canals.

Advantages :

1. low cost:.

Rivers are a natural highway which does not require any cost of construction and maintenance. Even the cost of construction and maintenance of canals is much less or they are used, not only for transport purposes but also for irrigation, etc. Moreover, the cost of operation of the inland water transport is very low. Thus, it is the cheapest mode of transport for carrying goods from one place to another.

2. Larger Capacity:

It can carry much larger quantities of heavy and bulky goods such as coal, and, timber etc.

3. Flexible Service:

It provides much more flexible service than railways and can be adjusted to individual requirements.

The risks of accidents and breakdowns, in this form of transport, are minimum as compared to any other form of transport.

Disadvantages :

Speed of Inland water transport is very slow and therefore this mode of transport is unsuitable where time is an important factor.

2. Limited Area of Operation:

It can be used only in a limited area which is served by deep canals and rivers.

3. Seasonal Character:

Rivers and canals cannot be operated for transportation throughout the year as water may freeze during winter or water level may go very much down during summer.

4. Unreliable:

The inland water transport by rivers is unreliable. Sometimes the river changes its course which causes dislocation in the normal route of the trade.

5. Unsuitable for Small Business:

Inland water transport by rivers and canals is not suitable for small traders, as it takes normally a longer time to carry goods from one place to another through this form of transport.

Ocean transport:

Ocean transport is indispensable for foreign trade. It has brought the different parts of the world closer and has knitted together all the nations of the world into one big world market. It operates on a natural track, i.e., the sea and does not require any investment in the construction and maintenance of its track. It is, obviously, the cheapest mode of transport.

Ocean transport includes:

1. Coastal Shipping

2. Overseas Shipping

1. Coastal Shipping:

It is one of the most important means of transport for carrying goods from one part to another in a country. It is a cheaper and quicker mode of transport and is most suitable for carrying heavy, bulky and cheap traffic like coal, iron ore, etc. to distant places. But it can serve only limited areas. Earlier, coastal shipping in India was mainly in the hands of foreign shipping companies. But now from 1951 onwards, it is exclusively reserved for Indian ships.

2. Overseas Shipping:

There are three types of vessels employed in the overseas shipping:

(i) Liners,

(ii) Tramps,

(iii) Tankers.

(i) Liners:

Liners are the ships which have regular fixed routes, time and charges. They are, usually, a collection of vessels under one ownership, i.e., a fleet. They provide a uniform and regular service. Liners sail on scheduled dates and time, whether full of cargo or not.

(ii) Tramps:

Tramps are ships which have no fixed routes. They have no set rules or rate schedule. Usually, they do not sail till they have full cargo. They can be chartered by exporters and are ready to sail anywhere and at any time. They are not as fast in speed as liners. Tramps are more suitable to carry seasonal and bulky goods.

(iii) Tankers:

Tankers are the vessels which are specially designed to carry oil, petrol and such other liquids. They have a large capacity, 2 to 3 lakh tons of oil, and very shortly, we may have super tankers with a capacity of about 10 lakh tons of oil.

1. It operates on a natural track as sea provides a readymade ‘road bed’ for the ships to sail. Hence, it does not require huge amount of capital investment in the construction and maintenance of its track.

2. Due to the smooth surface of sea, comparatively less tractive power is required for its operation which results in a lesser cost of operation. Thus, it is the cheapest mode of transport.

3. It has the largest carrying capacity as compared to any other transport.

4. The risk of damage in transit of the goods is also less as compared to other modes of transport. But the goods are exposed to the ‘perils of sea’.

5. It is the only suitable mode of transport for carrying heavy and bulky goods to distant places.

6. It is indispensable to foreign trade.

Related Articles:

  • Air Transport: Characteristics, Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Railway Transport

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Transportation Research Board

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Critical Issues in Transportation 2019

Policy snapshot.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

INTRODUCTION

Driverless cars maneuvering through city streets. Commercial drones airlifting packages. Computer-captained ships navigating the high seas. Revolutionary changes in technology are taking us to the threshold of a bold and unprecedented era in transportation.

These technologies promise improvements in mobility, safety, efficiency, and convenience, but do not guarantee them. Will the technological revolution reduce congestion, fuel use, and pollution or make them worse by encouraging more personal trips and more frequent freight shipments?

The transportation sector also faces other unprecedented challenges. It needs to (1) sharply curb greenhouse gas emissions to slow the rate of climate change and (2) respond to more climate-related extreme weather. It must serve a growing population and cope with worsening highway congestion. It needs to maintain and upgrade a massive system of roads, bridges, ports, waterways, airports, and public transit and determine how to pay for those improvements. The transportation sector also needs to adapt to shifts in trade, energy, and funding sources that affect all modes of transportation. How will these challenges affect the transportation systems on which consumers and the economy depend?

The answers to these and other questions are critically important. Transportation plays a central role in society and the economy but is frequently taken for granted. Reflect, though, on how much you depend on reliable and affordable transportation to access work, friends and family, recreation, shopping, and worship. Then visualize the transportation networks needed for the daily movement of hundreds of millions of vehicles, ships, planes, and trains to satisfy both personal needs and commercial demands. These networks are enormous and complex. The transportation systems the economy and lifestyles rely on may be challenged dramatically in the coming decades in ways that cannot always be anticipated.

A national conversation among policy makers and citizens about how the country should respond to these challenges is urgently needed. Stakeholders need to debate, discuss, and analyze how transportation can evolve to meet growing and evolving needs and adapt to changes in society, technology, the environment, and public policy.

solutions to water transportation problems

To spur that conversation, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) identified and organized an array of important issues under 12 key topics. In each of these areas, TRB posed a series of crucial questions to help guide thinking, debate, and discovery during the next 5 to 10 years. These 12 topics are neither comprehensive nor mutually exclusive, and no one can know how the future will unfold. But TRB thinks that asking the right questions, even if they cannot be fully answered, helps to motivate the analysis, discussion, and debate required to prepare for the potentially unprecedented changes ahead. This document is an abbreviated version of a more thorough discussion of the critical issues in transportation. It can be accessed at https://www.nap.edu/download/25314 .

section 1

Transformational Technologies and Services: Steering the Technology Revolution

All around the globe, companies are testing automated cars, trucks, ships, and aircraft. Pilot vehicles are already in operation. Some products are almost certain to enter the marketplace in the next few years. Driverless vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence may revolutionize transportation. Perhaps even sooner, vehicles connected to one another with advanced high-speed communication technologies may greatly reduce crashes How will vehicle automation—along with connected vehicles and shared ride, car, bike, and scooter services—transform society? These revolutionary technologies and services can potentially speed deliveries, prevent crashes, and ease traffic congestion and pollution. But they could also cause more congestion and more pollution and exacerbate sprawl and inequity. How do we determine and guide, as necessary, the direction of these changes? How the future unfolds depends on which technologies and services consumers and businesses embrace and how policy makers respond. While we do not know what the future will bring, the changes could be momentous. For example, if we encourage people to pool rides in driverless electric cars, we could see the service, cost, and environment improve. What policies would best reduce traffic congestion and emissions and improve accessibility for the disabled, elderly, and economically disadvantaged? How do we benefit most from the advent of connected and automated vehicles and potentially transformative transportation services?.

solutions to water transportation problems

Serving a Growing and Shifting Population

The U.S. population is expected to grow about 1 percent annually, with highway use increasing similarly. But this growth will not be spread evenly across the country. Urban areas are growing more quickly, particularly clusters of metro areas known as “megaregions,” while many rural areas decline. At the same time, low-density residential development on the edges of urban areas continues to grow the fastest, which increases traffic and escalates emissions. Although many Millennials are settling in urban centers, more are locating on the edges of cities where Baby Boomers also prefer to live. How do we adjust to and guide travel demand so we are not overwhelmed with more roads, traffic, and emissions as a result of these geographic preferences? Megaregions in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West have emerged as economic engines for the economy, but they also have the worst traffic congestion. And their traffic volumes continue to grow faster than new transportation facilities can be built. What are the best policies and modes for improving travel within each megaregion? How do we ensure that megaregions are well connected to the rest of the nation and the world? How can rural populations be ensured adequate access to jobs and services? How is that access changing? Which policies are needed to provide adequate rural access?

