“Some of the most vociferous enemies around the world have negotiated water agreements or are in the process of doing so concerning international rivers”, says the report. “The Mekong Committee, for example, continued to exchange data throughout the Viet Nam War. The Indus River Commission survived through two wars between India and Pakistan. And all 10 Nile riparian states are currently involved in negotiations over development of the basin.”
There are 261 international river basins, involving 145 nations. About one third of these basins are shared by more than two countries, and 19 involve five or more. According to the report, a good part of Africa and the Middle East depend upon these shared resources for more than half their water supplies, as does the southern tip of Latin America.
While much attention has been paid to international rivers, groundwater supplies (aquifers) have been largely ignored, despite the massive volumes of generally high-quality water involved (estimated at 23,400,000 km³ compared with the 42,800 km³ in rivers). Many decision-makers are not even aware that they share aquifers with other countries. The report presents the preliminary findings of a United Nations initiative to compile the first global map and inventory of these resources.
It also presents the first map of the world’s groundwater resources. Aquifers store as much as 98 per cent of accessible water supplies. Between 600 to 700 km³ are extracted each year, providing about 50 per cent of the world’s drinking supply, 40 per cent of industrial demands and 20 per cent of irrigated agriculture, according to the report. These proportions vary widely from country to country and are presented in a detailed chart. (Available through contact persons listed at end.)
There are 261 international river basins, involving 145 nations. About one third of these basins are shared by more than two countries, and 19 involve five or more. According to the report, a good part of Africa and the Middle East depend upon these shared resources for more than half their water supplies, as does the southern tip of Latin America.
While much attention has been paid to international rivers, groundwater supplies (aquifers) have been largely ignored, despite the massive volumes of generally high-quality water involved (estimated at 23,400,000 km³ compared with the 42,800 km³ in rivers). Many decision-makers are not even aware that they share aquifers with other countries. The report presents the preliminary findings of a United Nations initiative to compile the first global map and inventory of these resources.
It also presents the first map of the world’s groundwater resources. Aquifers store as much as 98 per cent of accessible water supplies. Between 600 to 700 km³ are extracted each year, providing about 50 per cent of the world’s drinking supply, 40 per cent of industrial demands and 20 per cent of irrigated agriculture, according to the report. These proportions vary widely from country to country and are presented in a detailed chart. (Available through contact persons listed at end.)