Water Scarcity Maria Luna Arizona State University Planet earth is made up of seventy percent of water and thirty percent of territorial land. Of that seventy percent, ninety-seven percent is salt water, meaning only three percent is drinkable water. Accounting for that three percent, only one percent is surface water; the other two percent is ground water. Most of the surface water is unusable due to agriculture runoff; industrial trash is a great deal of surface water that has been contaminated with harmful chemicals. Industries are relying on ground water which is being depleted at immense rates. It is true that many areas of the world are already facing dramatic water shortages. Water scarcity is the upmost challenge issue humans face because of poor practices in sustainability. "There is already severe scarcity in many regions of the world, causing tremendous problems for local populations and indeed entire societies"(Cordery). The issue of water scarcity raises many other issues. In this essay, the social dimensions that water shortages acquire, the social drivers that create the issue, and the potential solutions towards this issue will be discussed. Water is a renewable resource, but does not necessarily mean it can be recycled over and over again; it has a limit. The way water is a renewable resource is by the water cycle. When it rains water, it is then evaporated and condensed back into the clouds to start the cycle all over again. Rain
Water, like food, is a necessity for human life that is used for many purposes such as agricultural, industrial, and domestic systems. While water is a common element around the world not all of it is clean and able to be consumed or used by humans. With only a percentage of the world’s water being clean and the use of water increasing, the availability of water around the world has become a common issue in the developing and even the developed world. This may be a smaller problem in areas close to clean water sources compared to areas far from a clean water source but, the availability of water is not strictly based on location, it also depends on the specific political and social needs and issues of the area as well. These all become issues that must be accounted for when deciphering whether water is a basic human right or a commodity and what action must be taken to aid the developing water systems in community’s that lack them.
In the world today, water scarcity persists in being an unnerving issue. The world’s supply of water is diminishing and is further narrowed by pollution. Without measures taken to conserve our water, there will be a global and chronic drought. As long as water is scarce, it is imperative to develop proposals concerning water conservation and pollution.
The thesis, The Water Crisis in Third World Countries, By Monterey Starkey from the Honors program at Liberty University describes the difficulty of obtaining adequate drinking water and presents solutions to this issue. Starkey begins by noting the importance water has on the human body. Additionally, Starkey explains, fresh water is becoming scarce which makes water transportation difficult to needy areas. Aquifers and rainwater are possible solutions to water transportation (Starkey 9). The cost of water in poverty-stricken are much higher than those in rich areas (Starkey 10). The article also implies water shortages affect community growth (15). Starkey believes filtering, boiling, chlorinating, educating, harvesting, roof catching and
Across the globe there are approximately six hundred and sixty three million people who lack access to clean, safe drinking water. Water is essential to life and a basic human right that everyone, regardless of status or location, should have. Water scarcity has begun to increase with the growth of population and agricultural industry. This scarcity is affecting humans across the globe, even in wealthy industrialized countries. The overuse of water in homes, on farms, and in the workplace has put a burden on the natural environmental systems that keep civilizations going, forcing people to take action. Water scarcity continues to be a modern tragedy worldwide; however, global efforts provide hope for many through their continued outreach programs to bring water to people in need and fix the broken system that has been adopted.
Water scarcity is an environmental problem that reaches around the globe. This lack of water is called the World Water Crisis. In the U.S, people are privileged enough to be able to use clean water for many things. However, the U.S is effected by water scarcity as well as countries who are underdeveloped and aren 't as privileged as we are. Only 2.5 percent of Earth 's water is fresh water, of which industrial uses account for 22 percent of available fresh water, domestic use requires only 8 percent, and the rest-over two-thirds of our demand-is used for agriculture. Water is said to be a right for all living things, however, many underdeveloped countries in the world, such as Ghana or Rajasthan, are victims of corporations who come
The effect climate change has on the water supply impacts the entire world.1 Water is required for growing crops, raising livestock, and provides energy.2 Water scarcity impacts international stability, regional security, and the economy. The resource of water creates a significant security challenge for the US.