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Energy and Sustainability: Protecting the Planet

The Earth’s changing climate poses one of the most important threats humanity has ever faced. To avoid catastrophic changes, all sectors of the economy need to make drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Vehicles, planes, ships, and other forms of transport emit more greenhouse gases than any other sector of the economy in the United States. And that share is growing because other sectors of the economy are reducing their emissions faster than transportation. Personal vehicles could rely on electrification using batteries or hydrogen as one way to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Planes, ships, and trucks pose major obstacles to this objective because of their dependence on fossil fuels that pack more power than alternatives. What are the most effective and cost-effective ways of achieving the drastic reductions needed in fossil fuel consumption? What are the appropriate roles for the public and private sectors in hastening this transition? How can the shift to electric vehicles be accomplished without overwhelming the power grid? Sustainability requires that there be long-term consideration of the implications of decisions and policies on social, economic, and environmental systems. Examples include making decisions based on life-cycle cost considerations and the long-term vitality of communities and key natural environmental systems. How can consideration of long-term sustainability goals be better incorporated into public policy debates and decisions about transportation?

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Resilience and Security: Preparing for Threats

Recent floods, storms, fires, and hurricanes have disrupted the lives of millions and caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. Extreme weather events are exacerbated by climate change, and scientists predict things will get worse. Extreme weather and other natural disasters pose huge and costly threats to the transportation infrastructure. Public officials face the challenge of making vulnerable highways, bridges, railroads, transit stations, waterways, airports, and ports more resilient to climate change and other threats. What policies and strategies would help them meet this challenge? How do we set priorities, cope with disruptions, and pay for these adaptations? Terrorists often choose transportation facilities as their targets. Airports and airlines have increased security to guard against terrorism, but other modes of transport— buses, trains, and ships—are more vulnerable. How do we protect these forms of transport without unduly slowing the movement of people and goods? We also need to address the risks of new technologies. Drones, for example, can be used by terrorists or drug smugglers. Automated vehicles and aircraft are vulnerable to hackers. And all types of transport depend on Global Positioning Systems (GPSs), for which there is no back-up system. How do we make technological advances more secure and resilient?

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Safety and Public Health: Safeguarding the Public

We depend on motorized transportation, but we pay a price with our health with deaths, injuries, and diseases. Routine highway travel is the source of the vast majority of transportrelated deaths and a significant portion of transport-related pollution in the United States. Even though there have been improvements in vehicles and facilities, most crashes are preventable. How do we muster the political will to adopt the most effective measures to reduce casualties and diseases caused by transportation? How do we encourage the use of the safest vehicle and road designs, reduce alcohol- and drug-impaired driving, and manage operator fatigue? Also, how do we curb driver distractions, especially in semi-automated vehicles that do not require full attention except in emergencies when multitasking drivers may be unprepared to respond? Marijuana legalization and opioid addiction may lead to more people driving while impaired. In addition, pedestrian and cyclist deaths are increasing. What can we do to address these problems? What successes from other countries can be applied? Air pollution comes from many sources, but some transport emissions, such as the particulates from burning diesel fuel, are especially harmful to people. People living near roads, ports, distribution centers, railyards, and airports—often the marginalized and the poor—are exposed to more of these types of vehicle emissions. How do we best address these problems?

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Equity: Serving the Disadvantaged

The United States is prosperous, but not uniformly. More than 40 million Americans live in poverty. Outside central cities, an automobile is essential for access to jobs and a piece of the American dream, but about 20 percent of households with incomes below $25,000 lack a car. In addition, nearly 40 million Americans have some form of disability, of whom more than 16 million are working age. And the population is aging: the number of people older than 65 will increase by 50 percent from 49 million now to 73 million by 2030. Access to jobs, health care, and other services can be expanded through transportation policies and programs and technology, but these approaches need to be affordable and effective. This is a particular challenge in sparsely populated areas. How do we help disadvantaged Americans get affordable access to work, health care, and other services and to family and friends? What policies would ensure that new technologies and services do not create new barriers to the disadvantaged or to rural residents? Also, as we expand transportation networks, how do we ensure that we are not harming low-income and minority neighborhoods?

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Governance: Managing Our Systems

A complex web of institutions manages America’s transportation services. Many levels of government, from local to national, play important roles. Some functions, such as public transit, airports, and ports, are managed by thousands of special authorities across the country. This spider web of governance frequently limits efficiency. For example, urban transport networks often span jurisdictional boundaries, creating disagreement about which agency is responsible for which aspects of planning, funding, and management. Separate funding streams for specific transportation modes impede efforts to provide travelers with multi-modal options. How do we address these challenges, particularly as urban areas grow into megaregions? The federal government is responsible for interstate waterways and airspaces and for interstate commerce. However, federal leadership and funding for transportation supporting interstate commerce are waning, forcing state and local governments to take on a larger role. How do we ensure that there are efficient networks for interstate travel and international trade as the federal role declines? New private transportation services efficiently generate enormous data sets about trips. Such data can be helpful to agencies trying to manage system performance. Connected and automated vehicles will add even more information. How can public agencies gain access to these data streams to improve traffic flow while protecting privacy and proprietary information?

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System Performance and Management: Improving the Performance of Transportation Networks

Highway congestion costs the nation as much as $300 billion annually in wasted time. Flight delays add at least another $30 billion. Clearly, demand for travel is outpacing growth in supply and the increasing congestion is costing us dearly. As the population grows, demand will only increase. However, expanding or building new roads, airports, and other facilities in urban areas is costly, time consuming, and often controversial. How can we serve growing demand in a financially, socially, and environmentally responsible manner? Transportation officials also need to squeeze more performance out of the existing networks. One way to do this is by managing demand: Charging drivers for peakperiod travel in congested areas, for example, has the potential to increase ride sharing and generate revenues for transit, bike paths, and sidewalks. While pricing is more effective than other approaches, it is also unpopular. How do we build public and political acceptance for demand management strategies that work? In the face of tight budgets, transportation officials must also figure out how to maintain the condition of roads, bridges, airports, and other assets for as long as possible. What research would help increase the durability of construction materials and designs? How do we speed adoption of new information to improve the life-cycle performance of transportation assets?

