INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
7thGradeWaterInquiry
WhatistheGreatest
CostofWater?
A man stands on what was once a wetland. The Mesopotamian marshes in southern Iraq, drained by Saddam Hussein to punish the rebellious
Marsh Arabs, were re-flooded after his fall, but they are receding again. Photograph by Carolyn Drake, Panos
SupportingQuestions
1.
2.
3.
4.
WhohasaccesstowaterintheMiddleEast?
HowdocountriesintheMiddleEastgetwater?
Howisbeing“waterstressed”impactingpopulations?
Whyareconflictsarisingoverwater?
THISWORKISLICENSEDUNDERACREATIVECOMMONSATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-SHAREALIKE4.0
INTERNATIONALLICENSE.
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
7thGradeWaterInquiry
WhatistheGreatestCostofWater?
GeorgiaPerformance
Standard
SS7G6.:Explainhowwaterpollutionandtheunequalaccesstowaterimpactsirrigationanddrinking
water.
&C3Framework
Indicator
D2.Geo.9.6-8.Evaluatetheinfluencesoflong-termhuman-inducedenvironmentalchangeonspatial
patternsofconflictandcooperation.
“Whenthewellisdryweknowthevalueofwater”~BenFranklin
StagingtheQuestion
Asaclass,discussthequotefromFranklin,identifyingfactorsthatmayimpactthevalueofwater.
SupportingQuestion1
Whohasaccesstowaterin
theMiddleEast?
SupportingQuestion2
Howdocountriesinthe
MiddleEastgetwater?
Formative
PerformanceTask
Formative
PerformanceTask
Completeamapofthe
MiddleEastshowing
geographicfeatures,
populationdensity,and
watersources.
Createachartthat
identifiesanddescribesthe
effectsofwatercollection
methodsusedinthe
MiddleEast.
FeaturedSources
SourceA:Aqueduct:Water
RiskAtlas
FeaturedSources
SourceA:AQUASTAT
Database
SourceB:Excerptfrom
“FindingtheBalance”
SupportingQuestion3
Howisbeing“water
stressed”impacting
populations?
Formative
PerformanceTask
Write1-2paragraphs
describinghowbeing
“waterstressed”impacts
populationsinthearea,
citingspecificsupporting
evidence.
FeaturedSources
SourcesfromSQs1and2
SourceA:TheWater
Project
SupportingQuestion4
Whyareconflictsarising
overwater?
Formative
PerformanceTask
Makeaclaimsupportedby
evidenceaboutwhy
conflictsarearisingover
water.
FeaturedSources
SourceA:ClipfromGlobal
PublicSquare,“TheComing
WaterWars?”
SourceB:Excerptsfrom:
“MideastWaterWars”
SourceC:“'IslamicState'
UsingWaterasaWeapon”
ARGUMENTWhatisthegreatestcostofwater?Constructanargument(e.g.,detailedoutline,poster,
essay)thatdiscussesthecompellingquestionusingspecificclaimsandrelevantevidencefrom
contemporarysourceswhileacknowledgingcompetingviews.
Summative
PerformanceTask
EXTENSIONUseamindmaptool,suchasPopplet,toillustratetherelationshipbetweenissuesofwater
accessintheregion.
UNDERSTANDResearchyourcommunity’swatersupply.
TakingInformed
Action
ASSESSDeterminethemostpressingwater-relatedissueaffectingyourcommunity.
ACTCreateaschool-widecampaigntoaddressthisconcern.
THISWORKISLICENSEDUNDERACREATIVECOMMONSATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-SHAREALIKE4.0
INTERNATIONALLICENSE.
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
Overview
InquiryDescription
ThisinquiryleadsstudentsthroughaninvestigationofwateraccessintheMiddleEastusingvarioussourcesthat
considergeographical,politicalandeconomicissues.Byinvestigatingthecompellingquestion,studentsexamine
thegeographyoftheregion,includingenvironmentalanddemographicrelationships,theecologicalimpactof
accessingwater,andthesubsequentpoliticalconflictsovercontrolofnaturalresources.Bycompletingthis
inquiry,studentsbegintounderstandissuesrevolvingaroundaccessandcontrolofresources,suchasthe
consequencesofpowerstrugglesthatbefallcountrieswithlimitedaccesstowaterresources.
InadditiontothePerformanceStandardlistedpreviously,thisinquiryhighlightsthefollowingC3Framework
Indicator:
•
D2.Geo.9.6-8.Evaluatetheinfluencesoflong-termhuman-inducedenvironmentalchangeonspatial
patternsofconflictandcooperation.
NOTE:Thisinquiryisexpectedtotakefourtosix40-minuteclassperiods.Theinquirytimeframecouldexpandif
teachersthinktheirstudentsneedadditionalinstructionalexperiences(i.e.,supportingquestions,formative
performancetasks,andfeaturedsources).Inquiriesarenotscripts,soteachersareencouragedtomodifyand
adaptthemtomeettheneedsandinterestsoftheirparticularstudents.Resourcescanalsobemodifiedas
necessarytomeetindividualizededucationprograms(IEPs)orSection504Plansforstudentswithdisabilities.
StructureoftheInquiry
Inaddressingthecompellingquestion“Whatisthegreatestcostofwater?”studentsworkthroughaseriesof
supportingquestions,formativeperformancetasks,andfeaturedsourcesinordertoconstructanargument
supportedbyevidencewhileacknowledgingcompetingperspectives.
StagingtheCompellingQuestion
Instagingthecompellingquestion,“Whatisthegreatestcostofwater?”teachersmaypromptstudentswitha
quotetoconsiderthevalueofwaterindifferentcontexts.TheBenFranklinquote,“whenthewellrundries,we
willknowthevalueofwater,”caninitiateaclassdiscussiononthefactorsthatimpactthevalueofwater.
Discussionshouldincludeaconsiderationofhowwaterimpactsstudents’dailylivesthroughdirectandhidden
costs.
