Megatrend water scarcity / extreme weather events

In recent decades, global temperatures have risen, aridity is increasing, and at the same time, more and more extreme weather events are being recorded. The cause is the decades-long emission of climate-damaging greenhouse gases – this has been scientifically proven.

Aridity is increasing
Drought is clearly illustrated, for example, on the drought monitors of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research or the European Drought Observatory. Similarly, before-and-after image comparisons convincingly demonstrate the increase in aridity. In addition to the lack of precipitation, high temperatures also lead to higher evaporation. The shrinking glaciers in the Alps are increasingly failing to provide temporary storage for precipitation and subsequent feeding of rivers and lakes. Compared to the past, heatwaves today last significantly longer.

Devastating consequences of water scarcity

Drought affects almost all European countries: dried-up fields, rivers, and wells, empty water reservoirs, falling groundwater and lake levels with impacts on agriculture, energy supply, transport, the economy, and the population. During extreme drought, a portion of agricultural production, which accounts for approximately 60% of total European freshwater consumption (1), is lost, threatening livestock farming. In Italy, the government declared a state of emergency in individual regions in the summer of 2022. In many places in Europe, shipping had to be drastically restricted, coal-fired power plants could not be supplied with fuel, hydroelectric power plants had to be shut down, and nuclear power plants had to be throttled due to a lack of cooling options. The rising “wastewater proportion” in flowing waters and increased water temperatures also disrupt the river ecosystem, as the example of the Oder shows.

Furthermore, extreme heat is generated in cities during the summer as a result of long-term surface sealing. Across Europe, the frequency of forest fires is increasing, posing a threat to the life and limb of humans and animals. During heatwaves lasting several weeks, mortality rates rise significantly.

Plastic pipes for water management
When a prolonged heatwave ends with thunderstorms involving heavy rain or a change in weather, the soil – contrary to expectations – is simply not capable of absorbing water. The lack of absorption capacity in the soil leads to the overloading of sewer pipes and storage spaces dimensioned for normal times, resulting in enormous damage from flooding and high water. The damage from extreme weather events in 2021 in Germany alone totaled 80 billion euros ⁽²⁾ and caused a great deal of human suffering. Small rivers turned into raging torrents during heavy rain.

For phases of excessive rain, storage options for surface water should therefore be generally expanded, and incentives should be created for water conservation and the reuse of used water (grey water). Due to their broad applicability and sustainable service life, plastic pipes can be used in many ways to optimize water management (see table).

Only coordinated and decisive measures, such as those provided for in the Paris Climate Agreement or the Green Deal, can limit the rise in temperatures.

Sources:

(1) www.eea.europa.eu/ims/use-of-freshwater-resources-in-europe-1 (As of: 25.10.2022)

(2) www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2022/07/20220718-hitze-durre-starkregen-uber-80-milliarden-euro-schaden-durch-extremwetter-in-deutschland.html (As of: 25.10.2022)

Solution approaches

Sector: Agriculture
Products: Irrigation pipe systems
Solution approach: Targeted irrigation of agricultural land

Sector: Water supply
Products: Permanently leak-tight and sustainable transport pipelines
Solution approach: Fully welded pressure pipe systems to prevent drip leaks

Sector: Drinking water protection
Products: Leakage-monitored sewage pipe systems
Solution approach: Protection of resources in drinking water extraction areas

Sector: Drinking water protection
Products: Diffusion-tight pipe systems to maintain drinking water quality
Solution approach: Protection and ensuring the usability of existing drinking water resources

Sector: Drinking water extraction/quality
Products: Services/products for drinking water well management
Solution approach: Ensuring the availability and quality of existing drinking water resources

Sector: Gas supply
Products: Multi-layer pipe system with permeation barrier
Solution approach: Reduction of methane emissions and other greenhouse gases

Sector: Water storage
Products: Infiltration trenches, cisterns
Solution approach: Collection and retention of rainwater to mitigate heavy rain events

Sector: Cooling
Products: Cooling systems/pipelines
Solution approach: Economical, corrosion-free, and thus sustainable piping systems

Sector: Pumped storage power plants
Products: Welded pressure pipe systems for conveying water to higher-level storage reservoirs

Source: Sustainability

Your Contact

Dr. Ansgar Strumann

Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter, egeplast international GmbH

Phone: +49 2575 97100

Dr. -Ing. Michael Stranz

Head of Development & Innovation Management, egeplast international GmbH

Phone: +49 2575 9710 273 Email: michael.stranz@egeplast.de

Megatrend water scarcity / extreme weather events

Devastating consequences of water scarcity

Sources:

Solution approaches

Prague: Integrity Testing After Vltava River Crossing

Sustainability at egeplast