Design Thinking for Enterprise

Analysis of Core Issues

The East of England is currently facing water stress due to climate change, population growth, and unsustainable water provision. This section applies the 5W&H model to look into the various aspects of this issue and what effect it has on the region.

2.1 What is the Issue? 

Water stress is the main challenge, and it is expected to decline in the East of England due to physical and anthropogenic factors (AghaKouchak et al., 2021). If current tendencies persist the Environment Agency has said that the area could be lacking up to 800 million liters of water a day by the year 2050. This scarcity is attributed to a decline in summer rain and temperatures rise as a result of climate change. Such changes have therefore affected the regions capacity to sustain its freshwater in a big way.

Over-extraction and pollution have also affected water quality and contributed to environmental degradation in rivers and wetlands. This situation of scarcity of water quantity and degradation of water quality is now a big problem for residents, businesses and agricultures in the East of England. Climate implications predict that scarcity situation will become more defined if ambitious mitigation and adaptation practices as the ones proposed in this article are not implemented; this will negatively impact the social, economic and ecological fabric of the region.

2.2 Where is the Problem Most Prevalent? 

It is worst in regions like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridge shire as the local water supply mostly comes from groundwater and surface water resources (Page et al., 2020). These regions are most at risk because the agricultural activities they undertake require a lot of water. Again, East of England region is very vulnerable to changes in climate because of its Geology Topics flat table top topography comprising of low lying areas.

For instance, the East Anglian area is among the regions experiencing low precipitation since it receives only 75% of what the United Kingdom receives on average. Therefore, local rivers and reservoirs are unable to meet the increasing water demand, especially during dry summer season. This has in turn led to enhanced use of groundwater pumping thereby exacerbating the depletion of aquifers.

Besides, the coastal area in the region is voluntarism to Saltwater Intrusion whereby water sources are invaded by seas water due to the rising water levels. These factors of geography and environment, therefore, contribute to water deficit in the East of England and indicate a potential for a more sustainable future.

2.3 Who is Affected? 

Water scarcity affects a wide range of stakeholders in the East of England, including local residents, farmers, industries, and ecosystems.

• The general public experiences increased water rates and rationing and containing with more so when peak demand is experienced in summer. The accessibility of clean water for human use such as, drinking, cooking and washing is also an important issue.
• Farmers are the most affected since agriculture is one of the most water consumptive industries in the area. Food crops such as cereals and vegetables require water and their production can easily be affected hence poor production and loss in revenues.
• Organizations that are in the manufacturing business and all industries who use water in their production processes are affected in their operations through water rationing (Marston et al., 2020). This can bring about reduction in size or elimination of production channels operations, expiry of costs and people's unemployment.
• Last but not the least, the ecosystems in the East of England such as Wetlands, Rivers & Lakes are affected in terms of decrease in water levels, loss of habitat as well as threat to bio-diversity. Fish, birds and other plants and animals that depend on these habitats are becoming more threatened with the worsened water and fresh water conditions.

2.4 Why is Water Scarcity a Pressing Issue? 

Lack of fresh water in the East of England affects the environment, economy and the society, which makes water scarcity a significant problem.

• Environmental impact of water resources depletion includes; poor quality of the natural habitats of river, and wet lands (Akhtar et al., 2021). If these ecosystems are absent, there is always a notable decrease in bio density together with the provision of functions such as water purification and control of floods. When the water recedes, the flora and fauna that are adapted to survive in water logged regions are under some pressure and wetlands dry up.
• From an economic perspective, the scarcity of water impacts agriculture and industries greatly. Farmers are getting low yields and high costs of production because a more effective means of delivering water to their crops is required.
• Finally, from the social perspective, water shortage is in a direct relationship with public health and welfare aspect. Inadequate supply of purified water causes poor hygiene and sanitation hence high incidence of water borne diseases will result.

Indeed, if these challenges are left unresolved, the future of the region can be said to be bleak. Crop yields might decrease causing a decline in food supply, and human health may deteriorate due to reduced availability and scarcity of fresh and clean water supplies.