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
SupportingQuestion1
Thefirstsupportingquestion—“WhohasaccesstowaterintheMiddleEast?”—helpsstudentsunderstandthe
geographicanddemographicfactorsimpactingaccesstowaterintheregion.Theformativeperformancetaskhas
studentscreateamapthatshowsgeographicfeatures,populationdensity,andwatersources,soastoshowthe
relationshipbetweenthethree.Thefeaturedsourceforthisquestionisaninteractiveatlasthatprovidessomeof
thenecessaryinformationforstudentstocreatetheirownmaps.
SupportingQuestion2
Forthesecondsupportingquestion—“HowdocountriesintheMiddleEastgetwater?”—studentsbuildontheir
geographicknowledgeoftheregiontoconsidertheecologicalconsequencesofwatercollectiontechniques.The
formativeperformancetaskhasstudentscreateachartthatidentifiesanddescribestheeffectsofwatercollection
methods.ThefirstfeaturedsourceforthisquestionistheUnitedNation’sFoodandAgricultureOrganization’s
countrydatabase,whichprovidescountryprofilesforwatermanagement,includingwithdrawaland
replenishmentamounts.Thesecondfeaturedsourceisanarticledescribingvariousmethodsofwaterextractionin
theregionandtheirrelativecostsandbenefits.
SupportingQuestion3
Thethirdsupportingquestion—“Howisbeing“waterstressed”impactingpopulations?”—asksstudentsto
considerthemanywaysinwhichbeing“waterstressed”impactsvariouspopulationsintheregion.Studentswill
write1-2paragraphssummarizingtheimpactonhumanpopulations,citingspecificevidencefromthefeatured
sources.Inadditiontothepreviousfeaturedsources,theresourceforthistaskwillfurtherilluminatethewaysin
whichwateraccessimpactsthehumanexperience.ThefeaturedsourceforthisquestionisanarticlefromThe
WaterProject,whichhighlightsissuesofdesertificationonagriculture,andsubsequently,healthofpopulations.
SupportingQuestion4
Forthefourthsupportingquestion—“Whyareconflictsarisingoverwater?”—studentswillassessthepower
strugglesoverwateraccessandhowthisconflictisaffectingpoliticalandeconomicstabilityintheregion.The
formativetaskasksstudentstomakeaclaimsupportedbyevidenceaboutwhyconflictsarearisingoverwater.
Thefirstfeaturedsource,aclipfromFareedZakaria’sGlobalPublicSquare,introducesstudentstothestruggle
overwateraccessmanifestinginto“waterwars.”Buildingonthisintroductionofcontrolandconflict,thesecond
featuredsourcelooksspecificallyatcontrolofwaterresourceswithinIraq.Thethirdfeaturedsourcediscusses
thewaysinwhichISISisusingcontrolofwaterasaweapon.
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
SummativePerformanceTask
Atthispointintheinquiry,studentshaveexaminedthewaysinwhichaccess(andlackofaccess)towateris
impactingtheMiddleEastacrossvariousfacets.Studentsshouldbeexpectedtodemonstratethebreadthoftheir
understandingsandtheirabilitiestouseevidencefrommultiplesourcestosupporttheirclaims.Inthistask,
studentsconstructanevidence-basedargumentusingmultiplesourcestoanswerthecompellingquestion“Whatis
thegreatestcostofwater?”Itisimportanttonotethatstudents’argumentscouldtakeavarietyofforms,including
adetailedoutline,poster,oressay.
Students’argumentswilllikelyvary,butcouldincludeanyofthefollowing:
•
•
•
WaterextractiontechniquesusedintheMiddleEasttakeagreattollontheenvironmentthatisdepeleting
watersupplies.
AccesstowaterintheMiddleEastrequiresfurtherstressontheenvironment,butisnecessarytohelpthe
sufferingpopulations.
Dwindlingaccesstowaterhasmadewatermorevaluableleadingtoincreasedviolenceandterrorismto
controlit.
Toextendtheirarguments,teachersmayhavestudentsuseamindmaptool,suchasPopplet,toillustratethemany
connectionsbetweenissuesofwateraccessintheregion.
StudentshavetheopportunitytoTakeInformedActionbydrawingontheirunderstandingsofwateraccessto
consideranissuerelatedtotheircommunity’swater.Tounderstandmoreabouttheirwater,studentsinvestigate
thecostoftheircommunity’swater(i.e.,thesource,extractiontechniques,theextenttowhichitis“clean,”
ownership),throughsuchsourcesasdatafromtheEnviornmentalWorkingGroup,viatheNewYorkTimes
database.Toassesstheissue,studentsdeterminethethemostpressingwater-relatedissueaffectingtheir
community.Toact,studentscreateaschool-widecampaigntoaddressthisconcern.Thefeaturedsourcesprovide
possibleresourcestoassessownershipandcleanliness/contaminationofwater,respectively.
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
SupportingQuestion1
FeaturedSource
SourceA:WorldResourcesInstitute,database,Aqueduct:WaterRiskAtlas,2015
Accessedfrom:http://www.wri.org/our-work/project/aqueduct
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
SupportingQuestion2
FeaturedSource
SourceA:FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations,database,AQUASTAT
Database,2016
Accessedfrom:http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/main/index.stm
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
SupportingQuestion2
FeaturedSource
SourceB:FarzanehRoudi-Fahimi,LizCreel,andRoger-MarkDeSouza,article,“Findingthe
Balance:PopulationandWaterScarcityintheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica,”Population
ReferenceBureau,2002
FreshWater:AScarceandCriticalResource
Watersustainshumans'health,foodproduction,andeconomicdevelopment.Butonly3percentofEarth's
waterissalt-free,orfreshwater.Moreover,nearly70percentoffreshwaterislockedinglaciersandicebergs,
andisnotavailableforhumanuse.Thefreshwaterthatisavailablecomesfromrainorfromrivers,lakes,
springs,andsomegroundwaterreserves,suchasaquifers.1(Waterbelowthewatertable,containedinsolidor
fracturedrock,isknownasgroundwater;aquifersaregeologicformationsthatstore,transport,andyield
groundwatertowells.)Today'swellscanreachwaterburieddeepwithinEarth,sothesefreshwatersupplies
canbedepletedonamassivescale.Mostaquiferscanberechargedbytheannualwatercycle,butwater
trappedinancientundergroundformationscannotberenewed.
