Megatrend Water Scarcity / Extreme Weather Events

In recent decades, temperatures have risen worldwide, drought 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.

Drought is increasing
The drought is vividly illustrated, e.g., on the so-called drought monitors of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research or the European Drought Observatory. Before-and-after image comparisons also convincingly demonstrate the increase in drought. In addition to the lack of precipitation, high temperatures also lead to higher evaporation. The shrinking glaciers in the Alps are increasingly unable to temporarily store precipitation and later feed the rivers and lakes. Compared to the past, heat periods last significantly longer today.

Devastating consequences of water scarcity

The 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, economy and population. In extreme drought, part of the 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 traffic 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 shut down due to a lack of cooling options. The increasing “wastewater content” in flowing waters and increased water temperatures also disrupt the river ecosystem, as the example of the Oder shows.

In cities, extreme heat also arises in the summer as a result of the long-standing sealing of surfaces. The frequency of forest fires is increasing throughout Europe, endangering the lives and limbs of humans and animals. Mortality increases significantly during weeks-long heat periods.

Plastic pipes for water management
If a longer heat period then ends with thunderstorms with heavy rain or a change in the weather, the soils – contrary to expectations – are not able to absorb water. The lack of absorption capacity of the soils leads to the overloading of the canal pipes and storage spaces dimensioned for normal times, resulting in enormous damage from floods and high water. The damage caused by the extreme weather events in 2021 in Germany alone totaled 80 billion euros (2) and caused much human suffering. Small rivers became raging rivers during heavy rain.

For phases of too much rain, the storage possibilities of surface water should therefore be generally expanded and incentives should be set for water saving and the reuse of used water (grey water). Due to their wide applicability and sustainable service life, plastic pipes can be used in a variety of ways to optimize water management (see table).

The rise in temperatures can only be limited by coordinated and decisive measures, as provided for in the Paris Climate Agreement or the Green Deal.

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

Area: Agriculture
Products: Irrigation pipe systems
Solution approach: Targeted irrigation of agricultural areas

Area: Water supply
Products: Permanently leak-proof and sustainable transport pipelines
Solution approach: Fully welded pressure pipe systems to avoid drip leaks

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

Area: Drinking water protection
Products: Diffusion-tight pipe systems for maintaining drinking water quality
Solution approach: Protection and safeguarding of the usability of existing drinking water resources

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

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

Area: Water storage
Products: Swales, cisterns
Solution approach: Collection and retention of rainwater to mitigate heavy rainfall events

Area: Cooling
Products: Cooling systems/pipes
Solution approach: Economical, corrosion-free and therefore sustainable piping systems

Area: Pumped storage power plants
Products: Welded pressure pipe systems for conveying water into higher-lying storage basins

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

Amprion Goes Offshore: Expansion and Conversion of the Hanekenfähr Substation

Drinking Water Protection: SLA® Barrier Pipe in Use for over 30 Years