2.5 When Did the Problem Start? 

There has been a steady increase in the incidences of water scarcity in the East of England for the last few decades and this has been blamed on climate change (Biswas et al., 2022). It has always been recognized that the Science Research Topics region undergoes less rainfall than the national average and worst, this has been fostered by regular droughts in the recent past together with high temperatures.

The 2018 heatwave that caused record high temperature and drought conditions was eye opener to several people in the region. At this time, water impoundment and rivers were significantly reduced to dangerous levels, and thus the call for water shortages and better ways to manage water resources.

Numerous climate models indicate that these droughts will occur more often and be extreme in the following years, increasing the pressure on the water resources of the area.

2.6 How is Water Scarcity Currently Managed? 

Water poverty in East of England today is still addressed through demand management, infrastructure, and water conservation. Water restriction has been adopted by the local authorities and Water Companies during the dry seasons to minimize water usage. This include rationing the use of water in activities such as watering the garden and washing of car among others.

However, the water companies are also trying to enhance the infrastructure of the supply system through decreasing leakage (Rupiper et al., 2022). According to some estimates, 20-25% of the water in the region is lost through leakage, and with its elimination, the availability of water can be increase. Efforts are still being made to modernize the distribution of water and this is expensive and time consuming to carry out.

There are also conservation advertisements which have been made to reach the general public with messages on efficient use of water. For instance, these campaigns will ensure that the residents are advised to use water efficient appliances and shower for fewer minutes.

But the analysis shows that there are still gaps in the South Asian region as to water management strategy. Several issues persist such as the over-dependence on the use of Ground water which is obtained through the over-exploitation of aquifers.

Therefore, the water scarcity in the East of England has serious environmental, economic, and social implications. Obstacles include climate change, reduced rainfall and increasing demand for water most especially in regions such as Norfolk and Suffolk. However, as with most dilemmas, long-term interventions that involve infrastructural development and community awareness should form the basis for efficient water usage in the region.

Section B. Future State Ideation  

3.1 Imagining a Sustainable Future for Water Management 

In the future, the East of England can be visualizing where there is efficient cure of water which means that there will always be clean water despite the changing climate. With the adoptions of revolutionized, sustainable solutions in line with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, the region can enhance long term security of water for household, agricultural and industrial uses.

Central to this vision are water recycling, desalination and smart agriculture technologies (Post et al., 2021). To this end, these advancements will go hand in hand with strong public policies and community participation to make water management system more resilient. Therefore, through applying the Design Thinking as a user-oriented paradigm, the region will be able to solve the existing scarcity and future demand for water and meet the requirement of SDG 6.3.2 Proposed Solutions Using Design Thinking

Solution 1: Investment in Water Recycling and Desalination

Among the most effective strategies for the water demand management in the East of England one could single out the recycling and desalination of water. Considering the current and future water scarcity due to low rainfall in the region and increased use of groundwater, such systems could be more sustainable if the wastewater undergoes through treatment for non-portable use and the seawater undergoes desalination for fresh water use.

Waste water recycling entails having to take the water that has been used at our homes, workplaces and farms as well as treating it to high standards so that it can be used industrially or for farming. This is in contrast to the use of fresh water sources which is rather limited as compared to sea water. Desalination is a reasonably viable option for Norfolk and Suffolk, for instance, since seawater can be treated and made potable, albeit at a high cost of energy.

The adoption of these systems require combined effort of local government, water industries and private investors (Hoffmann et al, 2020). The role of the government would therefore entail finding ways and means of promoting private sector participation and making it possible to access water from these sources a reality. This means that whereas it offers the required capital to finance infrastructure, while green bonds for instance, can finance large scale projects.

In general, the successful integration of water recycling and desalination plants into the water infrastructure of the East of England can be framed by the utilization of energy efficient technologies and through collaborations with other stakeholders and partners. These solutions would guarantee that no matter the condition/practicality of the availability of water the region gets adequate clean water.

