Water & Wastewater Asia September/October 2018

INSIGHT | 39
From there, the precipitation either
evaporates back into the atmosphere,
beginning the cycle all over again or goes
through the surface, becoming groundwater
that would either make its way back into the
atmosphere through transpiration or slowly
trickle into streams, rivers, or oceans.
But climate change has altered the water
cycle, with high temperatures and a warmer
atmosphere leading to a greater intensity of
water scarcity that has resulted in increased
drought around the world.
“More evaporation over large land masses,
sucking water out of the soil, implications
of water security,” Professor Obbard flatly
stated. “And because of the higher latent
heat energy in the atmosphere which is
holding more moisture, it seems that the
precipitation is coming out in more intense
bursts of rainfall.”
Moreover, examples are appearing all
over the world, with the January floods in
Singapore considered the worst in thirty
years.
“There is a lot of variability in the system,
and when you look at the trends long-term,
you’ll notice that those trends are up,”
he added. “So it becomes a real threat to
security in terms of food, energy, and water.”
RISKS AND IMPACT
In Southeast Asia, flooding is almost the
norm, especially during the annual monsoon
season, where rains batter the region and
waterways swell. But Southeast Asia is also
the region where the population is growing
along with its economy, and urbanisation is
following at a rapid pace.
“Growth is expected to be the fastest in this
part of the world,” Professor Obbard said.
“And that inevitably puts a lot of demand on
natural ecosystems, the supply of water, as
well as cities which are responsible for the
supply of water for the population as well as
carrying wastewater away.”
Moreover, water scarcity, drought, flooding,
as well as other related issues have
the potential to negatively impact
businesses in the region, and even human
behaviour.
“In the event of a drought, increasing water
tariffs and increasing water restrictions are
going to affect manufacturing and business,
along with economic security,” Professor
Obbard explained. “On the other hand,
floods and heavy precipitation can damage
infrastructure very rapidly, and can knock
local economies sideways pretty quickly with
the consequences in terms of costs for clean
up and additional infrastructure.”
As the hydrological cycle continues to alter,
heavy rains and drought will become more
common. Here, a pair of siblings search
for water in drought-stricken Uganda
Water & Wastewater Asia • September / October 2018