A Global Water Crisis - Essay Example

GLOBAL WATER CRISIS Water is one of the many blessings bestowed upon us by God Almighty. Its importance is evident from the fact that all living beings on this earth are dependent on it for their survival. For human beings water is essential for fulfilling basic needs, food and energy production and for the stability of ecosystem at the regional and global level. Water is also important for human body which is made up of 70% water. A person can live without food for several days but water deprivation can kill him in a few hours time. The life of all the living beings is thus dependent on water. It is the only natural resource that is consumed by all the living beings. Its significance is evident from the following quote of the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Anan who stated, “No single measure would do more to reduce disease and save lives in the developing world than bringing safe water and adequate sanitation (Water: The Crisis of 21st Century, 2007).” Where water gives life it can also take life if it is contaminated. Millions of people die every year due to diseases caused by contaminated water. In fact to be more precise 80% of diseases in the world are due to contaminated water. 90% of waste water is released without proper treatment and poor quality of water causes approximately 50-100 lacks of deaths every year. Poor water quality leads to the death of one child in every fifteen seconds and 25000 people die every day due to malnutrition (Water: The Crisis of 21st Century, 2007). Thus the importance of clean water becomes self evident. In this paper I intend to discuss the looming crisis caused by water shortage at the global level. I have chosen this topic because its importance for all living beings cannot be ignored. All living beings are dependent on it for their survival and for this reason it must be preserved for our future generations. I intend to highlight the present situation related to water shortage. I also intend to reflect on the consequences and causes of water shortage. For this purpose I have chosen to review the relevant literature to support my argument. Towards the end I will conclude with some suggestions that could prove useful for the preservation of water resources for our future generations. Before proceeding with the consequences and causes of the global water crisis let us first take a look at the current and future situation of the global water resources. Currently our world is facing serious threat of water shortage in the twenty first century. The Toronto Star (2002) quoted the figures from a report published by the United Nations in which it has been discussed that currently 1.1 billion people have no access to clean drinking water, 2.5 billion people lack proper sanitation and as mentioned above more than five billion people die each year from water borne diseases, a figure which is ten times more than the casualties of war all over the world. There is scarcity of fresh water resources and currently less than three percent of the water is safe for drinking. A large portion of this clean water is trapped in the Polar Regions or is buried deep under ground thus making its accessibility difficult. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Anan stated “Even where supplies are sufficient or plentiful, they are increasingly at risk from pollution and rising demand. Fierce national competition over water resources has prompted fears that water issues contain the seeds of violent conflict." According to the article “Water: The Crisis of the 21st Century” (2007) the world population has increased three times in the past 100 years but water consumption has increased six times. It is stated in The Toronto Star (2002) that the worst affected areas are the Asian and the Sub Sahara African continent where many women have to travel a distance of 6 km daily to fetch water for the family. This practice deprives them an opportunity to work and send their children to school. Klaus Toepfer, director of the UN Environment Program stated “Without adequate clean water, there can be no escape from poverty. Water is the basis for good health and food production. Mankind is always at its mercy." The situation does not end here. The article “Water: The Crisis of the 21st Century” (2007) further states that polluted water is also endangering the marine life. Fishing is a source of livelihood for millions of people around the world. The polluted water has either endangered or led to the extinction of more than 20% of the world’s fish species. Water is used in the residences for various purposes. Approximately 600 liters of water is consumed daily in an American and Japanese residence. In Europe it is 250-300 liters per person and in the sub Sahara region it is 10 liters per day. In India the water consumption per person is 50 liters. One flush of toilet in the western countries is equal to the amount consumed by a house in developing countries in activities such as cooking, cleaning, drinking and washing etc. Mohammad El Baradei has been quoted in the report published in The Toronto Star (2002) who stated “The simple fact is that there is a limited amount of water on the planet, and we cannot afford to be negligent in its use. We cant keep treating it as if it will never run out." The repeated droughts in countries like Niger in 2005 and in many other African countries in 2006 have caused devastation and have affected approximately 13 million people (IRIN, 2008). According to the same report more than 2.7 billion people will be severely affected by water shortage in 2025 if the water is consumed at the same rate. The report quotes the figures form the United Nations which stated that in near future about five billion people will be living in areas where it will be difficult to get fresh water for basic consumption. The UN report stated that the water shortage is creating “a looming crisis that overshadows nearly two-thirds of the Earths population”. The statistics presented above are indicative of the fact that there is a shortage of water at the global level and that the world is moving towards a crisis that could affect not only the present generation but also the generations to come. It has been quoted in the article “Global Water Shortage Looms in New Century” (n.d.) “Within a few years, a water crisis of catastrophic proportions