Solution 2: Improving Agricultural Water Efficiency

Agriculture can also be considered to be one of the most significant consumers of water in the East of England, which makes it one of the priorities where water reduction should be achieved. Smart use of water in irrigation and the proper use of modern technologies can help the agricultural sector reduce the use of water while being as efficient as before.

One of such interventions is the drip irrigation whose primary utilization involves watering crops at the root area hence reducing wastage through evaporation and runoff (Sajid, 2022). This method has been advocated to use water by half of the extent that the traditional systems of irrigation use. Also, rainwater harvesting can be used to capture and store rainwater for use during dry seasons other Marketing Assignment help than using ground water. Farmers can also be urged to grow crops that do not require a lot of water while they are being planted, in an effort to minimize cases of low crop yields during drought.

Specifically, implementation of these solutions requires cooperation of the local administrations, farmers, and technology suppliers. The government and other stakeholders need to implement incentive methods like subsidies or tax relieve programs to farmers who use water efficient equipment's.

Besides these technological development, there are possibilities of education programs for farmer for efficient use of water and reducing wastage. Education on how to observe soil moisture levels and alter irrigation frequencies and weather predictions will lead to better decisions with less water wasted.

Solution 3: Public Engagement and Education

Stakeholder involvement has always been deemed necessary in formulating long-term sustainable water management systems (Adom and Simatele, 2022). There is, therefore, much that can be done to decrease demand for water at the household and business levels that can go a long way in managing demand especially during dry periods. Publicizing water conservation issues can educate the general citizens about effective measures regarding water wastage, leakage prevention, and water-saving gadgets.

School going kids as well as community adult education programs can be used to promote water conservation. Schools can use teaching aids such as books and pictures to teach children about the water cycle, the need to preserve water and how they can help in doing so. Innovative if implemented by residents; Community-based workshops can educate resident how they can adopt conservation measures in their daily lives, for instance, in use of water-efficient appliances and gardening.

For instance, the water wise program in Australia can be adopted as benchmarks on how to conduct water conservation keen programs in the East of England. In the case of Australia, there were large-scale campaigns that alerted people that they ought to reduce on water usage especially during the dry seasons. Similar approaches such as partnering with local opinion leaders and adopting social media to increase coverage could yield positive outcomes in the East of England.

3.3 Potential Impact of Solutions 

The strategies of water recycling, desalination, better use of water in agriculture and people's awareness can help the East of England deal with water scarcity issue. This means that by sourcing water differently and substantially utilizing existing water sources, it becomes possible to develop a level of resilience against the effects of climate change especially droughts.

Such solutions would not only guarantee the reliable supply of water but also improve the resilience of the economy of countries, including agricultural and industrial (Srivastav et al, 2021). It means that better water use could maintain biota, prevent the chemical contamination of waters, and benefit native species. Such campaigns would create awareness which in turn would result into steady decline in water consumption in by the public as well as by commercial establishments.

Rich picture

The image focuses on SDG 6 which is Clean Water and Sanitation, thus raising awareness on the importance of people's equal access to clean water and sanitation. It demonstrates the role of water in people's lives of eating, washing and personal cleanliness. The visualization also uses metrics showing the state of progress towards SDG 6 globally and recreating the work of sustainable use of water. It also demonstrates how the infrastructure developed in the communities the improvement in the standards of how water is used the importance of proper sanitation in preventing the spread of diseases. This rich picture supports the objective of realizing access to water that is safe and affordable to everyone by 2030.

Design Thinking Methods Reflection

In section B, several Design thinking methods were pertinent while developing solutions in water scarcity (Müller et al, 2020). This was important in order to appreciate the impact of the matter on the community, farmers and industries. This way, it was possible to ensure that problems given by the future clients were answered by proposed solutions. Ideation facilitated creativity resulting to invention of various and unique ideas including water recycling and smart irrigation. Last, it meant that ideas that would have been tested on a large scale are first tested at a smaller scale and modifications are conducted based on feedback received for practicality as well as sustainability of the solution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed solutions: water recycling, desalination, agricultural water efficiency, and public engagement are viable solutions for the problem of water scarcity in the East of England. All of these strategies correspond to SDG 6 and outline the framework of change for increasing water sustainability, climate, and resilience. It is therefore important that both governments, industries, and communities get involved in these in order to find and implement these solutions to help ensure sustainable mining of water resources in the future.