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Funding and Finance: Paying the Tab

Fuel taxes and other user fees have traditionally paid for highways, bridges, airports, ports, and public transit. These user fees are generally fair and efficient ways to pay for the transportation infrastructure, which is valued in trillions of dollars. However, improving fuel efficiency undermines the revenue potential from the motor fuel taxes that have been the chief funding source for highways and transit. Since 1993, federal officials have not raised the fees that fund the federal share of surface transportation and have instead turned to general revenues. In addition, Congress has declined to raise aviation-related user fees, limiting funds for air traffic control and airports. Although most states have raised motor fuel taxes, state and local government officials are also turning to other sources as the revenues from these taxes decline. One is sales taxes, which can unfairly burden the poor. Also, officials are partnering with businesses to build and maintain roads and other assets. This approach has promising features, but relies on tolls or other charges that are controversial. With advances in technology, officials can charge highway users by the mile traveled. They could also charge more during peak periods to manage demand and more to gas-guzzling vehicles to reduce emissions. But the public is not widely aware of these options and is not enthusiastic about them when it is. Clearly, we need to find new ways to maintain and expand the transportation infrastructure. How do we build understanding of the need to invest in transportation assets, identify the best funding options, and reach consensus for action?

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Goods Movement: Moving Freight

The economy and our lifestyles depend on an efficient system for moving freight. Although railroads and pipelines are privately owned, funded, and managed, the freight system also requires adequate public infrastructure—roads, airports, ports, and waterways—for private companies to carry the goods needed. Freight movement is expected to grow dramatically in the coming decades to serve the growing population and economy. Without more spending on public infrastructure, this trend could lead to more traffic bottlenecks and capacity problems, especially as overnight and same-day delivery become more popular. How do we provide additional capacity when and where it is needed and ensure that beneficiaries bear the cost? Government officials face the challenges of providing adequate infrastructure for the freight industry while setting a level playing field for competition among private carriers and across transportation modes. In doing so, they need to account and charge for the costs that trucks, aircraft, ships, and other vehicles impose on public infrastructure. This is a process that is both difficult and controversial. How can officials best foster competition and set fair user fees for the freight industry? Another challenge for the freight industry is how to reduce its large and growing share of greenhouse gas emissions. One way to do this is through technology: improving batteries and fuel cells to speed the shift to electric-powered vehicles and moving to automated vehicles. Another is by improving efficiency, such as ensuring more vehicles are carrying freight on return trips. How do we make these improvements effectively and affordably?

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Institutional and Workforce Capacity: Providing a Capable and Diverse Workforce

Government transportation agencies face huge challenges and tight budgets. Their ability to rise to these challenges depends on having capable workers with the tools they need to do their jobs. These agencies have difficulty competing for and keeping talented workers. They simply cannot pay as much as private industry. How can officials attract and retain the best employees despite the pay disparities between the public and private sectors? Also, the changing nature of transportation is creating different requirements for the workforce. As a result, transportation organizations struggle to keep workers up to date in the skills they need. This problem is especially acute at the local government level in dealing with complex issues such as climate change and revolutionary new transportation services. How do we address these challenges? Automated trucks, trains, vessels, and aircraft will disrupt the transportation workforce in both the public and private sectors. What are the likely impacts of these technological changes on transportation jobs? What are the best ways to help displaced workers? With a growing, changing, and aging population, transportation organizations will need to hire new and diverse employees. How can managers attract more members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups into the transportation field? How can they minimize the loss of expertise and experience when Baby Boomers retire?

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Research and Innovation: Preparing for the Future

America is known for innovation. Our discovery and embrace of the new is fueled in large part by public investments in education and research. The revolutionary breakthroughs in transportation-related technology happened because of decades of public spending on basic research. In addition, steady improvements in the design, construction, operation, and management of transportation infrastructures have been spurred by research funded by government agencies. Public funding for research and education has never been more important, nor more uncertain. Many experiments are taking place in transportation across the country to meet the challenges of technological innovation and climate change. How do we record, evaluate, and share the results of these experiences and adopt innovations more quickly into standards and practices? Demands on transportation are growing as public spending on transportation research is declining. At the same time, public officials are often discouraged from taking risks. How do we encourage innovation in transportation agencies? How do we speed the pace of research to keep up with the major challenges transportation faces?

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Modern civilization would not be possible without extensive, reliable transportation systems. Technology is poised to transform transportation and impact society and the environment in ways we cannot fully predict but must be prepared to manage. In addition to coping with a technological revolution, we also face hard questions about how to reduce transportation’s greenhouse gas emissions; make it more resilient, efficient, safe, and equitable; and pay the staggering costs of doing so. TRB framed what it thinks are the most important transportation questions to address in the next few years. It hopes this document will help spur and inform an urgently needed national debate about the future of transportation and help researchers frame and inform choices about the most promising paths forward. Join the debate. Analyze the options. Find new solutions. Our future depends on it. For a more thorough discussion of these issues go to https://www.nap.edu/download/25314 .

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From big ideas to the basics, your source for improved transportation performance.

Pros & Cons of Water Transport: Ship Speed, Shipment Visibility, More

Transporting goods by ship or barge is a cost-effective freight transportation mode. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of marine transport.

Original | TR Water Cover

Shipping freight over the water comes with slow transit times but is also cost effective. See how it fares in other key categories... And don't miss the printable infographic and video .

In Part IV of our transportation mode comparison series, we look to the water. Boats, barges and cargo ships can navigate canals, rivers and oceans to move goods from point A to point B. Is water shipping right for your freight?

Water shipments often have slow transit times, but on the positive side of the water shipping equation are lower costs and environmental impacts. Is water transportation reliable? Will cargo owners know where their freight is on its shipping journey? Keep reading to get these answers and more.

Original | TR Water Infographic

  • Download a printer-friendly version of the Ship and Barge infographic

Shipping by Barge and Ship

Transporting goods by barge or ship is a great option for those looking to move bulk items at a low cost. While it is the slowest mode, water transport is environmentally responsible, fuel efficient and has the ability to carry massive amounts of goods of just about any size or weight. Is it right for you?

  • High carrying capacity with few size and weight restrictions
  • Often one of the cheapest shipping modes
  • Inclement weather less likely to impact shipments
  • Environmentally responsible and fuel efficient
  • Extensive coverage in the U.S. and around the world
  • Slow transit time
  • Can be difficult to track shipment’s location while in transit
  • Requires access to navigable waterways
  • Aging water infrastructure

Cost What’s the biggest advantage of shipping over the water? Most would say shipping costs. Massive economies of scale come into play that enable container ships and barges to have the lowest cost per-ton-mile of any transportation mode. However, keep an eye out for warehousing fees at seaports, which can be expensive if your freight needs to sit in storage for a while, especially if it all arrives at the same time!

Speed Quick delivery? Not with this shipping mode. Ships and barges typically travel at 5-11 miles per hour via inland routes and 20 miles per hour on the ocean. Depending on the distance your goods are traveling, most water shipments can take up to a month to arrive at their destination. As long as you have the ability to plan ahead or can use existing inventory as a buffer, this mode could be a good option for you.

Capacity Water transport is ideal for transporting heavy, bulk freight. While weight can be an issue for other modes, it typically is not a problem for water freight. Because of the sheer size or volume of some products being shipped – including grain, minerals, metals, ores, steel coils and heavy machinery -- ship or barge often makes the most sense. To put things in perspective, an average single 15-barge tow is equivalent to the amount carried by approximately 225 rail cars or 870 tractor-trailer trucks.

Reach Water transport is only a viable option if your shipping origin and destination are located on a navigable waterway. Upon reaching land, you may need to arrange transportation via truck or rail to get your product to its final destination. Barges travel on large rivers, or inland waterways, and can transport goods from one city to the next. The inland waterways of the U.S. include more than 25,000 miles of navigable waters , many of them stemming from the Mississippi River. Container ships travel across the ocean carrying enormous amounts of standard shipping containers that can also move by truck or rail. Carrying approximately 90% of the world's manufactured goods , ships are key to international trade. You can bet that many household products and items of clothing you own have spent time in a container aboard a ship on its way to you.

