Miguel Adolfo Guajardo MendozaThe researcher from the Colegio Mexiquense warned that technology must be incorporated to solve the water crisis. Immediate help option.
Although technology is not the primary solution, it is an alternative until a culture becomes aware of its need, as it involves more responsible consumption and a more sustainable economy that uses less water and allows its reuse. Change related to its use.
“It will take generations to achieve change, but eventually there are transitional solutions that will help overcome this scarcity situation, practical technological innovations that have already been implemented in other latitudes and succeeded in their objectives,” he said. emphasized.
Current situation
A further professor at Colegio Mexiquense's Academic Seminar on Institutions, Civil Society and Public Policy, he pointed out that water scarcity is fundamentally the cause of the major problem. We have interrupted the natural cycle of production and regeneration.
On the one hand, he explained that this balance problem has been created because of a very strong increase. Water is required for consumption; It is neither responsible nor balanced, and on the other hand, supply is limited because there is no adequate and quality infrastructure to collect, retain and distribute it efficiently.
“So, all of these factors are coming together, plus elements linked to climate change, that are preventing our reserves and our reservoirs, our dams, from being filled properly. I mean, it creates a series of factors. A perfect stormBut this is not an intermediate aspect, something we have to deal with going forward,” he added.
In this scenario, he highlighted that technology offers great innovations to address many of the current issues and can contribute to improving the availability and distribution of fluid in a short period of time.
Technological alternatives
The researcher pointed out that currently in other latitudes of the planet; It has also been implemented in other states Technological alternatives To solve some of the common problems of not having enough water like leaks, landslides, low rainfall and interruption of natural cycle.
Some of these technologies are:
Nanobots To prevent leakage
Guajardo Mendoza notes that during the collection and distribution of water, the drinking water network, drains and pipes, are built throughout, and it is estimated that there is a 10 to 15% liquid loss due to leaks. Over the years, as new colonies or home centers have sprung up, the location of the leaks has been limited to the point where no one has a map of the network.
In this sense, he pointed out that in cities like Tokyo in Japan and Seoul in Korea, they used it. Nanobots To maintain their drinking water supply networks, with great success.
He explained that these small devices travel autonomously throughout the network and create a Sound and other digital graphics It can create a real-time map of the entire drinking water supply network, within hours or days.
Likewise, they measure differences in pressure that allow for the identification of small leaks. However, there are other types of nanodevices that can be solved some because there are more precise welding tools to fix them.
“With this type of technology, we can solve the first critical problem like leaks, which cause a good amount of available drinking water to be lost, and to know the mapping and be very clear about where the problem is in the distribution network.”Accurate.
The researcher acknowledged that these are expensive technical systems, but pointed out that the annual water loss is very costly.
“If we do a cost-benefit analysis, the technology pays for itself over time 5 or 7 years. It is a very profitable investment in the medium and long term,” he added.
GPS and tracking systems
Miguel Adolfo Guajardo pointed out that because sometimes the distribution network does not reach the end users, especially in the most peripheral areas, the distribution is solved from the pipelines, and we have another one. leak type, It is not due to damage to the pipes, but for theft, Resale and lack of control.
To put an end to this phenomenon, it is also called huachicoleoIn water-scarce states like Guanajuato or Nuevo León, GPS systems and real-time tracking of all water-carrying vehicles have been implemented.
He said that in the first studies, it was identified so far 30, 40% of water does not reach its target Finally, since it has been previously distributed, it implies that the distributors have opportunities for corruption or ill-gotten gains.
“Through these systems you can observe when the pipes deviate from the pre-established routes and if the amount of water they store in the tank changes … Therefore, this real-time monitoring, sensors that allow you to measure the capacities in the vehicles, is a good alternative,” he declared.
Desalination plants
The academic noted that due to the lack of new water bodies, other countries have resorted to more intensive projects, for example, Desalination seawater.
However, he acknowledged that current desalination plants are still inefficient and expensive, as they require high energy and resource consumption, making them unprofitable.
He pointed out that recently new materials, nanomaterials, allow the design of functional prototypes of desalination plants, which are already being tested and are estimated to be possible in our communities in 10 or 15 years. “It's not a background solution, it's a Temporary solution“Because if not renewed, we're going to start accepting again a resource that doesn't solve the fundamental problem,” he reiterated.
Cloud seeding
The researcher mentioned cloud seeding as an emerging measure used in countries such as Israel, although he recognized that this option is not sustainable in the long term and does not solve the underlying problem.
“Cloud seeding is made from certain chemicals so that atmospheric conditions start to form and then trigger rain, basically, in some areas and under some plans, it helps temporarily, but it can't be sustainable if we don't start again. The Natural cycle of water flow“, to be precise.
In short
Guajardo Mendoza highlighted it Technology can save time, reflect and avert major humanitarian crises, but it is not the ultimate solution.L.
“The ultimate solution is responsible, sustainable consumption, an economy that can sustain itself over time and awareness that this is a non-renewable resource,” he stressed.
He emphasized that despite the technology's potential to solve the water crisis, its adoption as public policy faces hurdles such as understanding cost and prioritizing traditional infrastructure work.
However, he emphasized one requirement A change in thinking and a culture that integrates technology as a fundamental part of the solution to scarcity.
Edomex without technology
Finally, the expert said, although this time in the state of Mexico There is no municipality Technology-focused policies have been implemented, which could be an opportunity to explore new solutions to the increasing pressure on water resources.
“Even though we have a serious water problem, there are no long-term obstacles, so it has not yet created pressure on the public agenda like elsewhere in the country, but it will be an opportunity to look at the technology. Optionally,” he concluded.
