A Global View on Future Major Water Engineering Projects

Abstract

Human activities have altered how the world functions. During the past decades, we have globally, fundamentally, in the long-term, and in most cases irreversibly modifi ed all spheres of earth. This new epoch, often referred to as the Anthropocene, is just in its early stages. Indeed, there is general agreement that the transformation of our globe takes speed, with consequences that we can hardly imagine but that may threaten our own survival. This goes along with the general idea that major infrastructure projects are a sign of technological progress and believed to stimulate economic development and to improve living conditions for humans. In the present essay, a representative inventory of future major engineering projects, either planned or under construction in aquatic systems worldwide, shows that the rapid transformations of the Anthropocene are particularly evident in the freshwater domain. Worldwide examples of very large dams, major interbasin water-transfer and navigation projects, as well as large-scale restoration schemes, underline the dimensions of and the challenges associated with future megaprojects that will change our freshwater environment. Opportunities to mitigate the consequences of megaprojects based on the lessons learnt from projects in other infrastructure sectors range from ecological engineering to smart water investments that are adjusted to the respective national, social, economic, and environmental conditions.

The Alliance for Freshwater Life: A global call to unite efforts for freshwater biodiversity science and conservation

“…Many wetlands have been converted to agricultural production (Ramsar, ), and other fresh waters are actively used as sinks for pollutants or dumps for effluent and industrial waste, without consideration of the harm caused or the resultant loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in these systems (Craig et al, ). Engineering‐based solutions for water provisioning emphasize water infrastructure (Green et al, ; Tockner, Bernhardt, Koska, & Zarfl, ; Vörösmarty et al, ). These may help meet human demands for water in the short term, but often have significant impacts on freshwater ecosystems (Harrison et al, ).…”

Global Water Transfer Megaprojects: A Potential Solution for the Water-Food-Energy Nexus?

“…Another example is the Sibaral Project (2,500 km long of water transfer from Siberian rivers to the Aral Sea), which was proposed during the Soviet Union era, stopped in 1986, and recently discussed again among various actors in Central Asia and Russia (Pearce, 2004). Their realization cannot be dismissed, however, as extreme droughts, natural disasters, or famines may open so-called "windows-of-opportunities" to move forward on their construction (Tockner et al, 2016). At the same time, these projects are connected with massive environmental, social, and economic interventions and therefore in most cases environmentally and economically unsustainable (Flyvbjerg, 2014;Sternberg, 2016;Zhuang, 2016).…”

“…Megaprojects are often high-risk projects because they require major financial investments, demand long time frames from planning to completion, and may have major socio-economic and environmental ramifications (Flyvbjerg, 2014;Sternberg, 2016). In the water sector, megaprojects include transfer projects, large dams, navigation schemes, desalination plants, treatment plants, and ecosystem restoration projects (Sternberg, 2016;Tockner et al, 2016). Megaprojects are often initiated as an expression of national and political power and expected to trigger economic and social development (Sternberg, 2016).…”

“…Comprehensive data and information on the global extent of future WTMP are currently lacking (Tockner et al, 2016). Design, construction, and commencement of megaprojects require time, money and technical skills (Flyvbjerg, 2014).…”

Global Water Transfer Megaprojects: a Solution for the Water-Food-Energy Nexus?

“…Such 119 megaprojects are often high-risk projects because they require major financial investments, 120 demand long time frames from planning to completion, and may have major socio-economic and 121 environmental ramifications (Flyvbjerg, 2014;Sternberg, 2016). In the water sector, 122 megaprojects include transfer projects, large dams, desalination plants, treatment plants, and 123 ecosystem restoration schemes (Sternberg, 2016;Tockner et al, 2016). Megaprojects are often 124 initiated as an expression of national and political power and expected to trigger economic and 125 social development (Sternberg, 2016).…”