Shipment Visibility One of the major disadvantages of water transport is not being able to track the exact location of your shipments. While technology is improving, depending on your carrier, tracking the exact location of your shipments on the water can be more challenging than other modes.

Reliability Another downside of shipping by barge or ship is that it can be difficult to predict and control the transit times due to unforeseen circumstances. Congestion along the route or at ports or unplanned outages caused by an aging infrastructure of inland waterways can end up causing delays. Although, if you are not in a rush, transit time may not be a major concern. Weather related issues can also seriously impact transit times. Periods of high water, low water or ice can negatively impact a barge’s ability to navigate inland waterways. Extreme weather events, like hurricanes and cyclones can also have a huge impact on ocean transit times and port operations.

Environmental Impact Marine transport is considered one of the most environmentally responsible shipping modes , especially when you compare total volume of emissions across all types of freight transportation. Plus, there have been significant technological improvements in engine efficiency, hull design and carrying capacity – all leading to a reduction in emissions and an increase in fuel efficiency.

Do you have questions about shipping your freight? Answer a few questions and an expert will be in touch.

Related Articles : 

  • Truck Shipping Pros and Cons
  • Rail Shipping Pros and Cons
  • Air Freight Pros and Cons
  • Transportation Mode Comparison: Truck, Rail, Air & Water

VIDEO: Water Transport Pros and Cons

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Insights 02 08 2024

The Rise of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

In 2022, the U.S. government shared the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge . This government-wide approach works within the industry to reduce costs, enhance sustainability, and expand production to 3 billion gallons per year of domestic SAF. By 2030, the U.S. must achieve a minimum of a 50% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) compared to conventional fuel. By 2050, 35 billion gallons of annual SAF production must be reached.

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101 11 07 2023

What Is Nearshoring and How Does Transportation Support It?

In the 1990s, offshoring became a trend among U.S. companies. With more affordable labor available abroad (primarily in China), some entities relocated factories to lower production costs and increase profits. Offshoring relies on shipping those products back overseas for sale in the United States.

For decades, this model was working. Then came the pandemic, and the resulting supply chain disruptions (especially for overseas shipments) began to poke holes in offshoring strategies. With products stuck overseas sometimes for months on end, the drawbacks of offshoring started to outweigh the benefits.

Lessons learned from the last few years have prompted some companies to bring operations back to North America, specifically to Mexico. Establishing production facilities closer to end markets minimizes the impacts of potential supply chain disruptions while keeping costs in check. This is the genesis of the nearshoring trend.

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Insights 10 31 2023

How Does a Railroad Celebrate Native American Heritage Month?

Each November, the United States celebrates Native American Heritage Month , a time to pay tribute to the ancestry and traditions of the indigenous people of North America.

Union Pacific’s Council of Native American Heritage (CONAH) employee resource group (ERG) has a calendar of events planned to explore the culture and centuries old history of Native people. In addition to Native American Heritage Month, CONAH also held a cultural fair in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day .

“Celebrating Native American Heritage Month is important because it offers a subtle but impactful reminder of the contributions of Native Americans past, present and future,” said Haley Warner, CONAH President and Sales Manager for Union Pacific’s Marketing & Sales team. “Native American culture and history is so rich with meaning, yet not without tragedy. It is important to acknowledge the history of Native people, as told by them, and lift them up during this month. Native American Heritage Month gives a formal platform to lift up Native voices, acknowledge the history and appreciate the culture.”

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Tips 10 24 2023

Best Practices: Intermodal Shipping to and from Mexico

A recent trend among manufacturers is “nearshoring” — relocating overseas production facilities to countries closer to their markets. In the 1990s, many U.S. companies hopped on the offshoring trend to reduce costs; now, they are bringing some operations back to North America (specifically Mexico) to minimize the effects of supply chain disruptions while keeping costs in check.

Part and parcel to the nearshoring trend is a greater demand for intermodal shipping across the U.S./Mexico border. If your cross-border shipping strategy could improve or your company wants to create a more efficient supply chain to support your nearshoring strategy, follow these best practices.

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GEOGRAPHY POINT – YOUR GATEWAY TO GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, AND MAPS AN EDUCATIONAL SITE ABOUT GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

10 PROBLEMS FACING WATER TRANSPORT IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

10 PROBLEMS FACING WATER TRANSPORT IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Water transport is by use of water bodies like lakes, rivers, seas, oceans , canals using transport vessels like boats, ships, ferries, canoes.

Water transport is cheap for transporting bulky goods for long distances like between continents like transportation exports, minerals , agricultural products, timber, machinery, tourists, oil and its products.

Water transport is by use of water bodies like lakes, rivers, seas, oceans, canals using transport vessels like boats, ships, ferries, canoes

Problems facing water transport in LDCs

The problems are physical and human and include the following;

Poor science and technology to develop ports making transport vessels and improving waterways.

Limited capital to develop ports to purchase transport vessels because of low income.

Shallow and narrow water bodies to accommodate big ships carrying exports, imports like the oil tankers.

Presence of rapids and waterfalls causing accidents, e.g. on R. Nile, Niger, Congo.

Floating vegetation like water hyacinth, papyrus disrupting navigation like R. Congo, Nile, L. Kyoga.

Presence of physical obstacles like potholes, gorges, rock outcrop, the river meanders e.g. on R. Congo, Niger.

Limited government support in form of loans and poor policies like increased taxation on fuel, making water transport expensive.

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The occurrence of accidents caused by sound waves, waterfalls, rapids, poor weather, overloading, scaring passengers and investors.

Political instabilities and insecurity scaring investors and workers, the coast of Somalia with sea pirates.

The presence of wild animals like snakes, hippos, crocodiles causes accommodation and scares passengers.

Competition with other means of transport like using air, roads and railway lines because water transport is slow and economical.

Climatic changes cause fluctuation in water levels like seasonal rivers in dry areas.

Presence of sand bars, lagoons, deltas, floating islands affecting the development of ports and navigation like R. Nile in Egypt.

Poorly developed ports with poor handling facilities affect loading, offloading, and causing inconveniences and delays.

Poor international relations affecting joint investments like E. African community, COMESA, PTA.

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Low population densities in areas with water bodies affecting development and marketing like in the Congo basin, Amazon basin.

Limited resources lead to limited economic activities like in the Sahel, Kalahari region, and the Middle East countries.

High costs of maintenance and rehabilitation like constant dredging like removing silts, sediments, deposits like on R. Nile.

Presence of river meanders and high speed in the youthful stage causing accidents and affecting navigation.

  • Presence of hostile tribes scaring investors and passengers like pygmies in DRC
  • 9 ECONOMIC VALUE OF RIVERS IN UGANDA
  • The obstacles faced by the abolishment of the slave trade in East Africa during the 19th century
  • STEPS TAKEN TO IMPROVE INLAND WATER TRANSPORT IN WESTERN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA
  • Advantages and disadvantages of human transport

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10 Possible Solutions to Air Pollution

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Bumper-to-bumper traffic in both directions on the Interstate 405 in Los Angeles. 

Cars are a real dichotomy. On one side, they provide opportunities for recreation, access to better stores and markets and the freedom to move where we want, when we want.