RapidpopulationgrowthhasexacerbatedthewaterscarcityMENAfaces.Whilenaturalfactorssuchas
intermittentdroughtsandlimitedfreshwaterreservescancausescarcity,highpopulationgrowthimposes
additionalpressures.2Expertsmeasurewateravailabilityintermsoftheamountofannualrenewablefresh
waterperperson.Acountryisconsidered"waterstressed"whenitstotalrenewablefreshwaterresourceslie
between1,000cubicmetersand1,700cubicmetersperpersonperyear."Water-scarce"countrieshavean
averageoflessthan1,000cubicmetersofrenewablefreshwaterperpersonperyear.Twelveoftheworld's
15water-scarcecountriesareinMENA[…]
Thesethresholdsforwaterscarcityandwaterstressdonotreflectthefreshwaterresourcesthatmay
eventuallybecomeaccessibleforhumanuse.Accessibilityisdeterminedbyanation'sabilitytocollectand
transportwatertousersandbythequalityofthewater.Humanactivitiesoftenpolluteexistingsourcesof
freshwater,makingitunusableorexpensivetotreatandreuse.Oncewaterisavailableforhumanuse,
however,manyfactorsaffecthowthatwaterisused.
BalancingWaterScarcityandHumanDemand
MENAcountrieshaveincreasinglybeenadoptingnewstrategiesforbalancingtheirscarcewaterresources
andgrowingdemandforfreshwater,althoughtheiroptionsmaybedictatedbyanumberofdifferentfactors.
Forexample,low-incomecountries,suchasYemen,wouldnotbeabletopurchasethehigh-techequipment
availabletohigh-incomecountries,suchasSaudiArabia.Evenforhigh-incomecountries,purelytechnological
solutionsrelieveonlysomeofthedemandforwater.Inthelongterm,slowingpopulationgrowthinthe
regionandcreatingeffectivepoliciesandprogramsforimprovedwatermanagementarekeytotheregion's
sustainabledevelopment.
StrategiesforIncreasingSupply
Mostgovernmentshavetraditionallyfocusedonincreasingaccesstofreshwaterbylocating,developing,and
managingnewsources,despitethehighcostsofteninvolved.Asnewnaturalsourcesofwaterbecomescarcer
andmoreexpensive,however,MENAcountriesareturningtootheroptions,suchasdesalinationand
treatmentandreuseofwastewater,whilecontinuingtouseoldermethods.
QanatsandRainwaterHarvestingQanats,orchainwells,atraditionalmethodforbringingwatertothe
surface,consistofaseriesofhorizontaltunnelsboredintoaclifformountainousarea.Theseinterconnected
tunnelsaresloped,allowingwatertodrainoutandcreateanoasisinanotherwisearidarea.Thelargest
numberofqanatsarefoundinIran.Rainwaterharvesting,anotherancientmethodforcollectingwaterfrom
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
roofs,cisterns,andothersources,divertsrunoffintopondsandreservoirsforagriculturaluse.InEgypt,
Bedouinfarmershaverehabilitateddegradedagriculturallandbystoringrunoffwaterinwadis(dryriverbeds
thatbecomepondsafterheavyrains)andbyconstructingearthendikes.5
SequentialWaterUseSequentialwateruseinvolvescapturingandtreatingwaterthathasbeenusedinone
sectorsothatitcanbedirectedtootheruses.Domesticuserequiresthecleanestwater,sotheidealorderis
forwatertobeusedinthehouseholdfirst,theninindustry,theninagriculture.6Urbanwastewater,often
referredtoas"brownwater,"canbetreatedandchanneledfromtownsandcitiesontonearbyfarms,
increasingcropyieldsanddecreasingtheneedforchemicalfertilizers.Forexample,mostofIsrael'ssewageis
purifiedandusedtoirrigatefarmland.7WastewaterfromTunisisusedtoirrigatecitrusandoliveorchards
nearthecity,aswellasgolfcourses,hotelgardens,andcertaincrops.8
DesalinationExtractingsaltfromseawaterisextremelyexpensive.Desalinationprovidesacleanandreliable
sourceofwater,butituseslargequantitiesofheatandhassomenegativeenvironmentalconsequences.Sixty
percentoftheworld'sdesalinationcapacityliesintheoil-richGulfstates;30percentoftheworld'stotalisin
SaudiArabia,whichhasfacilitiesonthecoastsofboththeRedSeaandtheGulfofAden.Sincethe1950s,
Kuwaithasbeenthepioneerindevelopingdesalinationtosupplyfreshwaterfordomesticuse.
TradingWaterThereareanumberofwaystotransportwaterfromoneregiontoanother,includingshipping
itbyboat,transportingitviapipeline,towingitinlargewaterbags(Medusabags),andcarryingitoverlandin
vehicles.ImportingwatercouldhelpMENAgovernmentsmeettheincreaseddemand,reducingthepotential
incentiveforpeopletomigrate.Buttheecologicalimpactsofmajorwatertransferschemescanbesignificant:
Pumpingwaterfromonebasintoanotherareamayseriouslyaffectlocalecosystemsandhydrology.9
StrategiesforManagingDemand
Successfulpoliciesandprogramsformanagingwatersuppliesmightinvolvestrategiesforpromotingmore
desirablepatternsandlevelsofwateruse.Optionsincludereallocatingwaterawayfromagriculture,
increasingirrigationefficiency,institutingvoluntaryconservationmeasures,involvingcommunitiesinwater
managementplans,andfindingmoreeffectivedistributionmechanisms.
