essay on clean drinking water

Clean Water

Clean and safe water is essential for good health. how did access change over time where do people lack access.

Access to clean water is one of our most basic human needs.

But, one in four people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water. This is a major health risk. Unsafe water is responsible for more than a million deaths each year.

In this article, we look at data on access to safe water and its implications for health worldwide.

Unsafe water is a leading risk factor for death

Unsafe water sources are responsible for over one million deaths each year.

Unsafe water is one of the world's largest health and environmental problems – particularly for the poorest in the world .

The Global Burden of Disease is a major global study on the causes and risk factors for death and disease published in the medical journal The Lancet . These estimates of the annual number of deaths attributed to a wide range of risk factors are shown here.

Lack of access to safe water sources is a leading risk factor for infectious diseases, including cholera, diarrhea , dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio . 1 It also exacerbates malnutrition and, in particular, childhood stunting . In the chart, we see that it ranks as a very important risk factor for death globally.

The global distribution of deaths from unsafe water

In low-income countries, unsafe water sources account for a significant share of deaths.

Globally, unsafe water sources account for a few percent of deaths.

In low-income countries, it accounts for around twice as many deaths .

In the map here, we see the share of annual deaths attributed to unsafe water across the world.

When we compare the share of deaths attributed to unsafe water either over time or between countries, we are not only comparing the extent of water access but its severity in the context of other risk factors for death. Clean water's share depends not only on how many die prematurely from it but also on what else people are dying from and how this is changing.

Death rates are much higher in low-income countries

Death rates from unsafe water sources give us an accurate comparison of differences in mortality impacts between countries and over time. In contrast to the share of deaths that we studied before, death rates are not influenced by how other causes or risk factors for death are changing.

In this map, we see death rates from unsafe water sources across the world. Death rates measure the number of deaths per 100,000 people in a given country or region.

What becomes clear is the large differences in death rates between countries: rates are high in lower-income countries, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Rates here are often greater than 50 deaths per 100,000 people.

Compare this with death rates across high-income countries: across Europe, rates are below 0.1 deaths per 100,000. That’s a greater than 1000-fold difference.

The issue of unsafe water sources is, therefore, one that is largely limited to low- and lower-middle-income countries.

We see this relationship clearly when we plot death rates versus income, as shown  here . There is a strong negative relationship: death rates decline as countries get richer.

Access to safe drinking water

What share of people have access to safe drinking water.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 6.1 is to: “achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all” by 2030.

Almost three-quarters of the world's population uses to a safely managed water source . One in four people does not use a safe drinking water source.

In the next chart, we see the breakdown of drinking water use globally and across regions and income groups. We see that in countries with the lowest incomes, less than one-third of the population uses safely managed water. Most live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The world has made progress in recent years. Unfortunately, this has been very slow. In 2015 (at the start of the SDGs), around 70% of the global population had safe drinking water. This has slowly increased over recent years.

If progress continues at these slow rates, we will not reach the target of universal equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030.

In the map shown, we see the share of people across the world using safe drinking water facilities.

How many people do not have access to safe drinking water?

In the map shown, we see the number of people across the world who do not use safe drinking water facilities.

Improved water sources

What share of people do not use an improved water source.

The definition of an improved drinking water source is: “...those that have the potential to deliver safe water by nature of their design and construction, and include: piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, rainwater, and packaged or delivered water.” Note that usage of drinking water from an improved source does not ensure that the water is safe or adequate, as these characteristics are not tested at the time of the survey. However, improved drinking water technologies are more likely than those characterized as unimproved to provide safe drinking water and to prevent contact with human excreta.

In the map shown, we see the share of people across the world who do not use improved water sources.

In the map shown, we see the number of people across the world who do not use an improved water source.

What determines levels of clean water usage?

Usage of improved water sources increases with income.

The visualization shows the relationship between usage of improved water sources versus gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. We see that there is a general link between income and improved water source usage.

Typically, most countries with greater than 90% of households with improved water have an average GDP per capita of more than $10,000 to 15,000. Those at lower incomes tend to have a larger share of the population without access.

Although income is an important determinant, the range of levels of usage that occur across countries of similar prosperity further supports the suggestion that there are other important governance and infrastructural factors that contribute.

Rural households often lag behind in improved water usage

In addition to the large inequalities in improved water usage between countries, there can also be large differences within countries. In the charts, we plotted the share of the urban versus rural population with usage of improved water sources and safely managed drinking water, respectively. Here, we have also shown a line of parity; if a country lies along this line, then access in rural and urban areas is equal.