On the other hand, some claim they rob us of our health and produce a lot of pollution . It's this last part that worries many people. Cars produce a large portion of the world's pollution, in excess of several billion tons per year in the United States alone, and boats, trucks, trains and buses also contribute to the pollution whole. But as car users, we have a few easy-to-implement solutions to air pollution .

To really bring about change, humans have to change their attitude toward cars and take action, and that may be a harder change than any other.

Most importantly, there is no one magic solution. Each small step is a part of another, and no one single step can move ahead significantly without help from the others.

Effects of Air Pollution

  • Change Petroleum Fuel Vehicles to Fuel Cell Technology
  • Put More Electric Cars on the Road
  • Don't Idle
  • Reduce Distance Driven and Time on the Road
  • Change Travel and Commuting Patterns
  • Keep Your Car in Top Condition
  • Drive a More Fuel-efficient Car
  • Build Up Public Transportation
  • Walk or Bike
  • Change the Way We Live and Think

Finding ways to reduce air pollution can have positive impacts on the world as a whole and on our own health. If we can improve air quality, we can lower respiratory and cardiovascular diseases because even short-term exposure to air pollutants can cause health problems .

There is also a link between high air pollution levels and climate change. As the World Health Organization notes , "Reducing ambient and household air pollution can also reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and short-lived climate pollutants, such as black carbon particles and methane, therefore contributing to the near- and long-term mitigation of climate change."

10. Change Petroleum Fuel Vehicles to Fuel Cell Technology

The back of the BMW Hydrogen 7

Effective hydrogen fuel cells are the Holy Grail of alternative fuel technologies. The best-known fuel cell is hydrogen-based. This technology uses hydrogen gas to create electricity. The electricity is then converted to mechanical energy in an electric motor to get the car, truck, bus, boat or any other form of transport run by an engine moving.

The only emission from the cell is water , pure H 2 O, clean enough to drink and a far cry from the hydrocarbons, CO 2 and oxides of nitrogen produce by the cleanest car today.

Technology is currently struggling with finding an absolutely pure form of fuel cell, one that emits no harmful pollutants, as well as using renewable energy to produce or supply the raw materials for the fuel cells.

Indeed, the easiest way to produce the needed supply of hydrogen gas at this point is using fossil fuels, though this may change in the future.

9. Put More Electric Cars on the Road

Nissan LEAF engine

Electric cars are not as new as most drivers realize. They were among the first prototype cars created in the late 1890s, and producers manufactured more electric cars than petroleum-powered cars at the turn of the last century.

Today, the electric car is going mainstream. The Nissan LEAF is one electric vehicle that opened a new market for consumers, allowing urban driving without the guilt of tailpipe emissions. Electric vehicles receive their fuel from a linked collection of batteries. The batteries are lead, nickel-metal hydrides and lithium concoctions storing energy provided from home electrical outlets or electric recharging station.

Like fuel cells , electric cars lack a reliable infrastructure, as well as a way of reliably using renewable sources — such as solar, wind or geothermal — to generate their fuel. Instead, they rely on fossil fuel-burning electric plants to supply their needs.

The are nearly 2 million electric vehicles traveling the country's roads as of 2023.

8. Don't Idle

Woman sitting in car

Alternative fuels provide one road to reducing pollution, but they're far from perfect at this point. However, there are a few steps that can be taken now to help reduce tailpipe emissions. One of the most effective is to reduce idle time for vehicles.

According to the California Energy Commission, your car idles anywhere from five to 10 minutes a day on average, depending on driving conditions. Idling your car for two minutes uses about the same amount of gas as going one mile. If you're sitting longer than 10 seconds, it's wise to turn off your car as those 10 seconds will use the same amount of fuel as it would take to restart the engine after being shut down.

Many hybrid cars and electric cars now have an automatic start and stop system that shuts down the engine when the speed is zero. Stepping on the gas, rather than turning the key, gets the car rolling again.

How much this feature will reduce pollution is the subject of debate. Some emissions systems work well at idle; others don't. Larger vehicles, including trucks and buses, as well as diesel engines, can produce more emissions at idle than when running. However, using less fuel means producing fewer emissions and less pollution.

7. Reduce Distance Driven and Time on the Road

Bumper to bumper traffic

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), vehicles account for almost one-third of smog-forming emissions, and every year, more people take to the road and drive farther distances, an increase of more than 120 percent since 1970. Driving fewer miles would, therefore, decrease the amount of pollution produced by cars.

Doing this is easy. You can:

  • Combine errands into one trip
  • Take public transportation
  • Shop by phone, mail or internet
  • Telecommute, if possible

However, this is just the tip of the transportation iceberg. Transportation engineers and urban planners are looking at how to reduce traffic congestion so vehicles spend less time on the road.

Think of the infamous Los Angeles traffic where the average commute time can exceed more than an hour. As people sit in traffic, inching forward, their cars are releasing a steady stream of pollution that, when combined with the geography of the LA basin, creates some of the worst smog in the country.

Better roads, better traffic light timing and access to better public transportation would go a long way to reducing air pollution.

6. Change Travel and Commuting Patterns

parked Zipcar

As engineers and planners struggle with how to reduce driving time and idle time, they're indirectly shaping how the country is settling and evolving.

The press of fuel prices has yet to result in a direct change in how Americans settle, but more Americans are settling closer to where they work and play in an effort to reduce their fuel consumption — or turning to technology to increase telecommuting and work-from-home opportunities.

By reducing commutes — the United States Census Bureau tallied the average commute time at about 30 minutes — cars would produce fewer pollutants.

The new trend in urban planning has become "walkable communities." The idea is to mix residential, business and industrial concerns together so people who live in the area can walk to their work, a store or even to their doctor's office without ever needing a car. The incentive here is not only to reduce pollution and use less fuel but to increase the quality of life for the residents and promote local businesses.

But people will still need to travel. Many of the community plans integrated public transportation, ride-sharing programs or hourly car rental programs such as Zipcar into the overall planning.

Seen from the outside, these communities almost seem unworkable, but whether they come to pass successfully or not, they do spur ideas for immediate ways — like better public transportation — to reduce pollution.

5. Keep Your Car in Top Condition

Man fixing his engine

Car manufacturers designed your car to run at optimal efficiency; however, time, distance, weather and a host of other factors all contribute to decreasing that efficiency. Routine maintenance and care can reduce the amount of fuel a car consumes — and reduce the amount of pollution it puts out, too.

These are just a few of the components and systems to check if you want to keep your car running its best:

  • Keep your engine properly tuned. This means changing the oil , air filter and checking the fluids on a routine basis. It also means changing the spark plug, spark plug wires and cleaning the fuel system at the manufacturer's scheduled interval. Doing this can improve mileage by more than 4 percent. If your check engine light is on (depending on the root cause), fixing that problem right away can sometimes improve mileage by more than 30 percent.
  • Keep your tires properly inflated. Under- and over-inflated tires have an effect on the rolling resistance of the car. Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by more than 3 percent.
  • Reduce the weight in your car. Every 100 pounds (45.4 kilograms) reduces fuel efficiency by 1 to 2 percent.
  • Remove the roof rack. Doing this can add about 5 percent to your miles-per-gallon rating
  • Drive steady. Fast acceleration and inconsistent speed can reduce your car's overall efficiency by more than 4 percent.

4. Drive a More Fuel-efficient Car

 Ford Focus on display

This makes good common sense, right? No matter how well-kept a car is, it becomes less efficient and therefore more polluting with time. If possible, trade an older car in for a newer, more fuel-efficient model.