References

Books and journals

• Adom, R.K. and Simatele, M.D., 2022, November. The role of stakeholder engagement in sustainable water resource management in South Africa. In Natural Resources Forum (Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 410-427). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• AghaKouchak, A., Mirchi, A., Madani, K., Di Baldassarre, G., Nazemi, A., Alborzi, A., Anjileli, H., Azarderakhsh, M., Chiang, F., Hassanzadeh, E. and Huning, L.S., 2021. Anthropogenic drought: Definition, challenges, and opportunities.
• Akhtar, N., Syakir Ishak, M.I., Bhawani, S.A. and Umar, K., 2021. Various natural and anthropogenic factors responsible for water quality degradation: A review. Water, 13(19), p.2660.
• Biswas, R.R., Sharma, R. and Gyasi-Agyei, Y., 2022. Urban water crises: making sense of climate change adaptation barriers and success parameters. Climate Services, 27, p.100302.
• Ho, L., Alonso, A., Forio, M.A.E., Vanclooster, M. and Goethals, P.L., 2020. Water research in support of the Sustainable Development Goal 6: A case study in Belgium. Journal of Cleaner Production, 277, p.124082.
• Hoffmann, S., Feldmann, U., Bach, P.M., Binz, C., Farrelly, M., Frantzeskaki, N., Hiessl, H., Inauen, J., Larsen, T.A., Lienert, J. and Londong, J., 2020. A research agenda for the future of urban water management: exploring the potential of nongrid, small-grid, and hybrid solutions. Environmental science & technology, 54(9), pp.5312-5322.
• Marston, L.T., Lamsal, G., Ancona, Z.H., Caldwell, P., Richter, B.D., Ruddell, B.L., Rushforth, R.R. and Davis, K.F., 2020. Reducing water scarcity by improving water productivity in the United States. Environmental research letters, 15(9), p.094033.
• Müller, A.B., Avellán, T. and Schanze, J., 2020. Risk and sustainability assessment framework for decision support in'water scarcity-water reuse'situations. Journal of Hydrology, 591, p.125424.
• Page, S., Baird, A., Cumming, A., High, K.E., Kaduk, J. and Evans, C., 2020. An assessment of the societal impacts of water level management on lowland peatlands in England and Wales: Report to Defra for Project SP1218: Managing agricultural systems on lowland peat for decreased greenhouse gas emissions whilst maintaining agricultural productivity.
• Post, J., de Jong, P., Mallory, M., Doussineau, M. and Gnamus, A., 2021. Smart Specialisation in the Context of Blue Economy-Analysis of Desalination Sector. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. org/10.2760/058360 JRC125905 No. EUR, 30768.
• Rupiper, A., Weill, J., Bruno, E., Jessoe, K. and Loge, F., 2022. Untapped potential: leak reduction is the most cost-effective urban water management tool. Environmental Research Letters, 17(3), p.034021.
• Sajid, I., 2022. Options to improve irrigation efficiency and productivity under rotational delivery schedule, a bottom-up approach applied at canal irrigation scheme in Pakistan (Doctoral dissertation, Universitäts-und Landesbibliothek Bonn).
• Srivastav, A.L., Dhyani, R., Ranjan, M., Madhav, S. and Sillanpää, M., 2021. Climate-resilient strategies for sustainable management of water resources and agriculture. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(31), pp.41576-41595. East of England faces huge water shortage without action - experts. (2023). www.bbc.com. [online] 13 Dec. Available at: United Nations (2024). Goal 6 | department of economic and social affairs. [online] sdgs.un.org. Available at.
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