INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT A1

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST IN SOCIETY CLB40002

CURRENT TECHNOLOGIST CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS: WHAT DO

YOU THINK?

MUHAMMAD AMIRUL AFIQ BIN AZMI

55213116084
Current Technologist Challenges and Achievements: What Do You Think?

INTRODUCTION
Now days, engineering technology influence for every aspect of life. Most of human
labor was replaced by machines for their tasks where improvement of sanitation systems for
safety and health, steam engine facilitated for mining, powered trains and ships also provided
energy to factories. However, engineering was recorded it impressive achievement of global
development with electricity and clean water, transportations, radio and television also
included medical tools are just some of highlights from a century in which engineering
revolutionized and improved virtually every aspect of human life.

There are a few challenges in order to get the impressive achievement in a different
aspect. For an example is access clean water, water is the abundant resources in earth which is
short supply in many regions where endangering some country economies, health, energy
production and food supply. In fact, around 8 out of 10 people living in rural areas are still
getting by without a decent source of drinkable water. That 663 million of people whose
everyday lives would be easier, safer and healthier if were not being denied their right to clean
water. Naturally water is widely used for personal and for agriculture which must be provided
to maintain sustainability quality of life. Water quality plays a big role in keeping someone
healthy and clean, lack of clean water goes to poor sanitation which, exposes people to range
of life threatening illnesses including diarrhea which claims around 5000 children die per day
because of diarrhea diseases. Thus, there are a few ways of technologist achievements to solve
this current issue to get a quality and quantity of clean water. Which access to clean water can
improves a student education, health, hunger and poverty.
CHALLENGES

There are some challenges that are needs to get through to get a quality and quantity of
clean water. Firstly is, a global demand for fresh water which the agricultural sector make use
of most of the freshwater sources across a globe influenced by a population growth,
urbanization, and energy security policies is largely influenced in demands of global water.
Due to growing demands from manufacturing, thermal electricity generation and domestic use
a global water demand is projected to increase by 55%, on 2050 (UNESCO, 2017).

Figure 1 Global water demand in 2000 and 2050

Next, is related on a human health, unsafe water is responsible for more deaths in the world.
Clean water plays a big role keeping human healthy and clean. Lack of clean water will provide
in adequate sanitation which lead to poor sanitation can cause illnesses including diarrhea.
(UNESCO, 2017) said that 79% of wastewater are flows back into the ecosystem without being
treated of reused. Limiting the disposal of untreated wastewater into nature not only saves
lives and help advance sustainable growth it also can help a strengthens healthy of an
ecosystem.
 Other than that, a population growth is one of the challenges which estimates indicate that
half of the world population will be suffering water shortage by 2030. The world’s population
is growing about 80 million people per year (USCB, 2016) and predicted about 9.1 billion by
2050. In addition, it is reduced the availability of clean water resources in certain region.
Increasing of humans will increasing demand for water needed with the decreasing supply,
which make conservation more important now than ever. There is a several ways that can be
used to conserve water such as, use less water while washing dishes, turn the water off while
brushing teeth and use a pool cover to reduce evaporation.

Last but not least, climate change also plays a big role an access a clean water where causes
various changes in water supply resources which leads to pollution and other problems. Climate
change will affect the water availability and water balance in several ways which changes in
spatiotemporal patterns and variability of precipitation affect the replenishment of water
resources. Globally, glaciers are an important source of freshwater. However, increasing of
temperature drastically cause melting glacial ice at an unexpected level For an example is at
Glacier National Park are in danger of disappearing within the 21st century. Where the glaciers
have melts, they cannot be restored where the area depended on glaciers for freshwater will
then have to seek other sources.
ACHIEVEMENTS

There are a few achievements of water technologies that have been developed to get a
quality and quantity of clean water which are designed to identify, treat and distribute also
monitor the supply of water. The effectiveness of water interventions in terms of the quality
and quantity supplied was evaluated by epidemiological studies. With the current growth rates
of global agricultural water demand are untenable, the sector will need to increase its water use
efficiency by reducing water losses and, most importantly, increase crop productivity with
respect to water. An advanced technology enhanced efficiently provide crops with water, such
as “drip irrigation,” can substantially reduce agricultural water demand. In Jordan country, have
reduced water use substantially with drip technology.

However, to increase of water safety, water can be treated at the source through a process
of filtration of disinfection. A piped water supply with high quality piped water which that safe
and continuously available was the largest health effects to improved water treatment
technologies. In addition, filter also provide safe storage such as, ceramic filters which related
with a large reduction of diarrhoeal disease. Other than that, technologist developed a water
treatment to get the clean water for example is nanofiltration, desalination, filtering, settling
and reverse osmosis. For example, in Middle east country was used desalination technology
(reverse osmosis) to provide about fourth of its domestic water needs.

Now days, a new technology with great potential for saving million lives was developed
and it is called a life straw which a small cigar shaped tube packed with a filtration system used
to purify water from potential pathogens. it is contained carbons to filter out pollutants and kill
bacteria. This technology has a positive impact across a globe on under privileged
demographics.
 Figure 2 Life Straw Technology

Other than that, an innovative systems Life sack was developed as solar water purification
device can be used as multifunctional like a container for shipping grains, other food staples or
as a backpack for quick and easy movement from the source to the community which can
carries up to 20 litres of water. This sack used a technology that contained UV-A-radiation and
thermal bag treatment process to kill deadly microorganisms and bacteria in water which is
solar water disinfection technology.

Figure 3 Life Sack system

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded, that technology was being developed to enhanced treatment of unsafe
water and sewage so that water can be used for any purposes. Clean water could even resupply
aquifers. But very effective purification methods and rigorous safeguards are necessary to
maintain the safety of water. Various technology approaches may be helpful in the current
issues, such as nanofiltration membranes that can be designed to remove specific pollutants
while allowing important nutrients to pass through. Other than that, Nanocarbon tube
membranes was designed for analytical detection of contaminants in water samples which can
deplete most of water contaminants including turbidity, bacteria, oil and organic contaminants.
Thus, the technological solutions of water problems must be implemented with the systems
that followed each of criteria to get a quality of water it self which is based on its sustainability,
health and safety.
REFERENCES

Access to Safe Drinking Water: Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Global Health.
(2016). [Online]. [Accessed 15th August 2018]. Available from World Wide Web:
https://www.fairobserver.com/more/global_change/access-safe-drinking-water-
challenges-opportunities-improving-global-health-32394/

Paul B., The Knowledge Base for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal Targets on
Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, Academic editor, (2016), 98-108

Provide Access to Clean Water. (2018). [Online]. [Accessed 15th August 2018]. Available
from World Wide Web: http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/

Water. (2018) United Nations. [Online]. [Accessed 15th August 2018]. Available from World
Wide Web: http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/water/

WHO [World Health Organization] and UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund]
(2015) Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities: Status in low- and
middle-income countries and way forward. WHO Press. Geneva. [Online].
[Accessed 16th August 2018]. Available from World Wide Web:
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/wash-health-care-
facilities/en/
TURNITIN