WaterReallocationFormostMENAcountries,reallocatingwaterawayfromagricultureandtowardthe
domesticandindustrialsectorsmaybeacritical,althoughcontroversial,waytoadjusttowaterscarcity.Such
policiescansatisfytheneedsofgrowingurbanpopulations,buttheycanalsothreatenfoodsecurityandthe
livelihoodoffarmers.Moreover,suchshiftsmaybepoliticallysensitive,especiallywherelocaltribescontrol
waterresources,andmayraiselegalissues.
LessWater-IntensiveCropsAnumberofMENAcountriesrelyheavilyontheirownproductionofcereals,
whichhavealowreturnperunitoflandandwater.Switchingtolesswater-dependentcrops,sellingthemin
theinternationalmarket,andimportingcerealscouldhelpconservewater.Butwhilethestrategymaymake
economicsense,countriesoftenfeelthatitisstrategicallyimportantandamatterofnationalprideto
producetheirowncereals.
EfficientTechnologiesBettertechnologiesmayhelpreducelong-termcostsandimproveefficiency.Studies
haveshown,forexample,thatdripirrigationcutswaterusebybetween30percentand70percentand
increasescropyieldsbybetween20percentand90percent,comparedwithtraditionalirrigation.Drip
systemsdeliverwaterdirectlytoplants'roots,throughanetworkofperforatedplastictubinginstalledonor
belowthesoilsurface.10Anothersuccessfultechnique,fertigation,involvesapplyingfertilizertoirrigation
waterthroughtheuseofcomputer-controlleddriptechniques.Iteconomizesonwaterandfertilizeruse,and
limitssoilsalinizationandgroundwaterpollution.11Israelifarmers,whousehighlyefficientdrip-irrigation
techniques,havemorethandoubledtheirfoodproductioninthelast20yearswithoutincreasingtheiruseof
water.12
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DistributionEfficienciesOthermeasuresforimprovingdistribution,suchasrepairingleakingdistribution
systemsandsewerpipes,expandingcentralsewagesystems,meteringwaterconnections,andrationingand
restrictingwateruse,canalsoplayimportantroles.Forexample,Jordan'sconstructioncodesmandatethat
buildingsbeconstructedinaccordancewithwaterconservationspecifications.13
PublicEducationandCommunityInvolvementInvolvingcommunitiesinadoptingnewstrategiescanincrease
acceptanceofnewwatersystems.Communitiescanbetaughttomaintainandoperatewatersystems,and
canhelpdeterminewhattypeofsystembestsuitslocalconditions.InTunisia,forexample,therearenearly
2,500waterassociationsthataremanagingdrinkingandirrigationwatersystems.14Waterconservation
measuresthatrelyonthecommunityareoftenmoreeffectivewhentheyprovideincomeforthecommunity.
InJordan,forexample,theBusinessandProfessionalWomen'sOrganizationtrainspoorwomento
demonstrateandsellwaterconservationdevices,suchasshut-offnozzlesforhoses,aeratorsforfaucets,and
waterlesssoap.
ConservationCountriesareadoptingavarietyofwaystoencouragevoluntaryconservation,includingplans
integratingreligiousmessageswithconservationpractices.In1998,forexample,theGulfstatesaskedlocal
religiousleaderstodevotetheirFridayspeechestothethemeofIslamandwaterconservationforWorld
WaterDay.TheIsraeliWaterCommissionhasestimatedthatimplementingvoluntaryconservationmeasures
couldreducethecountry'sdomesticuseby55millioncubicmetersayear.15Manyconservationmessages
havealsobeenincorporatedintoschoolcurriculathroughouttheregion.
EconomicConsiderationsMENAgovernmentshavetraditionallysubsidizedthecostofprovidingsafewaterto
citizens,buttheyareincreasinglylookingforwaystopasspartofthecostontoconsumers.Possiblestrategies
includeimposingwatertariffs;chargingforextractingwater;pricingwateratcost;offeringconservation
subsidies;andchargingmoreduringcertaintimesofthedayorseasonsoftheyear.16Internationalresearch
showsthathouseholds,whoreceivemostofthebenefitfrompipedwater,arewillingtopay3percentto5
percentoftheirincomeforaccesstocleanwater.17Water-userestrictions,pricingpolicies,wastewaterquality
requirements,andimpactfeescanmotivateindustrialandcommercialuserstoreducetheirwateruse.Inone
Jordaniansteelmill,forexample,dailywaterdemandfellfrom450cubicmetersto20cubicmeterswhen
coolingwaterwasrecycled.18Suchincentivescanhelpdiscourageindustrialwaterpollutionandagricultural
inefficiencies,buttheymaybedifficulttoimplementandenforce.19
AdditionalStrategies
Somestrategiescanrelievewaterscarcityintheshortterm.Otherstrategiesaddressmoresystemicissues
thathelpachievelong-termgoals.Theselonger-termstrategiesincludeimplementinglegalandinstitutional
reforms,increasingregionalcooperation(seeBox1),andslowingpopulationgrowth.
InstitutingLegalandInstitutionalReformsComplicatedsystemsofwaterrights,landrights,socialandcivic
institutions,andlegalregimescansometimesunderminewatermanagement;reformcouldimprovehow
waterresourcesareregulated.20Suchchangesmayinvolvelegalandinstitutionalreforms,reorganizingthe
publicandprivatesectors,andnongovernmentalorganizations'participation.21Jordan,forexample,placedall
responsibilityforresourcesplanningandmonitoringunderthecontroloftheMinistryofWaterand
Irrigation.22Previously,severalagencieshadoverseenwateruse,leadingtoshort-termplanning,sporadic
enforcementofwaterresourceslaws,andlimitedsurveillanceofwaterpollution.
