Water-related challenges

There is an abundance of water-related challenges to be solved to get on track with sustainable water management. To help finding space-based solutions to this abundance of issues, UNOOSA decided to feature water-related challenges. The selection of the below-presented water-related challenges have been:

  • observed and described by Indigenous people;
  • observed and described by Space4Water professionals, young professionals or stakeholders;
  • identified via research by UNOOSA; or
  • shared by affected invidviuals by reacting to UNOOSA calls for Local Perspectives & Case Studies and added to the challenges by OOSA staff.
Section

Disappearing wetlands in North Central Nigeria

Satellite image of the Kogi State Nigeria

Disappearing wetlands in North Central Nigeria

Water security: A tracking and quantifying methodology for monitoring water resources in a water scarce region

Map of Bahrain

Water security: A tracking and quantifying methodology for monitoring water resources in a water scarce region

Sea rise and potential predictions for sinking of the Delta in Egypt

Satellite image of the Nile Delta

Sea rise and potential predictions for sinking of the Delta in Egypt

Satellite-based monitoring of drought and water stress across arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa

Shrinking lake Chad. Source: ESA

Satellite-based monitoring of drought and water stress across arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa

Small-holder farmers in northern Madagascar are disproportionately impacted by drought

Photo of a meager cow in front of a tree

Small-holder farmers in northern Madagascar are disproportionately impacted by drought

Water access on land of Maori

borehole

Water access on land of Maori

Samburu tribe lacks access to safe drinking water - Dry spells due to water scarcity

Samburu woman drinking (brownish) well water filtered through the fabric of her dress

Samburu tribe lacks access to safe drinking water - Dry spells due to water scarcity

Safe drinking water is lacking in the Kaqchikel community

Kaqchikel woman using water supplied by the municipality

Safe drinking water is lacking in the Kaqchikel community

Water shortages and quality issues for domestic use in Platfontein South Africa

Dry tap

Water shortages and quality issues for domestic use in Platfontein South Africa

Soil conditions in Platfontein, South Africa

Tap in front of dry soil in Platfontein

Soil conditions in Platfontein, South Africa

Lacking historic knowledge on vegetation cover and surface water extent / river course

Long view of Ngakoahia Stream and surrounding vegetation

Lacking historic knowledge on vegetation cover and surface water extent / river course

Need for technical assistance to identify new water sources such as springs within the forest, in Guatemala

DDASO project team using drones to identify water sources

Need for technical assistance to identify new water sources such as springs within the forest, in Guatemala

Potential consequences due to the melting Athabasca glacier, Canada

Althabasca Delta

Potential consequences due to the melting Athabasca glacier, Canada

Satellite image of the Kogi State Nigeria

Disappearing wetlands in North Central Nigeria

Map of Bahrain

Water security: A tracking and quantifying methodology for monitoring water resources in a water scarce region

Satellite image of the Nile Delta

Sea rise and potential predictions for sinking of the Delta in Egypt

ENIVSAT image of the Niger Delta

Hydrocarbon contamination of water bodies in the Niger Delta

Shrinking lake Chad. Source: ESA

Satellite-based monitoring of drought and water stress across arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa

Photo of a meager cow in front of a tree

Small-holder farmers in northern Madagascar are disproportionately impacted by drought

picture showing various floods in Saint Lucia

Identifying suitable sites for emergency shelters

Photo of a cenote in Merida Yucatan, CC license

Decline in Groundwater levels and quality

borehole

Water access on land of Maori

Samburu woman drinking (brownish) well water filtered through the fabric of her dress

Samburu tribe lacks access to safe drinking water - Dry spells due to water scarcity

Kaqchikel woman using water supplied by the municipality

Safe drinking water is lacking in the Kaqchikel community

Dry tap

Water shortages and quality issues for domestic use in Platfontein South Africa

Tap in front of dry soil in Platfontein

Soil conditions in Platfontein, South Africa

Long view of Ngakoahia Stream and surrounding vegetation

Lacking historic knowledge on vegetation cover and surface water extent / river course

A person standing in front of a small water dam

The effects of land use and land cover changes on water use and management

DDASO project team using drones to identify water sources

Need for technical assistance to identify new water sources such as springs within the forest, in Guatemala

Althabasca Delta

Potential consequences due to the melting Athabasca glacier, Canada

Dirty Snow NASA Image- Credit: T. H. Painter_Snow Optics Laboratory, JPL/Caltech

Need for data on snow quality which is assumed to be affected by runoff and emissions from industrial use

Tar Sands - Photo by Garth Lenz

Need for water quality data to monitor effects of mining and industrial use of water near Lake Athabasca, Canada

Shallow end of Ngakoahia Stream with old pedestrian bridge

Ngakoaohia River Pollution in New Zealand

.

Need for wetlands inventory

Ice thickness

Need for data on ice quality - to monitor ice thickness for security

Participatory Workshop for Indigenous Women - Group Photo

Lack of Indigenous (and/or cultural) and scientific knowledge exchange

Damages in the flood-affected areas in the Sindh province after a monsoon season in Pakistan. U.S. Marines with the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 Reinforced (HMM-165 REIN), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) and the Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 266 Reinforced (VMM-266 REIN), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU) assist the Pakistan Army with humanitarian assistance operations, Oct. 22, 2010.

Droughts and Floods over the same region