Environmental Impacts of Drought

The environment is directly impacted by drought. Drought can affect water sources, land, fish and wildlife and plant communities. The extent of the effects depends on the type, severity and duration of the drought.

Drought can result in lower water levels in reservoirs, lakes and ponds, as well as reduced streamflow in rivers. This decrease in available water can also lead to shrinking wetlands, groundwater depletion and even impact water quality (e.g. the concentration of salts and other contaminants can increase).

An inadequate water supply will result in the reduced ability for soils to support crops, an increased amount of dust due to dryness, erosion, and a greater chance of wildfires due to drier vegetation.

A lack of water and reduced ability for soil to support crops can affect fish, animals and plant life. Wildlife habitat may become degraded because poor soil quality and inadequate water may affect plant growth, and there may not be enough drinking water for animals. There may also be stress placed on endangered species and a loss of biodiversity in the affected area.

Examples of Environmental Impacts of Drought

Fish and Animals

Reduction and degradation of fish and wildlife habitat.

Lack of drinking water for livestock and wildlife.

Water Sources

Lower water levels in reservoirs, lakes, and ponds.

Reduced streamflow.

Land

Reduced soil quality.

Increased quantity of dust.

Plant Communities

Death of vegetation and trees.

Reduced soil quality.

Drought is a serious environmental problem that affects many regions of the world.   It can have lasting and irreversible consequences for the health and well-being of humans and nature.  Rising temperatures caused by climate change are making already dry regions drier and wet regions wetter.   In dry regions, this means that when temperatures rise, water evaporates more quickly, and thus increases the risk of drought or prolongs periods of drought [1]. Severe drought affects Africa more than any other continent with over 300 events recorded in the last century [2]. A 2017 Food and Agriculture report estimates  the percentage of our planet affected by drought has more than doubled from 1970-2010 with some 12 million hectares lost every year to drought and desertification [3].

Sources

  1. World Health Organisation, n.d., Drought.  https://www.who.int/health-topics/drought/#tab=tab_1.
  2. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, 2022, Drought in Numbers 2022. https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/drought-numbers
  3. Food and Agriculture Organisation, 2017, Drought and Agriculture.  https://www.fao.org/3/i7378e/i7378e.pdf.
Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.