SlowingPopulationGrowthThe1994UnitedNationsInternationalConferenceonPopulationand
Development(ICPD)providedanopportunityforcountriestoexaminetheirpopulationchallengesanddiscuss
possiblesolutionsforachievingsociallyequitable,sustainabledevelopmentforeachcountry.TheICPD
ProgrammeofActionfocusesonhumandevelopment,providingaframeworkforslowingpopulationgrowth
andimprovingpeople'slives.Itcallsforawiderangeofinvestmentstoimprovehealth,education,andrights–
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
particularlyforwomenandgirls—andtoprovidereproductivehealthinformationandservicestohelppeople
achievetheirdesiredfamilysize.
Accessedfrom:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/Reports/2002/FindingtheBalancePopulationandWaterScarcityintheMiddleEa
standNorthAfrica.aspx
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
SupportingQuestion3
FeaturedSource
SourceA:AlexandraBarton,report,“WaterinCrisis–MiddleEast,”TheWaterProject,2016
TheMiddleEasthasexperiencedmanyenvironmentalconcernslately.Waterresourcesarebecoming
increasinglyscarce,especiallyforthemillionstherewhoalreadylackaccesstosanitarywater.Someofthese
countries,includingYemen,theUnitedArabEmirates,SaudiArabia,andIraq,arefacinguniqueproblemsthat
requireglobal,immediateattention.Besidetheirneighboringlocation,onesharedfactorofallthese
countriesistheirlackofwaterresourcesandpoorwatermanagement.
TheMiddleEasthassomeofthelargestoilreservesintheworld,whichproducesmostofthearea'swealth.
Evenso,theregion'sclimateandenvironmentmakelivingharsh.TheMiddleEastrequireswaterresources
andsuitablelandforagriculture.Muchofthelandthatisavailableforproducingfoodisdestroyed
byincreasingdesertification.
Desertificationisasweepingenvironmentalproblem,withvasteffectsincountriessuchasSyria,Jordan,Iraq,
andIran.Universalcausesforaspreadofaridenvironmentareunsustainableagriculturepracticesand
overgrazing.Agricultureuses85percentofwaterinthisregion.Itiscommontomisuselandbyheavy
irrigationintheMiddleEast.Intheareadroughtsaremorefrequent,andcontributetothechanging
landscape.Theoveruseofwaterinagricultureisaffectingthecountries'alreadyundersizedwaterresources.
Jordan,locatedintheSyrianDesert,andYemen,onthesoutherntipoftheArabianPeninsula,bothendure
severewaterscarcityintheMiddleEast.Forexample,Jordan'saveragefreshwaterwithdrawalislessthanten
percentofPortugal'saverage,despitebeingthesamesize.ThecostofwaterinJordanincreasedthirty
percentintenyears,duetoaquickshortageofgroundwater.Yemenhasoneofthehighestworldwiderates
ofmalnutrition;overthirtypercentofitspopulationdoesnotmeettheirfoodneeds.Inrecentyears,Yemen
hasnotbeenabletoproduceenoughfoodtosustainitspopulations.Waterscarcityhasdamagedthe
standardoflivingforinhabitantsoftheMiddleEast.
TheUnitedArabEmirates,locatedontheArabianPeninsula,isfamousforitsluxuriouscitiesfilledwithlavish
resorts,shopping,andattractions.Thelivelihoodsoftheseextravagantemiratesmightcreatetheassumption
thatwaterscarcityisnotaproblemfortheserichstates.Inreality,however,theUAEisconfrontedwitha
seriousdepletionoftheiravailablewaterresources.AreportfromtheEmiratesIndustrialBankin2005said
thattheUAEhadthehighestpercapitaconsumptionofwaterintheworld.Additionally,forthepastthirty
yearsthewatertableofthisregionhasdroppedaboutonemeterperyear.Atthiscurrentrate,theUAEwill
depleteitsnaturalfreshwaterresourcesinaboutfiftyyears.Evenwithalargeamountofdesalinationplants
toreducewaterdeficiency,theUAEneedstoadjustitswaterusehabitsbeforeitsenergyconsumption
doublesin2020.
DesalinationplantsareanoveruseofwaterresourcesintheMiddleEast.Seventypercentofdesalination
plantsintheworldarelocatedinthisarea,foundmostlyinSaudiArabia,theUnitedArabEmirates,Kuwait,
andBahrain.Whiletheplantsproducewaterneededforthearidregion,theycanmanufactureproblemsfor
healthandtheenvironment.Theseawaterusedmostindesalinationplantshashighamountsofboronand
bromide,andtheprocesscanalsoremoveessentialmineralslikecalcium.Also,theconcentratedsaltisoften
dumpedbackintooceanswheretheincreasedsalinityaffectstheocean'senvironment.Theplantsharmlocal
wildlifeandaddpollutantstotheregion'sclimate.Inaddition,desalinationisthemostenergy-costingwater
resource.ThePacificInstituteexplainsthatthehighuseofenergyresultsinraisedenergypricesandhigher
pricesonwaterproduced,hurtingtheconsumer.Thewaterproducedcanbebeneficialtowardssubstituting
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anylackoffreshwater,buttheseareashavetendenciestowardsoveruseoftheirnaturalresources.Concerns
withthelargeamountofdesalinationplantsintheMiddleEastfocusontheimproperdependencytheywill
cause,insteadofencouragingalternateformsofwaterandenergyandconservingfreshwater.
TheMiddleEasthasnumerousstruggleswithitscurrentwaterresources,andtheregionneedsmorethanone
solutiontogenerateanoptimisticenvironmentalpositionforthefuture.
