Problem
Water salinization
Other Names:
Water pollution by salinitySalt water intrusion
Adjacency of saline water
Salt water flooding
Saline water table
Nature:
Rivers carry dissolved salts from exposed saline shale formations, surface salt deposits (eg salt lakes), and saline springs and seeps, into the sea. Farmers withdraw groundwater and surface flows for irrigation water, which percolates through the soil and leaches more salts into the stream or basin. Saline water tables can be drawn up by the depletion of freshwater, further adding to soil salinity. Each subsequent use of the water adds to its salinity until the water becomes too salty for human use. Salinization of rivers and inland seas is also disruptive to their natural ecosystems.
Incidence:
About 2 million hectares of agricultural land in southern Western Australia is already affected by salinity, and a further 4 million hectares is threatened.
Broader Problems:
Water pollutionTidal water damagePollution of underground waters Narrower Problems:
Leaching of salts through irrigation Related Problems:
Impurities in waste water Aggravates:
Salty paddy fieldsShortage of fresh-water Difficult island cultivationLand rehabilitation difficultyInadequate water system infrastructureThreatened permanent brackish lake habitatsEcological disruption of animal breeding groundsUnderdeveloped potential of community basic resourcesVulnerability of island developing countries and territories Strategies:
Adapting to climate change Values:
FloodingIntrusivenessPollution References:
Atkinson, Sam F, et al: Saltwater IntrusionSalama, R B: Physical and Chemical Techniques for Discharge Studies Subject(s):
Fundamental Sciences → ChemicalsHydrology → Water
Societal Problems → Emergencies
Societal Problems → Pollution
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
05.08.2019 – 21:58 CEST