Today's emissions controls are almost three times better than cars made a decade ago and pollute that much less, too. There's also a much greater variety of efficient cars on the market today than there was just 10 years ago.

The EPA offers a Green Vehicle Guide, which rates newer cars by how much they pollute and contribute to the overall smog problem. The same ratings are on all new car window tags.

While the issue of whether producing a new, less-polluting car creates more pollutants during the manufacturing process than during the new car's lifetime is still unsettled, it remains true that a newer car will pollute less and use less fuel.

3. Build Up Public Transportation

Bus

The United States, as a whole, does not have a well-developed public transportation system. If the car is a symbol of freedom, a public bus is just about the opposite. Bus or train schedules rarely seem to follow work or errand needs. The systems are often slow and inefficient.

But from the standpoint of reducing transportation-related pollution, using public transportation is one of the most effective and immediate changes the country can make.

According to PublicTransportation.org, public transportation — mainly buses and subways — saves about 37 million metric tons (40,785,500 tons) of carbon dioxide annually. Additionally, if an individual switches a 20-mile (32.2-kilometer) daily roundtrip commute to public transportation, their annual CO2 emissions will decrease by about 4,800 pounds (2,177 kilograms) per year.

Combining an increase in public transportation with better road engineering, land use and other factors could help reduce transportation-related pollution by more than 20 percent.

Private concerns can also help with public transportation. Companies sometimes provide a shuttle bus for their employees or post rideshare boards. Car cooperatives are making inroads in the United States. These services allow a member to rent a car from a central location and pay a small fee for use.

The system is ideal for inner-city dwellers who only occasionally need a car, allowing them access to a vehicle without needing to buy one. By using public transportation for their primary needs and a regular car for the odd trip where it was necessary, one Swiss study indicated that car cooperative owners drove at least 60 percent less than they would have if they owned a car.

2. Walk or Bike

Man riding bike and holding a surfboard

These obvious choices are (by far) the best way to reduce pollution as they produce no emissions. Many cities are experimenting with bike share programs similar to car cooperatives. While something of a challenge for a regular driver, most experts suggest not replacing a car with a bike in most cases, but rather parking the car and using a bike or walking to do errands.

Most errands within about a mile (1.6 kilometers) are comfortable by foot, and anything up to 5 miles (8.1 kilometers) is doable by bike for most people. And, in addition to polluting less, the person gets the benefit of exercise.

Making the switch isn't easy. Many streets and cities are not particularly bike- or pedestrian-friendly. Experts suggest starting small and easing into an alternate car routine. In essence, they suggest you have some experience before biking or walking in traffic.

There are several websites with tips, tricks and links to maps and mapping software for pedestrians and bicyclists to avoid the worst of the pitfalls.

If a person can't bike because of bad knees or other health issues, companies also produce electric motor kits that significantly reduce the physical power needed to ride a bike.

1. Change the Way We Live and Think

Woman swiping her transportation card

All solutions to transportation pollution ultimately rely on humans. Ask a European about Americans, and they will likely portray us as a little spoiled and a little too freewheeling with our transportation freedoms. Many of the solutions listed in this article will only work if there's a fundamental shift in thinking.

We'll have to adjust to smaller, more efficient cars. We'll also have to adjust to using more public transportation. And to use either of those, we'll have to change the way we live, move closer to our place of business, cram into a car with more people, take vacations closer to home, camp instead of RV— overall, do more with less.

At the turn of the century, people criticized automobiles as unreliable — a fad and something that would never catch on. People got by with trains and horses, and no one really needed to live more than 10 miles (16.1 kilometers) from where they worked. Why would you want a car? People now have the same attitude toward electric cars, fuel cells, public transportation and walking to work.

And will it work? Well, only you can say.

Lots More Information

Related articles.

  • 5 Myths About Renewable Energy
  • 5 Amazing Green Cities
  • Top 5 Green Myths
  • 5 Wacky Forms of Alternative Energy
  • American Public Transportation Association. (May 7, 2011) http://www.publictransportation.org/benefits/environment.asp
  • Bike Commuters. (May 12, 2011) http://www.bikecommuters.com/
  • Bridging the Gap. "Alternate Transportation Guide for the Greater Kansas City Area." (May 9, 2011) http://www.bridgingthegap.org/media_vault/documents/1243351866.pdf
  • California Energy Center. "Should I Shut Off My Motor When I'm Idling My Car?" (May 10, 2011) http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/myths/idling.html
  • Car Talk. "Car Talk's Guide To Better Fuel Economy." (May 9, 2011) http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/fueleconomy/
  • Environmental Protection Agency. "Green Vehicle Guide." (May 11, 2011) http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Index.do
  • Environmental Protection Agency. "SmartWay Program." (May 1, 2011) http://www.epa.gov/smartway/index.htm
  • Environmental Protection Agency. "Transportation and Climate." (May 8, 2011) http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/publications.htm#basic
  • Murphy, Samantha. "Toyota, Shell Open First U.S. Hydrogen Fueling Station from Pipeline." TechNewsDaily. (May 10, 2011) http://www.livescience.com/14099-toyota-shell-open-hydrogen-fueling-station-pipeline.html
  • U.S. Department of Energy. "Keeping Your Car In Shape." (May 8, 2011) http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml

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Cannon Water Technology

Water Problems & Solutions

Sub categories of water problems & solutions.

Arsenic Water

Arsenic Water

Chlorine Filters

Chlorine Filters

Corrosion

Iron & Rust

Lead

Smelly Water

There are no products listed under this category.

Water quality problems have been a big concern for home owners, businesses, and organizations. In the US, a large section of people use water from public water systems and a small number draw them from wells in their property. In both cases, there are some common water problems, which require attention and solution. At Cannon Water Technology, Inc., we have been offering solutions for common water problems. Being at the forefront of water treatment and filtration technologies for a long time, we understand what solutions work the best for different problems.

Types of Water Problems and Solutions We Offer

Good quality water is a necessity for everyone. Water used for drinking, household uses, irrigation, and industrial uses must meet certain quality guidelines to achieve their purpose. Water gets contaminated due to various reasons, and this prohibits its direct use. Identifying the right cause and choosing the right selection is important to rectify these problems. Currently, we provide solutions for the following water quality problems:

  • Iron and Rust : Iron and manganese are dissolved in water and are not visible to human eyes. These elements are needed for human body in small amounts. However, if they are present in excess concentrations, they may alter the quality of water and damage hardware of water transportation systems. We provide different types of kits and iron filtration systems to solve this problem.
  • Smelly Water : Chlorine odor is the most common type of odor in water; however, it may also be caused by algae, chlorine, sulfur, various minerals, decaying matter or certain bacteria. In addition to this, ill maintained pipelines are also a major cause of smelly water. Thus, depending on the cause, we provide a wide range of solutions to choose from.
  • Chlorine : Chlorine has been used as a water purifying agent for a long time. It is added to the water source in recommended amounts to curb the growth of harmful bacteria or fungus. However, if added in excess, it may cause other problems such as leaving unwanted chlorine taste in mouth or skin allergies. Chlorine also reacts with certain chemicals and forms harmful compounds. To avoid this, chlorine filters are used. We provide chlorine filters from well-known manufacturers. In addition to this, we also provide other tested and proven solutions for chlorine control.
  • Hard Water : This is one of the most common water problems faced by many home owners. Hard water is not fit for drinking and other purposes and it causes several problems if left untreated. Magnesium and calcium are two minerals, which are known to cause water hardness. The Water Quality Association of the United States defines hard water as water with dissolved minerals above 1 grains per gallon (GPG). If the value is less than 1 GPG, then it is soft water; 1 to 3.5 GPG is slightly hard water; 3.5 to 7 GPG is moderately hard water; 7 to 10.5 GPG is hard water, and 10.5 and above values stand for extremely hard water. We provide water testing kits and several tested and proven solutions for mitigating the hard water problem.
  • Arsenic Water : Arsenic enters into the water bodies through rocks or soil when water flows through them. Arsenic is perhaps one of those minerals, which is not easily distinguishable as it does not alter the taste, odor, or color of water. Consumption of water with high concentration of arsenic can cause mild to severe health problems. We provide different solutions to remove arsenic in water.
  • Corrosion : Corrosion of piping systems is one of the common water problems known to all. Corroding pipes have been a problem for water authorities and home owners for a long time. It is easily identifiable through spots and other symptoms, and can be measured for the proper solution. At Cannon Water, we corrosion problem solutions, which have helped users tremendously to curb their corrosion problems.
  • Lead : The side effects of lead on human body are well known. Lead poisoning has become a serious concern in recent years. We provide solutions to remove lead from drinking water.