Since nearly all points lie above this line, with very few exceptions, usage of improved water sources is greater in urban areas relative to rural populations. This may be partly attributed to an income effect; urbanization is a trend strongly related to  economic growth. 2

The infrastructural challenges of developing municipal water networks in rural areas are also likely to play an important role in lower usage levels relative to urbanized populations.

Definitions

Improved water source : "Improved drinking water sources are those that have the potential to deliver safe water by nature of their design and construction, and include: piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, rainwater, and packaged or delivered water"

Usage of drinking water from an improved source does not ensure that the water is safe or adequate, as these characteristics are not tested at the time of the survey. However, improved drinking water technologies are more likely than those characterized as unimproved to provide safe drinking water and prevent contact with human excrement.

Safely managed drinking water: "Safely managed drinking water" is defined as an "Improved source located on premises, available when needed, and free from microbiological and priority chemical contamination."

'Basic' drinking water source: an "Improved source within 30 minutes round trip collection time."

'Limited' drinking water source: "Improved source over 30 minutes round trip collection time."

' Unimproved' drinking water source: "Unimproved source that does not protect against contamination."

'No service': access to surface water only.

WHO (2023) – Fact sheet – Sanitation. Updated September 2023. Online here .

Spence, M., Annez, P. C., & Buckley, R. M. (2009).  Urbanization and growth: commission on growth and development . Available online .

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Sustainable development goal 6: clean water and sanitation.

The Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to work toward a sustainable and poverty-free world by 2030. Goal 6, in particular, seeks to ensure that people have access to clean water and adequate sanitation services worldwide.

Biology, Health, Conservation

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The members of the United Nations (UN) adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. These 17 goals are designed to unite nations in the common cause of ensuring the general welfare of all humans by the year 2030. These goals include a focus on ending poverty, tackling climate change , and maintaining high standards of resources.

SDG 6 focuses on ensuring a clean and stable water supply and effective water sanitation for all people by the year 2030. The goal is a reaction to the fact that many people throughout the world lack these basic services. About 40 percent of the world’s population is affected by a lack of water. As global temperatures rise, that total is expected to increase. Already, some of the poorest countries in the world are affected by drought , resulting in famine and malnutrition . Throughout the world, about 1.7 billion people live in a watershed where water is used faster than the watershed can be replenished. According to some estimates, if such trends continue, one in four people, or more, might experience water shortages on a regular basis by the year 2050.

Compounding the problem of water scarcity is the lack of reliable sanitation throughout the world. More than two billion people worldwide lack basic sanitation services, such as simple latrines or toilets. More than 890 million of those people live in regions where “open defecation” occurs. This means that human waste is left in the open. Adding to the issue is the fact that 80 percent of wastewater throughout the planet is emptied into the ocean or rivers without proper waste removal.

Alarmed by these problems, the UN established SDG 6 in an effort to make adequate sanitation and water services available to all people by the year 2030. As many as 800 million people, or more, would require the construction of facilities to provide consistent clean water and waste removal. To succeed in their vision, the UN developed a series of targets. These targets include restoring and protecting river ecosystems throughout the world, eliminating sources of water pollution , and increasing international cooperation to bring services throughout the world.

In an effort to reach the targets outlined by SDG 6, some water companies have installed smart meters in places where water scarcity is a concern. These meters track and charge for every drop of water used in a household, which has led to higher water conservation in countries like The Gambia and Tanzania. The CEO of one such company, eWATERpay, claims that these meters have reduced water waste by 99 percent.

Such efforts take time and require many countries to work together. While some strides have been made, based on information from a 2017 UN study, not enough has been done to ensure that this goal will be met by 2030. Managing these targets properly is the only way to make certain all people will benefit from clean water and effective sanitation in the years ahead.

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Why Is Water So Important? Here’s What You Need to Know

How water works in your body, how much water do you need, how to stay hydrated.

Water is a major component of your body, accounting for 50–60% of your total weight. It is vital for many important body functions, from flushing out waste to lubricating your joints.

Your body constantly loses water throughout the day through urinating, sweating, and breathing. You should consume enough water from foods and beverages daily to prevent dehydration .

This article covers research-backed reasons why your body needs water and how much you need each day.

Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

All body cells, organs, and tissues require water to function. Generally, a person can only survive without water for a few days.  

It Maintains a Normal Body Temperature

Water regulates our internal temperature by distributing heat throughout the body and cooling it through perspiration (sweat).

