CHAD | CHAD |
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Solving Water Problems continued |
Solving theWater Problems
(http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?srch=1&p=lake+chad&fr=sfp&n=20&fl=0)
Lake Chad is a terminal lake, meaning it only has water flowing into it, but it doesn't flow outward. By looking at the rate that the water level drops and the rate of evaporation (about 200 cm/year), researchers have noticed that numbers don't make sense. The water level is dropping too much for evaporation to be the only means for water to leave the lake. This has led to the theory that perhaps water is leaving from the bottom of the lake into an underground aquifer. (2000 Wright- Water Policy)If scientists can prove this theory to be true, and find the location where water is leaving the lake, perhaps they can help solve the problem by plugging the "leak," and therefore securring the water supply. Although there are natural circumstances that contribute to the decreasing water supply of Lake Chad, humans certainly have an impact on it as well. Humans continue to take water from the lake and use it to water their crops even though they are aware of the problems they face. With the large amount of people that need the lake for their food supply, other alternatives are being looked at to try to save Lake Chad. There are several projects being done to bring water in from other rivers and basins other than Lake Chad. As of now, the biggest concern is to educate the people. "Poor information means water extraction projects are at risk of exacerbating the very problems they are meant to solve." If people want the problems to be solved, people have to understand what is going on. Another approach that they have been using is looking for new technology to make purifying salt water cheaper. As these appraoches are in effect, pushing the water crises up on the political agenda is the only thing they can do in the meantime.
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