There are several solutions for common water problems, which make the selection difficult. In such case, you can get in touch with our team and our experts would help you make the right decision. After all, we are committed to help you avail quality water for drinking and other purposes. Please do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about solutions for drinking water problems or other dangerous water problems.

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Problems and Challenges of Water Transportation in Nigeria

10 Problems and Challenges of Water Transportation in Nigeria

Problems and Challenges of Water Transportation in Nigeria –  One of the ingredients for a nation’s economic development is an efficient, effective, and adequate transportation network. Road, sea, air, and train travel are the main modes of transportation. Information Guide Nigeria

Since the military’s reign, these modes of transportation have not undergone any significant improvements. It is impossible to argue against the importance of having a robust transportation system since it links people and locations, which improves social and economic relations. Nigeria has three modes of transportation .

  • Water Transportation
  • Air Transportation
  • Land Transportation

This article looks into the problems and challenges of water transportation. Water transportation problems in Nigeria include:

  • Poor dredging
  • Incompetent managers
  • Lack of berths
  • Navigation channels non-maintenance
  • Wrong water transportation policies
  • Lack of workforce
  • Ports operational problems
  • Inadequate funding

Read Also: 10 Problems Challenges Facing INEC in Nigeria

Nigeria Water Transportation Problems and Challenges

Nigeria’s water transportation problems and challenges as observers have picked for us are:

Poor Dredging

God blessed Nigeria with inland waterways that are good for water transportation. Nigeria has so many navigable canals, lakes, rivers, creaks, and lagoons .

The River Niger, one of the longest rivers in Africa, comes into Nigeria from the Republic of Niger. It flows from Northern Nigeria through Western Nigeria to Eastern Nigeria and connects the sea.

Advantages of Remote Work for Employees and Employers in Nigeria

Another major river that we can find in Nigeria is the River Benue. River Benue takes its source from the Cameroon Mountains and burst Nigeria at Yola.

These two major rivers come together at Lokoja, forming a confluence there. Apart from these two major rivers, there are other minor rivers in Nigeria that flow into the sea. All these rivers form the inland waterways of Nigeria.

These Nigeria waterways form such an impressive network that is very good for water transportation. The problem is that they are impassable, especially during the dry season due to poor dredging .

This poor dredging of Nigeria’s waterways has brought so much hardship to Nigerians, particularly those who live in the watersheds. It has also made Nigeria lose so much money.

2. Incompetent Managers

Another inherent problem with Nigeria’s water transportation is incompetent managers of the Nigerian waterways. Things happening within Nigeria’s maritime industry prove that the managers in this industry are not professionals. It is for this reason that we have so many problems in this industry in Nigeria.

Their mediocrity and lack of education will not allow the industry to thrive. The result is problems in Nigeria’s water transportation because the managers of our waterways lack operational knowledge of the maritime industry. Thus, incompetent management is a problem in Nigeria’s water transportation.

3. Lack of Berths

A challenge that observers of Nigeria’s waterways find to be hindering water transportation in Nigeria is the lack of berths. Our road transportation system has bus stops and motor parks here and there.

When you come to Air transportation in Nigeria, there are so many airports where planes can land and take off. On the contrary, no berths in our waterways where ships and boats can stop, stay and sail off.

Thus, the absence of berths in Nigeria’s waterways poses problems for water transportation in Nigeria.

Read Also: 10 Problems and Challenges of Petroleum Industry Act Implementation in Nigeria

4. Navigation Channels Non-maintenance

There are so many rivers in Nigeria that link one another. Through their navigation channels, you can burst the sea and sail to other countries. Nevertheless, the problem with these channels is the lack of maintenance.

Due to the non-maintenance of these navigation channels, people find it difficult to transport goods and persons through the waterways. This is why imported goods are so costly in Nigeria since transporting them by air is costlier than transporting them by water.

A challenge facing water transportation in Nigeria is neglect. The Nigerian government neglects Nigeria’s inland waters that people can use for water transportation. The Nigerian government seems to see no benefits of water transportation to its economy.   10 Problems and Challenges Facing the Nigerian Senates

The private sector, too, does not care about water transportation in Nigeria. Both the government and private sector concentrate on Air and Land transportation to the detriment of water transportation. Yet, Nigeria has so much to gain from its water transportation system. 16 Best Vacuum Cleaners and their Prices in Nigeria

6. Wrong Water Transportation Policies

Nigeria’s water transportation policies are wrong hence, they pose a serious challenge to water transportation in Nigeria. Nigeria’s policies concerning water transportation regulation and infrastructural provisions are difficult for transportation operators. NYSC Portal

Nigeria’s policy on licensing water transportation users does not provide them operational enabling environment. To worsen things for them, these policies are inconsistent. For these reasons, wrong transportation policies pose a great challenge for water transportation in Nigeria.

Read Also: 10 Problems and Challenges Facing the Nigerian Senates

Piracy is a problem for water transportation in Nigeria. Pirates bring insecurity to water transporters and their passengers. Their cargoes are not always safe due to pirates that operate in the waterways. Thus, piracy has caused so many problems for transporting water in Nigeria. 105 Good morning My Love Messages 

8. Lack of WorkForce

Water transportation in Nigeria requires a workforce. Thus, the lack of workforce in the maritime industry is a problem for water transportation in Nigeria. 200 Romantic Love Messages for her

Stevedores are lacking in the maritime industry. Professionals are also lacking in the industry. It is for this reason that water transportation in Nigeria is difficult.

To attain operational efficiency in Nigeria’s maritime industry, it needs staffing. The industry needs professionals who can work effectively in it. Those to work in the industry must be knowledgeable in the importation and exportation of goods into and out of Nigeria. As long as the maritime industry lacks these calibers of people, water transportation in Nigeria will remain a mirage .

Read Also: 10 Problems and Challenges Facing House of Representatives in Nigeria

9. Ports Operational Problems

Restrictions in Nigerian ports pose a problem for water transportation in Nigeria. Operational standards in Nigerian ports differ from those of our neighboring countries, making many water transporters prefer those country ports to Nigerian ports. Jamb portal

In most cases, water transporters who would have used Nigeria ports for their cargoes decide to use those of Ghana and Cotonou because of harsh port policies in Nigeria. In addition, other ports are safer to use than those of Nigeria. 10 Problems and Challenges of Water Transportation in Nigeria

Insecurity in Nigerian ports makes importers and exporters fear the usage of Nigerian ports. Moreover, Nigeria built its ports where human traffic and port operations are difficult.