FactsandStatistics:https://thewaterproject.org/water-scarcity/water_stats
Accessedfrom:https://thewaterproject.org/water-crisis/water-in-crisis-middle-east
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SupportingQuestion4
FeaturedSource
SourceA:GlobalPublicSquare,video,TheComingWaterWars?2013
Videoclipaccessedfrom:http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/22/the-coming-water-wars/
Transcript:
Imaginealargebodyofwater–aboutthesizeoftheDeadSea–simplydisappearing.Itsoundslikeascience
fictionmovie.Butit’snot.It’shappeninginreallife–andwe'veonlyjustfoundout.
ApioneeringstudyfromNASAandtheUniversityofCaliforniaIrvineshowshowtheMiddleEastislosingits
freshwaterreserves.Asyoucanseefromthesatelliteimageryinthevideo,we’regoingfrombluesand
greens,toyellowsandreds:that’s144cubickilometersoflostwaterbetween2003and2009.Whatdowe
meanby“lostwater”?MostofitcomesfrombelowtheEarth’ssurface,fromwatertrappedinrocks.Intimes
ofdrought,wetendtodrillforwaterbyconstructingwellsandpumps.ButtheEarthhasafinitesupply.
NASA’sscientistssaypumpingforwateristheequivalentofusingupyourbanksavings.Andthatbank
accountisdwindling.
Thiscouldhaveseriousimplications.ConflictsoverwaterareasoldasthestoryofNoah–in3,000BC.The
PacificInstitutelists225suchconflictsthroughhistory.What’sfascinatingisthatnearlyhalfofthoseconflicts
tookplaceinthelasttwodecades.Arewegoingtoseeaneweraofwarsfoughtoverwater?
ConsiderthatNASA’sstudyisofoneofthemostvolatileregionsintheworld.WetendtothinkoftheMiddle
Eastanditsupheavalsasdefinedbyoil.Perhapsinthefutureitwillbedefinedbywater.Weoftentalkofa
worldofnuclearhavesandhave-nots,butaworldofwaterhavesandhave-notscouldbeevenmore
dangerous.
Partoftheproblemisthattheworld’sneedshavechanged.Lookatthepopulationboom.We’vegonefrom4
billionpeoplein1975,toaround7billiontoday.TheUnitedNationsprojectswewillhit9billionby2050.
Meanwhile,asIndia,China,andAfricacontinuetoaddmillionstotheirmiddleclasses,globaldemandforall
kindsoffoodandproductswillincrease.Allofthoseproductscostmoney–exceptforwater,whichweliketo
thinkofasabundantandfree.Yetwateristheresourceweneedtoworrymostabout.AccordingtotheWorld
HealthOrganization,morethan780millionpeople–that’stwo-and-a-halftimesthepopulationoftheUnited
States–lackaccesstocleanwater.Morethan3millionpeopledieeveryyearfromthisshortage.Asourneeds
expand,sowilltheshortfall.
Whatcanbedone?Mostofourwaterisactuallywasted–andtheUnitedStatesisactuallyoneoftheworst
culprits.Wecanchangethat.Singaporealreadytreatssewagewatertoconvertitintocleandrinkingwater.
Weneedtoconsiderlarge-scaledesalinization,wheretheUnitedArabEmiratesandSaudiArabiaareworld
leaders.Andremember,agricultureusesupasmuchas70percentofwater.Weneedtofundresearchinto
moreeffectivecrops.AvillageinIndiareportedlysetaworldrecordthismonthforriceproducedinasingle
hectare.How?Simplybychangingwhentheseedlingswereplanted,aprocesswhichsaveswater.
Perhapsmostsimpleandeffectivewouldbetoputsomekindofapriceonwater–sothatpeopleuseitwitha
greatersenseofefficiencyandcare.
Allkindsofinnovationsareunderway.
NextmonththeUnitedNationswillmarkWorldWaterDayandtheinternationalyearofwatercooperation.
It’sagoodtimetostartthinkingaboutbigglobalmeasurestoregulatetheworld’smostimportantresource.
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
SupportingQuestion4
FeaturedSource
SourceB:FredPearce,article,“MideastWaterWars:InIraq,ABattleforControlofWater,”Yale
Environment360,2014
ThereisawaterwargoingonintheMiddleEastthissummer.Behindtheheadlinestoriesofbrutalslaughter
asSunnimilitantscarveoutareligiousstatecoveringIraqandSyria,thereliesabattleforthewatersupplies
thatsustainthesedesertnations.
Bloodisbeingspilledtocapturethegiantdamsthatcontroltheregion’stwogreatrivers,theTigrisand
Euphrates.Thesestructuresholdbackvastvolumesofwater.WiththeirengineersfleeingastheIslamicState
(ISIS)advances,thedangeristhattheresultcouldbecatastrophe—eitherdeliberateoraccidental.
AHMADAL-RUBAYE/AFP/GettyImages
AKurdishfighterlooksatsmokerisingonthehorizonfollowingU.S.airstrikesonIslamicStatemilitantsat
MosulDam.
“ManagingwaterworksalongtheTigrisandEuphratesrequiresahighlyspecializedskillset,butthereisno
indicationthattheIslamicStatepossessesit,”saysRussellSticklor,awaterresearcherfortheCGIAR,aglobal
agriculturalresearchpartnership,whohasfollowedeventsclosely.
ThestakesareespeciallyhighsincetheIslamicState’scaptureearlierthismonthofthestructurallyunstable
MosulDamontheTigris,whichIraqiandKurdishforces,supportedbyU.S.airstrikes,succeededinretaking
lastweek.Withoutconstantrepairwork,sayengineers,theMosulDamcouldcollapseandsendawallof
waterdownstream,killingtensofthousandsofpeople.
FightsoverwaterhavepervadedtheMiddleEastforalongtimenow.Watermattersatleastasmuchasland.
ItisattheheartofthesiegeofGaza–theRiverJordanisthebigprizeforIsraelandthePalestinians.Andover
theyears,waterhasbroughtIraq,SyriaandTurkeyclosetowarovertheirsharedrivers,theEuphratesand
Tigris.
