An Assessment of Water Resources in the Taiwan Strait Island Using the Water Poverty Index

Tung-Tsan Chen,Wei-Ling Hsu,Wen-Kuang Chen

doi:10.3390/su12062351

Tung-Tsan Chen, Wei-Ling Hsu + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062351

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Abstract

Water resources are a very important issue in the Global Risk 2015 published by the World Economic Forum. The research objective of this study was to construct a Water Poverty Index (WPI) for islands. The empirical scope of this study was based on Kinmen Island in the Taiwan Strait, which has very scarce water resources. Kinmen has a dry climate with low rainfall and high evaporation. Therefore, the Kinmen area is long-term dependent on groundwater resources and faces serious water resource problems. This study used the WPI to examine various issues related to water resources. In addition, this study selected several main indicators and performed time series calculations to examine the future trends of water resources in Kinmen. The results show that the overall water resources of Kinmen are scarce. To ensure sustainable development of water resources in Kinmen, policies to improve water scarcity, such as water resource development, water storage improvement, and groundwater control, should be researched. The research results of this study can be used as a reference for government agencies in formulating and revising water resources to achieve the sustainable development of island-type water resources.

Highlights

In the last few decades, the increases in the world’s population, living standards, consumption patterns, and irrigated agriculture have driven a rising global demand for water [1,2,3,4]
According to the estimates provided by international agencies such as the World Health Organization, the global population facing water shortages will increase from 20% in 2000 to 30% in 2025, and the number of countries facing water shortages will increase from 30 in 2000 to 50 in 2025
Especially those located in arid to semi-arid regions, precautions are being taken against water scarcity [9,10,11]

Summary

Introduction

In the last few decades, the increases in the world’s population, living standards, consumption patterns, and irrigated agriculture have driven a rising global demand for water [1,2,3,4]. To implement the “Agenda 21” of the Rio Summit, the United Nations convened the Sustainable Development Earth Summit in Johannesburg in 2002. In this meeting, the United Nations presented water resources, energy, health, agriculture, and biodiversity as the five major issues that 21st-century humans must face, with water resources considered to be the main issue. One of the effects of water scarcity is a lack of sufficient drinking water for the population. This issue can be worsened by improper wellfield management

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