[[Image:AfricaDrought.jpg|thumb|right|250px|In Kenya where drought is challenging, communities are encouraged to wash their hands with ash, a local disinfectant that is free and easily accessible. <br>Photo: REUTERS. [http://marysanyuosire.blogspot.com/2012/01/saving-lives-during-worst-drought-in-60.html Health of East Africa blog.]]]
This article is part of a section on [[Resilient WASH systems in drought-prone areas|resilience of WASH systems]].__NOTOC__ <small-title />
It is difficult to predict how and where climate change will have the greatest effects. Every region in the world will not have reduced overall water availability – some areas will have more annual rainfall, while other areas will receive less. Even so, changes in rainfall patterns will increase, with more intense rainfall over shorter periods of time or no rainfall at all for longer periods, including more extreme events such as floods or droughts.
* Access to water was the main concern during the drought of 2000 in Afghanistan, even above food supply.
Drought can also [[Drought and links to other disasters| create or worsen other disasters]].
====Drought affects more than just water availability - being prepared====
* Increased resilience = reduced vulnerability
[[Image:flood control India.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Flood irrigation in India. More efficient use of water for agriculture is key to protecting and conserving water supplies. [http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/03/22/water-water-everywhere-but-nary-a-drop-to-drink/ Water, Water Everywhere, But Nary a Drop to Drink.] <br>Photo: Jeremy Hinsdale.]]
For example, in accessing groundwater and rainwater sources during a drought, more efficient capture and storage of rainwater and groundwater is focused on, rather than expanding the use of groundwater itself. Introducing new techniques to an area is also important. Many rainwater harvesting techniques (e.g. floodwater harvesting and storage) are not only uncommon, but unknown and not used at all. Therefore, understanding what technology works best for a region must include biophysical preconditions, socio-economic conditions, market issues, land tenure issues, and human capacity.
Uncertainty with climate change is a big factor in accurately planning and preparing for WASH resilience. But planning only on changes in rainfall would be too simplistic, as water ''availability'' is not solely affected by climate change – population growth and changing water demand also contribute. Supply-side strategies (water volumes and availabilities) therefore need to be planned together with demand-side strategies (population growth, projected increases in demand). Lastly, greater rainfall intensity events may require some structures to be reduced (e.g. embankments, bunds) rather than increased.
===Definitions of drought===
[[Image:ClimateChangeDiagram.jpg|thumb|right|250px| Four Approaches to Drought. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.]]
[[Image:DroughtMap.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Regions of drought recorded between 1979 and 2008, where drought events are identified as three consecutive months with less than 50% of rainfall as compared with the average.]]
Regions, experiencing less water moisture than normal, cover quite a wide area. The world map to the right (with blue background) from the [[File:DroughtMap.jpg|Global Risk Data Platform]] shows the regions with droughts recorded between 1979 and 2008, where drought events are identified as three consecutive months with less than 50% of precipitation as compared with the average.
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|[[Image:water stress.jpg|thumb|leftcenter|400px300px|Water stress in relation to population. Figures are in m3 of water per person per year for 2008. Source: [http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/globalmapsdata/query/index.stm html?lang=en FAO Aquastat database.]]]|[[Image:WaterAvailabilityChangeMap.jpg|thumb|rightcenter|400px300px|Change in water availability compared with average 1961-1990 (%). 2050 based on IPCC scenario A1.]]|[[Image:water scarcity map.jpg|thumb|center|300px|Areas in orange lack sufficient water resources to meet basic needs, while purple has water available but lacks the financial and/or technical resources to access the water. Source: USAID, 2010.]]
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==Drought links==
===Drought links=== ====Drought, DCM, climate Climate change, pastoralism, IWRM, DRR, participatory approaches===='''(1) Discusses potential impact of climate change in ASALs and on (2) WASH service delivery# [http://www.worldwatercouncil.'''<br># Arab Water Council (2009)org/index. php?id=32 Vulnerability of arid and semi-arid regions to climate change – Impacts and adaptive strategies. Perspectives on water and climate change adaptation. ], Arab Water Council (2009), IRC, The Hague, The Netherlands. '''Discusses potential impact of climate change in ASALs:''' Arid and semi-Arid lands. # [http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/index.php?id=32 www.worldwatercouncil.org/index.phpClimate change and WASH services delivery – Is improved WASH governance the key to effective mitigation and adaptation?id=32].# Perspectives on water and climate change adaptation, Batchelor, C.; Schouten, T.; Smits, S.; Moriarty, P.; Butterworth, J. (2009) 14. Climate change and WASH services delivery – Is improved WASH governance the key to effective mitigation and adaptation? Perspectives on water and climate change adaptation. , IRC, The Hague, The Netherlands. '''Discusses potential impact of climate change on WASH service delivery:''' [http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/index.php?id=32 www.worldwatercouncil.org/index.php?id=32].
====[[Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)]], rain-fed irrigation===='''Manual on soil & water conservation measures (e.g. bunds).'''# Critchley, W.; Siegert, K.; Chapman, C. Finkel, M. (1991) [http://www.fao.org/docrep/U3160E/U3160E00.htm Water Harvesting, A Manual for the Design and Construction of Water Harvesting Schemes for Plant Production. ] FAO publication AGL/MSC/17/91. '''Manual on soil & water conservation measures (e.g. bunds):''' [http://www.fao.org/docrep/U3160E/U3160E00.htm www.fao.org/docrep/U3160E/U3160E00.htm]MAR is a method of reducing water insecurity by recharging aquifers.