TheEuphratesflowsoutofTurkey,andthroughSyriaandintoIraq,beforeenteringthePersianGulfviathe
Mesopotamianmarshes.TheTigrisrisesfurthereastinTurkeyandflowsthroughterritorycurrentlycontrolled
bytheKurdisharmyinIraq.There,itfollowsaparallelpathtotheEuphratesbeforethetworiversmingletheir
watersinthesouthernmarshes.
Thetworiverswateraregionlongknownasthe“FertileCrescent,”whichsustainedancientMesopotamian
civilizations.Theywerethefirstriverstobeusedforlarge-scaleirrigation,beginningabout7500yearsago.
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
Thefirstwaterwarwasalsorecordedhere,whenthekingofUmmacutthebanksofirrigationcanals
alongsidetheEuphratesdugbyhisneighbor,thekingofGirsu.
Notmuchhaschanged.Thedependencepersists,andsodothedisputes.Themaindifferencetodayisthat
thediversiondamsarebigger,andsupplyhydroelectricpoweraswellaswater.Andthatiswhyinrecent
months,manyofthekeybattlesinIraq’scivilwarhavebeenoverlargedams.
TheIslamicState’squestforhydrologicalcontrolbeganinnorthernSyria,whereinearly2013,itcapturedthe
oldRussian-builtTabqaDam,whichbarricadestheEuphratesasitflowsoutofTurkey.Thedam,whichisthe
world’slargestearthendam,isamajorsourceofwaterandelectricityforfivemillionpeople,includingSyria’s
largestcityAleppo.Italsoirrigatesathousandsquarekilometersoffarmland.
WikimediaCommons/YaleEnvironment360
KeydamsalongtheTigrisandEuphratesrivers.
TheIslamicState’scontroloftheTabqaDamhasbeenhaphazard,tosaytheleast.InMay,thereservoir
behindit,LakeAssad,dramaticallyemptied.ManyblamedTurkeyforholdingEuphrateswaterbackbehindits
owndamsupstream.ButtheArabnewsserviceAlJazeeraquotedengineersatthedamassayingthattheir
newmastershadorderedthemtomaximizethesupplyofelectricity.Thatrequiredemptyingthereservoir’s
waterthroughthedam’shydroelectricturbines.
SincelateMay,theIslamicStatehasbeentryingtorefillthereservoirbyrationingelectricityfromthedam,
withblackoutsinAleppofor16to20hoursaday.Meanwhile,otherfightinggroupshaveshutdownawater
pumpingstation,cuttingoffcleanwatersuppliesforamillionpeopleinAleppo.TheUN’sunder-secretaryfor
humanitarianaffairs,ValerieAmos,condemnedthisasa“flagrantviolationofinternationallaw.”
FromtheTabqaDam,theEuphratesflowsdownstreamthroughIraq.ClosetoBaghdad,inthecenterofthe
country,itmeetstheFallujahDam,whichdivertswaterformassiveirrigationprojectsthatproducethecrops
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
thatfeedthecountry.InearlyApril,IslamicStateforcescapturedthedam.Reportsofwhathappenednext
areconfused,butitappearsthatthetroopsimmediatelyshutthedamandstoppedflowdownstream.
ThislefttownssuchasKarbalaandNajaf,aShiiteholycity160kilometersaway,withoutwater.Butitalso
causedthereservoirbehindthedamtooverfloweast,floodingsome500squarekilometersoffarmlandand
thousandsofhomesasfarasAbuGhraib,about40kilometersawayontheoutskirtsofBaghdad.Later,the
rebelsreopenedthedam,causingfloodingdownstream.
ThismayhemmayhavebeenasimplefailurebyIslamicStatefighterstounderstandthehydrologyoftheriver
andtheconsequencesofhowitoperatedthedam.ItmayinitiallyhavebeenanattempttodepriveShiite
communitiesdownstreamofwater.ButArielAhram,asecurityanalystatVirginiaTechUniversity,suggests
theeastwardfloodingwasadeliberateacttorepelIraqigovernmentforcesattemptingtoretakethedam.
TheUNsecretary-general’sspecialrepresentativeinIraq,NickolayMladenov,calledthefloodingdeliberate,
anddemandedtherestorationof“legitimate”controloftheriver.TheIraqigovernmentsaysithassince
recapturedtheFallujahDam.Buttheconflictintheareacontinues,andeventsremainveryworryingfor
anyonedownstream.
ButthebattlefortheFallujahDammaybeasideshowcomparedtothatformuchbiggerHadithaDam,further
upstreamontheEuphrates.ThisisthefirstIraqistructureontheriverafteritflowsoutofSyria.Ateight
kilometersacross,itisIraq’ssecondlargestdam.ItregulatestheriverforthewholeofIraq,providingthe
majorityofwaterforirrigation,aswellasgeneratingathirdofthecountry’selectricity.Itkeepsthelightson
inBaghdad.
IslamicStatefighterscontrolsnearbytowns,andinrecentweekshavelaunchedrepeatedoffensivesto
capturetheHadithaDam,whichtheIraqigovernmentisequallydeterminedtoholdonto.“Ifthedamfell,
thenalargesourceofelectricityforthecapitalcouldbeshutdown,”saysSticklor.
IftheSunnirebelswanttousewaterasaweaponofwaragainsttheShiitesouthofthecountry,theHaditha
Damwouldbeapotentweapon.“Theycoulddisruptdownstreamflow,eitherbywithholdingwateror
releasingawalloffloodwater,astheydidfromFallujahthisspring,”saysSticklor.“Itwouldhaveapotentially
cripplingeffectonfoodproductionandeconomicactivityincentralandsouthernpartsofthecountry.”
Itcouldalsobelethal.ThewaterbehindHadithahaslongbeenrecognizedasapotentialweaponofwar.In
lateJune,employeesatthedamtoldtheNewYorkTimesthatIraqigovernmentgeneralswerepreparedto
openthefloodgatesagainstIslamicStateforcesratherthangivingupthedam.