When the body becomes too hot, it loses water through sweat . The evaporation of sweat from the skin cools the body, keeping its temperature within a normal range.

If a person becomes dehydrated, they can't produce enough sweat to cool their body. This can cause the body's temperature to reach dangerous levels, leading to heat stroke .

Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water if you're working outside or sweating more than usual.

It Protects Your Joints, Spinal Cord, and Other Tissues

Water acts as a lubricant in the mouth (through saliva ) and the eyes (through tears) to help prevent dryness. It's necessary to produce synovial fluid , which lubricates, cushions, and protects the joints.

Water also helps protect the spinal cord and prevents injuries by increasing tissue flexibility and elasticity.

It Transports Nutrients and Gets Rid of Waste

As a major component of blood, water helps transport nutrients and oxygen to cells throughout the body. Water also helps carry waste from the body for excretion through perspiration, urination, and bowel movements.

The kidneys need water to effectively filter waste from the blood and flush it from the body as urine. Staying adequately hydrated helps prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs) , which can harm the kidneys.

Prevents Dehydration

Drinking water daily can help prevent dehydration, a condition that occurs when you lose more fluids than you absorb.

Early signs of dehydration include:

• Feeling thirsty
• Dark-colored urine
• Urinating less than usual

Because water is involved in so many body functions, dehydration can eventually cause life-threatening symptoms, including:

• Rapid breathing
• Rapid heartbeat
• Inability to urinate

People who exercise in the heat, work outdoors, or have certain health conditions that cause them to urinate or sweat more than usual are at a greater risk of dehydration.

It Aids Digestion

Your saliva is primarily made up of water. Saliva is a digestive juice that moistens food, allowing it to move easily through the esophagus into your stomach. Saliva also contains enzymes that help break down starches in food.

As the digestive process continues, water helps break down food, allowing your body to absorb nutrients. Water also makes bowel movements easier.

It Protects Against Chronic Illness and Boosts Longevity

Adequate hydration is linked to healthy aging and longevity. One potential reason for this is that decreased water intake can lead to higher sodium concentrations in the blood, which raises the risk of chronic disease.

Studies suggest that adults who stay hydrated are healthier and less likely to develop chronic diseases, including heart and lung disease . Well-hydrated adults also seem to live longer than adults who don't consume enough fluids.

It Improves Mood and Cognitive Function

Dehydration may cause fatigue and confusion and may be linked to symptoms of anger and depression. In a small study, it was linked to poor cognitive function, potentially affecting attention span and working memory.

One study of young adults looked at the effects of water on cognitive performance and mood after 12 hours of water restriction. Researchers found that 200 milliliters of water improved thirst, anger, fatigue, and overall mood. However, 500 milliliters was optimal, improving mood and cognitive performance.

The amount of water you need depends on several factors, including age, sex, activity level, and health status.

For healthy individuals, the adequate daily water intake is around 11.5 cups for women and about 15.5 cups for men. This includes fluids consumed from all foods and beverages.

Experts estimate that most people get around 20% of their daily water intake from food. This means women should drink about 9 cups of fluid daily, while men should aim for 13 cups to maintain adequate hydration.

People who live in warmer climates, are more physically active, or are experiencing an illness that causes fever and/or diarrhea or vomiting have increased fluid needs.

One easy way to see if you are properly hydrated is to check the color of your urine. If you are drinking enough water, your urine will be pale yellow. If it is dark, you may need to increase your consumption.

Individuals with heart failure or kidney disease may need to limit their fluid intake.

Can You Drink Too Much Water?

Drinking too much water can lead to water intoxication or overhydration, which occurs when the kidneys cannot flush out excess water. This can cause a medical emergency due to decreased sodium concentrations in the blood ( hyponatremia ). To avoid water intoxication, do not drink more than 48 ounces, or six cups, per hour.

If you find it challenging to stay hydrated, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Keep a reusable water bottle with you and refill it throughout the day
• Choose water or sparkling water instead of sugary beverages
• When you feel thirsty, drink water
• Change things up by squeezing fresh lemon or lime into your water or adding a few berries or cucumber slices
• Snack on water-rich fruits and vegetables , including watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, and celery, throughout the day
• Keep track of your water intake by using a water tracker app
• Drink water with all meals

Water is vital for your health. It is necessary for temperature regulation, digestion, nutrient absorption, and body waste removal. Drinking water daily can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause mood and memory problems, constipation, and kidney stones.

People who work in high temperatures, exercise at high intensities, or are sick are at a greater risk of dehydration. Talk to a healthcare provider or registered dietitian to determine the right amount of water for you.

