WATER CHANGE

How can access to clean water change the lives of people in the world?

How can access to clean water change the lives of people in the world?

Introduction

Lack of clean water is responsible for more deaths in the world than war. About 1 out of every 6 people living today do not have adequate access to water, and more than double that number lack basic sanitation, for which water is needed. In some countries, half the population does not have access to safe drinking water, and hence is afflicted with poor health. By some estimates, each day nearly 5,000 children worldwide die from diarrhea-related diseases, a toll that would drop dramatically if sufficient water for sanitation was available.

Discussion

It's not that the world does not possess enough water. Globally, water is available in abundance. It is just not always located where it is needed. For example, Canada has plenty of water, far more than its people need, while the Middle East and northern Africa — to name just two of many — suffer from perpetual shortages. Even within specific countries, such as Brazil, some regions are awash in fresh water while other regions, afflicted by drought, go wanting. In many instances, political and economic barriers prevent access to water even in areas where it is otherwise available. And in some developing countries, water supplies are contaminated not only by the people discharging toxic contaminants, but also by arsenic and other naturally occurring poisonous pollutants found in groundwater aquifers.

Water is a resource believe to be unlimited but only recently people recognize it as a finite resource. There are many countries that have water shortages such as Mexico, Chile, and South Africa. In West Africa, people drink the same pond water where mothers launder clothes and thirsty cattle drink. The water are contaminated with guinea worm larvae and other deadly parasites. Children are dying of typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. They are going blind from trachoma.

According to John Peet, Europe editor for The Economist, states, "the two main reasons why so many people in poor countries do not have clean water are, first, that most of it is wasted in subsidized irrigation by farmers, who use over 75% of all water in developing countries; and second, that water utilities tend to be corrupt, inefficient and to charge too little" (Peet). The Johannesburg Summit 2002 is an organization that focuses on achieving on sustainable development. ...