In the present world, water has become a highly contested resource. It is no secret that we are consuming much more water than humanity originally intended. Consumerism is such a prevalent factor in today 's society, which is why multi-billion dollar companies thrive at economic development. As a global population we are shackled by society, forced to conform to the materialistic viewpoints that were adapted from prior generations. The trend will inevitably continue if we do not begin to challenge our society, as well as economy. Water is one of the only resources that humanity is
Climate change is arguably the greatest threat to humanity and the worst of it’s effects are fast approaching. It is the basis of a myriad of problems, one of which is water scarcity. As the world population grows and the climate warms, demand for fresh water has surged-- with water scarcity affecting more than 40 percent of the global population (United Nations, 2010). Conversely, the world’s fresh water supplies are dropping. Water is indispensable to biotic existence. While it aided in humankind's creation, it can also aid in its downfall. Bearing these elements in mind, one can consider the implications of this water crisis: What are the threats to its quality? Who will it affect? Is water a right or a commodity? What are the social, economic, and political variables and how do they connect? And ultimately, how can we fix this? Throughout my research I seek the answers to these critical questions.
The water crisis in the world is increasing, and it will continue to increase if something is not done. Water makes up approximately seventy-one percent of Earth’s surface. This does not include the water underground. Everyday water is being taken more than it is being put in, and people have a large role in this. Climate change, the number of people in the world, and water wasted is among the uppermost causes of the water crisis. It is simple, if you do not have water, you will eventually die. The water crisis is a health crisis for everyone globally.
I will argue that water shortages are nothing new, and that throughout the history of our common human civilization various solutions were implemented to overcome water scarcities and enhance water security. However, I will submit that such solutions were always short-lived a temporary relief because the social and cultural consequences of each solution led to a gradual, cumulative increase in the demand for water.
A more integrated solution for water should account for an adequate supply of clean water and that water can be equally accessible worldwide. In addition, the impacts of climate change regarding the quality and quantity of fresh water needs to be factored in. There is uncertainty in what this might look like and who would be best suited as the manager. It is almost certain however, the water policies of today will cause geopolitical conflict in the near future. To clarify, water wars have already begun, but more conflict on a larger scale is likely to happen if policies do not change. Therefore, it is urgent that water policies adjust into a more ethical framework. An important question to ponder is, “Will social change concerning water use come through technological innovation or through cultural and value change, or some combination?” This question is imperative in how one should be constructing their viewpoint for creating a difference in water policy and where one should go from here.
Manzoor, K. P. (2011). The global water crisis: Issues and solutions. IUP Journal of Infrastructure, 9(2), 34-43.
Water is directly related with the survival of human kind and it is crucial unlike other resources, because it does not have choices and alternatives. As a consequence of global warming and pollution, importance of water has increased much. Some "2 billion people” already lack water supplies. Water use has risen six-fold over the past 70 years. By 2050, it is estimated that 4.2 billion people live in countries that cannot meet people’s daily basis needs. South Asia is a region of water abundance and scarcity. “Issues concerning water
Water is becoming a limited natural resource in the world. In an article published on National Geographic website about “Fresh Water Crisis” [1] it has mentioned that out of the 70% of water which is covering the earth, only 2.5% is suitable for drinking and just 1% of fresh water is easily accessible. In the same article the author talks about how people are wasting this limited resource. The growing scarcity of water is due to the rapid growth of population, rising demand for food and cash crops, increasing urbanization and rising standard of living. On the other hand people are writing articles and papers about how to solve this scarcity issue and all the resources presented about
The world’s population is growing. The need for water is rising with the birth of every child. Sooner than most people would want to admit, the water resources available in the world would be inadequate to cater for the needs of humanity. As developing countries seek to become industrialized, more water will be needed for their industries. The developed world is also not slowing down its water usage in its industries. Given the important part it plays in growth, the world is well in its path to facing its worse season yet: living without water. When one goes to a country where water problems are real, they find businesses have made water a prominent factor in determining whether or not to set up and run their businesses there. No one can afford to bury their head in the sand anymore. The water problem that is not far away in the future must be addressed now.