====Controlled flooding / spate irrigation / drip irrigation====
'''(1 and 2) Technical guidelines for spate irrigation structures, (2) summarizes 10 years of experience that suggest spate irrigation improvements, and (3) summarizes problems & recommendations from various countries.'''# European Union (2008) [http://www.spate-irrigation.org/guidelines Design manual volume 1: Technical design criteria. The European Union’s Food Security Programme for Yemen Technical Assistance to the Tihama Development Authority. '''] Technical guidelines for spate irrigation structures:''' .# Ratsey, J. (2008). [http://www.spate-irrigation.org www.spate-irrigation.org].# Ratsey, J. (2008). /guidelines Design manual volume 2: guidelines for wadi diversion and protection works. The European Union’s Food Security Programme for Yemen Technical Assistance to the Tihama Development Authority. '''] Technical guidelines for spate irrigation structures:''' [http://www.Summarizes 10 years of experience that suggest spate-irrigation.org www.spate-irrigation.org]improvements.# Steenbergen, F. van; Lawrence, P.; Mehari Haile, A.; Salman, M.; Faurès, J.-M. (2010) [http://www.spate-irrigation.org Guidelines on spate irrigation. ] FAO irrigation and drainage paper 65. FAO, Rome, Italy. '''Summarizing 10 years of experience, the guidelines bring together ideas and practices on improving different aspects of spate irrigation:''' Summarizes problems & recommendations from various countries.# [http://www.spate-irrigation.org www.spate-irrigation.org].# Summary report. Proceedings of the Subregional Expert Consultation on Wadi Development for Agriculture in the Yemen 1987. '''Summarizes problems & recommendations from various countries:''' [http://www.spate-irrigation.org www.spate-irrigation.org]1987.
====Open reservoirs====
'''(1) Explains risks of cyanobacterial blooms in open reservoirs; (2) overview of effect of fertilizers, pesticides etc on water quality; (3) how to measure seepage rates in reservoirs; (4) how to assess hydrological impact of numerous reservoirs; (5) looks at evaporation rates in reservoirs vs land-based tests.'''# Cecchi, P. ; Berger, C.; Couté, A.; Gugger, M.; Zongo, F. (2009) [http://www.smallreservoirs.org Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins and potential health hazards in small tropical reservoirs. ] Small reservoirs toolkit. '''Explains risks of cynobacterial cyanobacterial blooms in open reservoirs:''' [http://www.smallreservoirs.org www.smallreservoirs.org].# Cecchi, P. ; Leboulanger, C.; Bouvy, M.; Pagano, M.; Nemy, V. (2009) [http://www.smallreservoirs.org Agricultural intensification and ecological threats around small reservoirs. ] Small reservoirs toolkit. '''Overview of effect of fertilizers, pesticides, etc. on water quality:''' [http://www.smallreservoirs.org www.smallreservoirs.org].# Dekker, T.; Rodrigues, L. N.; Olsthoorn, T.; Giesen, N. van de (2009) [http://www.smallreservoirs.org Deep Seepage Assessment in Small Reservoirs. ] Small reservoirs toolkit. '''How to measure seepage rates in open reservoirs:''' [http://www.smallreservoirs.org www.smallreservoirs.org].# Giesen, N. van de.; Liebe, J. (2009) [http://www.smallreservoirs.org Hydrological Impact Assessment of Ensembles of Small Reservoirs. ] Small reservoirs toolkit. '''How to access assess hydrological impact of numerous reservoirs:''' [http://www.smallreservoirs.org www.smallreservoirs.org].# Liebe, J.; Giesen, N. van de. ; Steenhuis, T. (2009) [http://www.smallreservoirs.org Evaporation Losses from Small Reservoirs. ] Small reservoirs toolkit. '''Looks at evaporation rates in reservoirs vs land-based tests:''' [http://www.smallreservoirs.org www.smallreservoirs.org].
====Groundwater, wells, infiltration galleries, boreholes====
'''(1) Code of practice for effective borehole drilling and (2) how to deepen existing boreholes.'''# Danert, K.; Armstrong, T.; Adekile, D.; Duffau, B.; Ouedraogo, I.; Kwei, C. (2010) [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/128 Code of Practice for Cost Effective Boreholes. ] RWSN, St. Gallen, Switzerland. '''Code of practice for effective borehole drilling:''' [http://www.rwsn.ch/documentation/skatdocumentation.2010-08-23.4523209156/file www.rwsn.ch/documentation/skatdocumentation.2010-08-23.4523209156/file].# Roscoe Moss Company (1990) [http://books.google.co.uk Handbook of ground water development. ] John Wiley & Sons, USA. '''Section on how How to deepen existing boreholes:''' [http://books.google.co.uk books.google.co.uk].
===Acknowledgements===
* CARE Nederland, ''Desk Study Resilient WASH systems in drought prone areas.'' October 2010.