will explode upon us unless aroused citizens ... demand of their leadership actions reflecting vision, understanding and courage." To overcome this problem I think it would be necessary to reflect on its causes and consequences so that proper remedies can be adopted. One of the major causes of water crisis is the ever increasing population of the world. An online article “Global Water Shortage Looms in New Century” (n.d.) discusses the issue in detail. With the increase in population the demand for water consumption for agricultural, industrial and individual purposes increases. The article quotes the figures from a report published by the United Nations which stated that the demand for water is doubling after every twenty one years. With the current rise in population it is expected that there will be a shortage of water in near future. There has been a three times increase in the world population in the past 100 years. The rate of water consumption, however, has increased six times. The water crisis becomes evident as the standard of living improves along with the changing diet patterns where less grain and more meat is consumed. Currently the world population has reached six billion and its projected rise for the year 2050 is nine billion. Viewing the current status of water resources it becomes difficult to understand the availability of fresh water resources for our future generations. The ever increasing population has led to desertification in most of the countries around the world. The quality of water is deteriorating with the increase in population. Even today 90% of the world cities dump their sewerage in their fresh water resources thus polluting it to its maximum. The problem of salination has increased with the rise of population as the demand of water for industrial and agricultural purposes increases. The underground water has also been reduced due to over extraction for various purposes. Another important cause of global water crisis is the climatic changes. The IRIN website (2008) quotes the figures from the studies carried out by the United Nations over water crisis. According to the UN Water Development report published in 2006 low precipitation and high evaporation are some of the major reasons for diminishing water resources in rivers, lakes and underground. The Aral Sea and Lake Chad are just two examples in this regard where water is rapidly diminishing due to climatic changes and human exploitation. Rain fall patterns have changed dramatically in the African continent shifting from the interior of the continents towards the coastal areas. This change has affected millions of people and has left them without proper water supply for consumption and food production. According to the article “Water-The Crisis of the 21st Century” (2007) pollution causes global warming which in turn melts the snow and diminishes the reservoirs of fresh water. Human waste, industrial waste and chemical pesticides for agricultural purposes are all dumped in fresh water reservoirs which pollutes it and makes it unfit for human consumption. As mentioned above even today 90% of the world cities dump their sewerage in their fresh water resources thus polluting it to its maximum. Another possible reason for the shortage of water in the world is the demographic changes that are seriously affecting the availability of fresh water resources on the planet. According to the studies carried out by the United Nations in 2006 it has been observed that for the first time in human history a small portion of people live in the rural areas. The increased urbanization leads to increased demand for water which becomes difficult to obtain. Water is used in industries and in return the industrial waste is dumped in the water which pollutes it and makes it unsafe for drinking (IRIN, 2008). The technological advancement in the field of geology has opened new ways for the extraction of ground water for different purposes. Prominent techniques in this regard include well drilling, pumping and rural electrification. These methods of extracting underground water have been in practice since 1950s but have been greatly used in the past decades. It has been studied by the International Association of Hydraulics that currently 600-700 cubic km/year makes the ground water the most extracted raw material in the world. This method has brought a “green revolution” in many Asian countries. 70% of piped water in European countries is extracted from underground. At the same time the method also supports many rural communities in the sub Sahara African countries (IRIN, 2008). This unchecked extraction of underground water is having serious consequences on the environment. In India more than 21 million farmers are daily extracting underground water from private bores and pumps to water their crops. The underground water which took years to build up is now rapidly diminishing due to unchecked extraction. A survey carried out in India showed that approximately 3 million of underground water is extracted annually. This “colossal anarchy of underground water management in India” is being practiced all over the world. This practice has led to the drying of many major rivers in the world (IRIN, 2008). According to the experts the amount of water consumed all over the world is twice the amount recharged by rain falls every year. India, China and Pakistan extract more than half the amount of water used all over the world for agricultural purposes. Each year farmers produce bumper and high yielding crops without realizing the fact that they are actually risking the lives of their future generations. As the demand for water consumption has doubled the water reservoirs are diminishing rapidly (IRIN, 2008). It has been stated in the article “Water-Crisis of the 21st century” (2007) that another important reason for water crisis is the misuse, over use or wastage of water all over the world. Unnecessary flushing of the toilet, water running while brushing teeth etc. are some of the minor causes that lead to water wastage. A lot of water is wasted from the municipal pipes through leakage, broken faucets or pipes or through illegal pipes before it reaches the consumer. Here I would like to comment on the consequences of global water crisis because in my opinion without realizing the consequences one can never understand the importance of the issue. As the