[…]
Accessedfrom:
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/mideast_water_wars_in_iraq_a_battle_for_control_of_water/2796/
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
SupportingQuestion4
FeaturedSource
SourceC:MatthiasvonHein,article,“’IslamicState’UsingWaterasaWeapon,”DeutscheWelle,
March3,2016
Theterrorgroup"IslamicState"hastakencontrolofsixoftheeightmajordamsinSyriaandIraq.Itis
systemicallyexercisingcontrolbyusingwater.Thedeclineof"IS"nowactuallyposesanotherkindofthreat.
Anabundantwatersupplymeanslife,butexcesswaterorwaterscarcitycanmeandeath.Graveconcerns
havearisenoverthedamsthattheso-called"IslamicState"(IS)hasstrategicallytakeninnorthernIraqand
Syria.IScontrolssixoftheeightlargedamsontheEuphratesandTigrisriversandisnowcontinuously
attackingaseventhone.
ISisspecificallyusingthenaturalresourceasaweapon,observestheconflictresearcherTobiasvonLossowat
Berlin'sInstituteforInternationalandSecurityAffairs(SWP)."Ononehand,ISisdammingtherivertoretain
wateranddryupcertainregions,therebycuttingoffthewatersupplytovillagesandcommunities.Onthe
otherhand,ithasalsofloodedareastodriveawaytheirinhabitantsandtodestroytheirlivelihoods,"saidvon
LossowinaninterviewwithDW.
Man-madedisaster
ISdidnotcomeupwiththeideaofusingwaterasaweapon.InWorldWarI,theBelgiantownofNiewpoort
openedthegatesoftheYserRiverathightideandsystematicallyfloodedFlanders.Theweaponproved
successfulathaltingtheadvancingGermanarmy.About25yearslater,asimilarplancametoatragicend:To
stoptheinvadingJapaneseduringthesecondSino-JapaneseWar,ChineserulerChiangKai-shekhadthe
YellowRiverdikesintheprovinceofHenanblownuponJune9,1938.ItwasexpectedthattheJapanesearmy
woulddrown.Instead,anestimated800,000peopledrownedinthemassivefloodsandtheadvancing
Japanesewerenothalted.
WaterhasalsobeenusedasaweaponintheMiddleEast.Inthe1990s,IraqidictatorSaddamHusseinhadthe
marshesinsouthernIraqdrained.HisgoalwastopunishtheShiitesintheareaforanuprisingagainsthis
regimeandtotakeawaytheirlivelihoods.
ISpursuingenvironmentalwarfare
SWPresearchervonLossowsaysallwarringpartiesinSyriahaveusedwaterasaweapon,althoughnogroup
doesitasoftenasIS.Hesaid,"ISuseswatersystematicallyandconsistently.ISusestheentirerangeof
possibilitiesandvariationsofwaterwarfare."VonLossowcitesexamples:InMay2015,IStooktheEuphrates
daminRamadi.ISthencutbackhalfthewaterinthedownstreamflowoftheEuphratesandthuslimitedthe
watersupplyinfiveprovinces.In2014,ISwasabletouseadamontheEuphratesneartheIraqicityof
Fallujahtodefendandattack:First,theterroristorganizationretainedwatertorepelIraqitroopsonthe
upstreamside.Then,itdrainedwaterandcausedmassivedamagedownstreamandasaconsequence,60,000
peoplehadtoflee.
ThisbackgroundexplainstheinternationalalarmwhenISfighterscapturedthedamontheTigrisinMosulin
August2014.ItisthelargestIraqidamandalmosthalfofIraq'spowersupplyreliesonitsoperation,asdoes
thewatersupplyintheKurdishregions.ControlofthedammeantthatIScouldhavedrieduplargepartsof
Iraq.Atworst,IScouldhaveblownupthealreadycrumblingdam,whichwouldhaveresultedina20meter
hightidalwaveinMosul.ItwouldhavestillbeenfivemetershighbythetimeitreachedBaghdad,andthena
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
halfmillionpeoplewouldhavelosttheirlives.WithmassiveAmericanairsupport,IraqitroopsandKurdish
fighterswereabletorecapturethecrucialdaminjustoveraweek.
Water,aweaponofmassdestruction
Apartfromcuttingoffwaterandflooding,thereisanotherwayofusingwaterasaweapon:contaminationor
poisoning.InDecember2014,ISmadewaterunsafetodrinksouthofTikritbyputtingcrudeoilinit,according
tovonLossow.ISwantedtousethismethodonEuropeansoilinJuly2015:ISsupporterstriedtopoisonthe
largestwaterreservoirintheKosovancapitalPristinabutwereexposedjustbeforetheycommittedtheact.
ThegreatestthreatisthemountingpressureonIS,saysvonLossow.IfISispushedbackbythemilitaryandis
weakened,itwouldloselargepartsofitsterritoryandpopulation.Subsequently,ISwouldseeitselfforcedto
fightitsfinalbattleagainstitsenemieswhileitstandsonthevergeoftheapocalypse.Inthissituation,IScould
possiblytrytoblowupdamsontheEuphratesandTigris,therebyopeningthefloodgates,makingwatera
weaponofmassdestruction.
Accessedfrom:http://www.dw.com/en/islamic-state-using-water-as-a-weapon/a-19093081
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
TakingInformedAction
FeaturedSource
SourceA:TheNatureConservancy,map,WhereDoesYourWaterComeFrom?2016
Accessedfrom:http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/riverslakes/placesweprotect/where-does-yourwater-come-from.xml
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INQUIRYDESIGNMODELCONTESTWINNER
TakingInformedAction
FeaturedSource
SourceB:CharlesDuhigg,et.all,article,“ToxicWaters”Database,NewYorkTimes,2012
Accessedfrom:http://projects.nytimes.com/toxic-waters/contaminants
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