Hostile service delivery policies also make Nigerian ports’ environment unfriendly to businesspersons. All these ports’ operational problems have brought so many problems to transporting water in Nigeria.

10. Inadequate Funding

Nigerian ports’ infrastructure needs money. Inadequate funding of these ports has made water transportation in Nigeria something that is difficult if not impossible. For transportation to become effective in Nigeria, Nigerian ports must have adequate funds for their efficient operations.

Transportation needs infrastructures that only adequate funding can provide. It needs boats that are comfortable for passengers. The risk associated with water transportation demands that the boats that operate in the waterways have life jackets. These items are not in place due to inadequate funding.

Before the authorities responsible for transportating water in Nigeria can dredge the waterways, they need adequate funding. Until the Federal Government provides adequate funding, no one can dredge the waterways.

Read Also: 10 Problems and Challenges Facing the Nigerian Bar Association

Water transportation in Nigeria is nearly impossible due to inherent problems in the maritime industry. Neglecting water transportation in Nigeria is making it lose so many benefits of transportation. Therefore, Nigeria should rethink its water transportation system.

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COMMENTS

  1. How can we solve the global water crisis?

    Today, 80% of our wastewater flows untreated back into the environment, while 780 million people still do not have access to an improved water source. By 2030, we may face a 40% global gap between water supply and demand. The World Economic Forum's Water Possible Platform is supporting innovative ideas to address the global water challenge.

  2. Water Distribution System Challenges And Solutions

    Grid Iron System: It is suitable for cities with rectangular layout, where the water mains and branches are laid in rectangles. Advantages: Water is kept in good circulation due to the absence of dead ends. In the cases of a breakdown in some section, water is available from some other direction. Disadvantages.

  3. Water Transportation

    Transportation and water infrastructure funding and finance in the United States are not nearly as dire as some believe, but a national consensus on infrastructure priorities, accompanied by targeted spending and selected policy changes, is needed. Dec 5, 2017. Research Brief.

  4. Inland waterway transport and the 2030 agenda: Taxonomy of

    These solutions are achievable through collaborative and cross-disciplinary research that incorporates ecological information to waterway engineering. 3.2. Operation & maintenance. Waterway transport is vulnerable to climatic influence on water depth. Low water levels force load reduction or interrupt operations (Santos et al., 2018).

  5. Seven Infrastructure Problems in Urgent Need of Fixing

    Seven Infrastructure Problems in Urgent Need of Fixing. The Biden administration has pledged a $2 trillion investment in the nation's infrastructure. With century-old water systems and schools ...

  6. 7.2 Water Supply Problems and Solutions

    7.2 Water Supply Problems and Solutions Water Supply Problems: Resource Depletion. As groundwater is pumped from water wells, there usually is a localized drop in the water table around the well called a cone of depression. When there are a large number of wells that have been pumping water for a long time, the regional water table can drop ...

  7. PDF Issues and Perspectives on Water Transportation

    The federal government's roles in the marine transportation system include: Constructing, operating, and maintaining the navigable channels; Managing the traffic on the waterways; Providing mariners with aids to navigation, charts, and information on water and weather conditions; Regulating the safety and environmental compatibility of vessels;

  8. Water

    Modern water distribution networks (WDNs) are complex and difficult to manage due to increased level of urbanization, varying consumer demands, ageing infrastructure, operational costs, and inadequate water resources. The management problems in such complex networks may be classified into short-term, medium-term, and long-term, depending on the duration at which the problems are solved or ...

  9. Three Cities Explore Water-Based Transport to Improve Urban Mobility

    Sometimes these solutions to urban transport problems emerge over years and become integral to the city's identity, like Venice, Italy's iconic gondolas. ... A common thread throughout each city is the need to effectively connect and integrate water transport with land-based transport for people-centered urban mobility. Istanbul, Turkey.

  10. Surface Transportation, Sea Level Rise, and Coastal Storms: A

    Sea level rise and extreme climate events are complex problems that require a multidisciplinary solution to address surface transportation resilience. Water, through sea level rise or extreme climate events, is the main stressor on the transportation system, affecting not only the surface transportation infrastructure, but also the surrounding ...

  11. Water Transport: Kinds, Advantages and Disadvantages of Water Transport

    Canal transport requires a huge amount of capital investment in construction and maintenance of its track i.e., the artificial waterways. The cost of the canal transport is, therefore, higher than that of river transport. To add to it, the cost of providing water for the canals is also a very big problem of canal transport. Lakes:

  12. Critical Issues in Transportation 2019

    The transportation sector also faces other unprecedented challenges. It needs to (1) sharply curb greenhouse gas emissions to slow the rate of climate change and (2) respond to more climate-related extreme weather. It must serve a growing population and cope with worsening highway congestion.

  13. Pros & Cons of Water Transport: Ship Speed, Shipment Visibility, More

    Water transport is ideal for transporting heavy, bulk freight. While weight can be an issue for other modes, it typically is not a problem for water freight. Because of the sheer size or volume of some products being shipped - including grain, minerals, metals, ores, steel coils and heavy machinery -- ship or barge often makes the most sense.

  14. 10 Problems Facing Water Transport in Less Developed Countries

    The problems are physical and human and include the following; Poor science and technology to develop ports making transport vessels and improving waterways. Limited capital to develop ports to purchase transport vessels because of low income. Shallow and narrow water bodies to accommodate big ships carrying exports, imports like the oil tankers.

  15. Transportation problems and their solutions: literature review

    In the transport task, the vertices are cities, and the edges represent available roads. 2. Review of transportation problems 2.1. Basic transportation problem This is the simplest form of the transportation problem, where the goal is to find the cheapest way to transport a given amount of goods from a set of sources to a set of destinations.

  16. 10 Possible Solutions to Air Pollution

    Some emissions systems work well at idle; others don't. Larger vehicles, including trucks and buses, as well as diesel engines, can produce more emissions at idle than when running. However, using less fuel means producing fewer emissions and less pollution. 7. Reduce Distance Driven and Time on the Road.

  17. (PDF) The Prospects and Problems of Water Transportation in Lagos

    The study identified the following problems as (Adejare et al., 2017;Ademiluyi et al., 2016; Ogunbajo et al., 2017) have been carried out on inland water transport in Lagos State, this study is ...

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  20. 5 Transportation Issues & Solutions for Cities

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  21. PDF Transportation Problems: Exercises

    TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM: EXERCISES - V. Kostoglou PROBLEM 1 A factory producing aluminum is supplied with bauxite from three mines (01, 02 and 03) which produce 3, 7 and 5 thousand tones of mineral per week respectively. There are 4 modes of transportation of bauxite to the factory: by ship (T1) - by trucks (T2) - by a

  22. Common Water Problem and Solutions

    We provide different solutions to remove arsenic in water. Corrosion: Corrosion of piping systems is one of the common water problems known to all. Corroding pipes have been a problem for water authorities and home owners for a long time. It is easily identifiable through spots and other symptoms, and can be measured for the proper solution.

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  24. 10 Problems and Challenges of Water Transportation in Nigeria

    Thus, incompetent management is a problem in Nigeria's water transportation. 3. Lack of Berths. A challenge that observers of Nigeria's waterways find to be hindering water transportation in Nigeria is the lack of berths. Our road transportation system has bus stops and motor parks here and there.