temperature of the world rises due to the depletion of ozone layer more water is being evaporated from the soil. This makes the soil more vulnerable to desertification. African countries are especially facing the problem of desertification along with other parts of the world. It has been estimated that presently more than 100 countries of the world are experiencing the problem of desertification. According to the statistics provided by the United Nations approximately 90 million people are presently living in areas facing threat of desertification (World Hunger Year, n.d.). Other possible causes of desertification include unnecessary extraction of ground water, droughts due to climatic changes and deforestation. Limited water supply will obviously lead to food shortage in near future. At present 45% of the world’s food production is on irrigated land which is believed to be five times more productive than the rain fed land. With increasing population there will be more pressure on the irrigated land to produce more food. This would mean that more water will be needed for food production. This will put further pressure on the already existing water reservoirs. If the water reservoirs are not preserved adequately there would definitely be a shortage of food for the ever increasing population (World Hunger Year, n.d.). According to Alter (2007) the water shortage is having serious consequences on the ecosystem. Natural habitats of millions of species of plants, animals and birds are being destroyed by the shortage of water. The shortage of water has made many species extinct and has put many others in the category of endangered species. River Ganges in India, Danube in the UK, Nile and Lake Victoria in the North Africa and Yangtze in China are among the many rivers declared at risk. The report says that the above mentioned rivers are highly polluted, over used by construction of dams that has put the marine life seriously at risk. Water shortage is expected in Nile in 2025. The Danube has lost 80% of its wetlands and flood plains due to over construction of dams. In India many tributaries of the Ganges River have run dry due to water being diverted for irrigation. Millions of people whose livelihood is dependent on fishing are seriously affected by the consequences of pollution and climatic changes that are threatening the marine life. Water shortage can lead to serious health consequences. According to Dr. Chan, Director General WHO water scarcity is seriously affecting every four out of six people. “The situation is getting worse due to population growth, urbanization and increased domestic and industrial water use.” More than 1.6 million die annually due to lack of clean water and sanitation. 90% of deaths are of children in the developing countries that are under five years of age. Water shortage leads to diarrheal diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, salmonellosis, gastrointestinal viruses and dysentery. Due to the scarcity of water the people are forced to drink unclean water. Dr. Chan further says: “They may even lack sufficient water for basic hygiene - to wash themselves and their clothes, and to prevent infection including from food-borne and water-borne diseases (quoted by Dlamini, 2007).” Unhealthy water is a major cause for the rise of vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue which are very prominent in the Indian sub continent. Dr. Chan stresses on the need to improve environment in order to avoid the growth diseases that arise due mosquito bites. She stressed on the importance of water for economic growth and stability and stated: “For this reason, everyone needs to adopt a strategic change in the use and conservation of our water resources to ensure some water for all. We do not have unlimited water…..Already we have parts…. that experience droughts. We should, therefore, not take the available water for granted (quoted by Dlamini, 2007)”. SixWise.com (2008) explores the issue of water wars all over the world from different aspects. It is presumed that scarcity of water will lead to water wars all over the world. Even today many countries threaten each other over water issues. It has been stated by Maude Barlow, chair of the Council of Canadians “Water is blue gold; its terribly precious. Not too far in the future, were going to see a move to surround and commodify the worlds fresh water. Just as theyve divvied up the worlds oil, in the coming century, theres going to be a grab.” The problem can easily lead to war between Israel, Palestine, Syria and Jordan. Understanding the consequences of water crisis in the region Ben Meir, Israel’s former water Commissioner stated: “I can promise that if there is not sufficient water in our region, if there is scarcity of water, if people remain thirsty for water, then we shall doubtless face war.” According to the article “Global Water Shortage Looms in New Century” (n.d.) the past is evident of the fact that many countries have exchanged hot words over the issue of water. Prominent examples in this case are Iraq, Syria and Turkey. A report published in The Financial Times of London stated: “Water, like energy in the late 1970s, will probably become the most critical natural resource issue facing most parts of the world by the start of the next century.” This is indicative of the fact that water is likely to replace oil as the future source of war among different nations of the world. The conflict has also started arising in the United States where the seven states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California have started negotiations on how to cope with the limited water resources of the Colorado River (SixWise.com). According to the article “Water- The Crisis of 21st Century” (2007) 32% of national boundaries are formed by water and 300 zones all over the world have been identified as “potential water conflict zones. After highlighting the facts related to global water crisis I would like to give some suggestions to improve the condition of water scarcity all over the world. Firstly I believe that one should look at one’s own habits that might be causing unnecessary water wastage. For example upon analyzing my daily habits I have realized that I often keep the water running during brushing teeth. At times I often feel relaxed with prolonged baths. While collecting data for this assignment I have realized