According to the United Nations, 1.1 billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. Approximately forty percent of the world’s population lack access to sanitation services. This lack leads to a prevalence of waterborne illnesses each year. Currently, humans use about fifty-four percent of the world’s accessible fresh water. The United Nations predicts that in 2025, humans will use more than 90 percent of available water, depriving plants and other species the water they need to grow. The number of people without access to safe water is also expected to grow from 434 million to 2.6-3.1 billion by 2025.
Population growth and development stress the world’s water supply. Almost 70 percent of the water used by humans is used to irrigate crops. Since meat requires more water to produce than grain, the growing consumption of meat contributes to water scarcity. Industrial technologies also consume large amounts of the world’s water resources. Population growth and development also produce pollution, which contributes to the scarcity of safe water.
Industrial pollution further depletes the amount of safe water available. According to the United Nations, about 2 million tons of human waste, pesticides and chemical and industrial waste is released into waterways each day. Water-related illnesses exacerbated by pollution are a common cause of disease and death in developing countries. Preventable diseases caused by contaminated water killed more than 2 million people in 2000. Waterborne illnesses kill approximately 5 million people each year – about 6,000 children every day. Children under the age of five are the most affected by these diseases.
Global warming also threatens the world’s water supplies. Rising temperatures caused by global warming melt polar ice, raising the global sea level, leading to flooding and salination of fresh water sources. Melting glaciers lead to cycles of flooding and low water levels in rivers around the globe. Global warming also changes the world’s precipitation patterns, depriving certain areas (specifically the tropics and subtropics) of necessary water. Warmer temperatures also accelerate desertification and drought. The United Nations predicts that climate change alone will account for 20 percent of the expected increase in global water scarcity.
International efforts have been made to address the problem of water scarcity. The UN Millennium Development Goals propose to cut in half by 2015 the number of people who lack access to clean water and sanitation worldwide. The African Development Bank wants to provide freshwater access to all Africans by 2025. Non-governmental organizations establish programs that increase access to safe water on a village by village basis, taking into consideration local materials and upkeep. In their efforts to conserve water, Japan and Singapore separate their water into two categories: safe drinking water and gray water, which is used for gardens and toilets. There are many ways to address the issue of dwindling water supplies, but conservation seems to be the prevalent idea of the day.
Women and Water
Access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation services reduces the time women spend dealing with illness and health concerns. Clean water and basic sanitation services lead to a lower child mortality rate. The lower mortality rate lessens the burden of reproduction on women. Women in countries with high child mortality rates bear many children in the hopes that one will survive to adulthood. If the child mortality rate is lowered, the maternal mortality rate may also fall. The lack of clean water and sanitation services leads to epidemics of preventable diseases. By ensuring access to safe water and sanitation services, these diseases can be prevented. Prevention of these diseases allows women to use their time in ways other than caring for sick family members.
The likelihood of sexual assault and harassment when gathering water is reduced by providing access to safe water close to women’s homes. Latrines built close to women’s homes also reduce sexual assault on women when they use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Also, the reduction in time spent gathering water enables women to pursue education and personal development. The education and development of women leads to greater gender equality. Timely access to water also allows women time to work and earn income. Greater income leads to the reduction of poverty and furthers the status of women in society.
Water is important to women on many different levels. In many societies, women are responsible for household water supplies and sanitation. Water is used in many of the tasks undertaken by women, including food preparation, cleaning and maintaining health. Women in many countries spend much of their day ensuring the household has water, often traveling long distances to obtain water. Nearby access to clean water and basic sanitation services are necessary if women are to realize their full potential.