the importance of water which is often taken for granted. If everyone starts thinking about the fact how avoiding a little thing can save water the over all result can be very encouraging. Like wise a civic sense should be developed for the benefit of the larger community. Any leakage detected in the municipal pipeline must be immediately informed to avoid the wastage of precious water. At the same time one should understand the fact that a large amount of precious water is being wasted by unnecessary washing of cars or driveways. The taps should be turned off properly to avoid wastage of water through dripping. Change in diet patterns can also help in preserving water not only for our own use but also for the future generations. Even a drop of water saved can collectively make a big difference. Secondly people must be made aware of the fact that there is scarcity of water and that it must not be wasted. The World Water Council states on the website of sixwise.com (2008): “Whatever the use of freshwater (agriculture, industry, domestic use), huge saving of water and improving of water management is possible. Almost everywhere, water is wasted, and as long as people are not facing water scarcity, they believe access to water is an obvious and natural thing ... However, changes in food habits, for example, may reduce the problem, knowing that growing 1kg of potatoes requires only 100 liters of water, whereas 1 kg of beef requires 13,000 liters." A campaign should be launched at the global level for the preservation of forests and for growing new plants. Plants are a major source of rain fall which is very essential for refilling our water resources. At the same time rain fall also helps in keeping the planet cool that helps in the preservation our glaciers and snow peaks which are an important source of fresh water. It also helps in the normal flow of water in rivers which currently are facing the problem of drying. Controlling population growth can also help in solving the problem of water crisis. We have studied the speed with which the population of the world is rapidly growing. If the population continues to grow at the same rate there is no doubt that the current water resources will diminish and there will be no water for the future generations. With controlled population and adequate policies water can be made accessible to everyone in the world. Since water is declining at an alarming level the governments should also step forward in overcoming the crisis that is risking the lives of all the living beings on the planet. The government should be encouraged to adopt policies that are environment friendly. Pollution should be stopped at all levels. Proper procedures should be adopted for dumping human, chemical and industrial waste. Recycling should be encouraged to minimize waste. Many companies have offered privatization of the water for the provision of clean water to every one. In my opinion privatizing the water industry does not provide clean water to every one. Bottled water is only affordable for the rich. The poor once again remain at the mercy of the policy makers. Unfortunately water management has always been a low priority for the governments. A prominent case in this regard is that of the Danube which is fast becoming dry due to over construction of dams. Water must be available for everyone and for this reason strong policies must be implemented for its conservation and cleaning. Where the governments are spending lots of money on other matters projects related to desalination must also be improved. We have huge water resources in the form of oceans which are unsafe for drinking because of its saltish nature. With advanced technology ocean water can be made suitable for human consumption through desalination projects. This process along with water conservation can make a significant impact in minimizing global water crisis. To conclude it must be realized that water very essential for the living beings on this planet. Since water is readily available in our taps we seem to ignore the fact that its resources are limited. Where millions of people enjoy luxurious baths they seem to forget the fact that they might be depriving someone of their basic right of access to clean water. They might be putting the lives of young children at risk. It is very important to adopt a humanistic approach towards the issue. Even today in the developed counties we are experiencing the shortage of clean water which has given boom to the bottled water industry that is making millions of dollars. Without realizing the enormity of the situation one can never understand the importance of water. Currently the world is moving towards severe water crisis. In my opinion the situation can be controlled if adequate steps for the preservation and conservation of water resources are taken at the right time. The action must be taken seriously without which the world will face serious consequences of water shortage all over. References Alter. B. “World Water Day”, ( 2007). Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/world_water_day.php Dlamini, N. “Shortage of Water has Serious Health Consequences”, Global Envision, (2007) Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from http://www.globalenvision.org/library/9/1535/ “Global Water Shortage Looms in New Century”, (n.d.). Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from http://www.ag.arizona.edu/AZWATER/awr/dec99/Feature2.htm “In Depth- Running Dry: The Humanitarian Impact of the Global Water Crisis”, IRIN (2008). Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from http://www.irinnews.org/InDepthMain.aspx?InDepthId=13&ReportId=62312 “The Emerging Water Crisis and its Implications for Global Food Security”, World Hunger Year, (n.d.). Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from http://www.worldhungeryear.org/why_speaks/ws_load.asp?file=13&style=ws_table “The Water Shortage Crisis in America & the World: A Quick Overview of One of the Most Dangerous Crisis Humankind has Ever Faced”. SixWise.com, (2008). Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from “UN Warns of Water Shortage by 2025”. The Toronto Star, Great Lakes Article, (2002). Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/zarticles/322watershortage.htm “Water: The Crisis of 21st Century”. The Issue.com, (2007). ). 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