Zhou HL, Wei MH, Cui Y, et al. Association between water intake and mortality risk-evidence from a national prospective study .  Front Nutr . 2022;9:822119. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.822119

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. How much water do you need?

MaineDOT. The importance of hydration .

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dehydration and heat stroke .

Lorenzo I, Serra-Prat M, Yébenes JC. The role of water homeostasis in muscle function and frailty: a review .  Nutrients . 2019;11(8):1857. doi:10.3390/nu11081857

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Water and healthier drinks .

National Kidney Foundation. 6 tips to be "water wise" for healthy kidneys .

MedlinePlus. Dehydration .

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your digestive system & how it works .

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, diet, & nutrition for constipation .

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Good hydration linked to healthy aging .

Zhang J, Zhang N, He H, et al. Different amounts of water supplementation improved cognitive performance and mood among young adults after 12 h water restriction in Baoding, China: a randomized controlled trial (RCT) .  Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2020;17(21):7792. doi:10.3390/ijerph17217792

National Kidney Foundation. The dos and don'ts of fluid management for kidney disease .

MedlinePlus. Heart failure .

Joo MA, Kim EY. Hyponatremia caused by excessive intake of water as a form of child abuse .  Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab . 2013;18(2):95-98. doi:10.6065/apem.2013.18.2.95

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heat stress: hydration .

By Lindsey DeSoto, RD, LD Desoto is a registered dietitian specializing in nutrition and health and wellness content.

Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Water Quality — The Crucial Importance of Clean Drinking Water Access

The Crucial Importance of Clean Drinking Water Access

• Categories: Water Pollution Water Quality Water Sanitation

About this sample

Words: 947 |

Updated: 29 March, 2024

Words: 947 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Social implications of clean drinking water access, economic implications of clean drinking water access, environmental implications of clean drinking water access, sustainable solutions for clean drinking water access.

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Human Rights to Water and Sanitation

Access to water and sanitation are recognized by the United Nations as human rights – fundamental to everyone’s health, dignity and prosperity. However, billions of people are still living without safely managed water and sanitation.

Marginalized groups are often overlooked, and sometimes face discrimination, as they try to access the water and sanitation services they need. Governments must take a human rights-based approach (HRBA) to water and sanitation improvements, so that no one gets left behind.

The issue explained

The right to water  entitles everyone to have access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use.

The right to sanitation  entitles everyone to have physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, that is safe, hygienic, secure, and socially and culturally acceptable and that provides privacy and ensures dignity.

Physical presence is not the same as access. A water or sanitation service does not serve the whole community if it is too expensive, unreliable, unhygienic, unsafely located, unadapted for less able groups or children, or non gender-segregated, in the case of toilets and washing facilities.  

All people are entitled to water and sanitation without discrimination. Marginalized groups – women, children, refugees, indigenous peoples, disabled people and many others – are often overlooked by, and sometimes face active discrimination from, those planning and governing water and sanitation improvements and services, and other service users.

The way forward

Governments must take a human rights-based approach (HRBA) to water and sanitation. States are duty-bearers of providing water and sanitation services to people, who are rights-holders. Rights-holders can claim their rights and duty-bearers must guarantee the rights to water and sanitation equally and without discrimination. 

Human rights law demands a ‘pro poor’ focus. Duty-bearers must direct their interventions to those most in need, and develop their capacities to fulfill their obligations. A human rights-based approach also creates a framework for rights-holders to participate, and to hold duty-bearers accountable.

All barriers to water and sanitation access must be overcome. Laws and governance must address all reasons for discrimination including sex, gender, ethnicity, religion, caste, disability, age, health status, and economic status. Other factors impacting water and sanitation access for marginalized groups, such as climate change, population growth, conflict, and migration must also be planned for.

Water and sanitation are critical to achieving the SDGs . ‘Leaving no one behind’ is the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A society can only achieve high rates of public health, gender equity, educational attainment, and economic productivity when all of its members enjoy their rights to water and sanitation. Respect for human rights must be integrated into development plans for all sectors, at all levels.

Facts and Figures

• The human right to safe drinking water was first recognized by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council as part of binding international law in 2010. ( UN, 2010 )  
• The human right to sanitation was explicitly recognized as a distinct right by the UN General Assembly in 2015. ( UN, 2016 )  
• Today, 1 in 4 people – 2 billion people – around the world lack safely managed drinking water. ( WHO/UNICEF, 2021 )  
• Almost half of the global population – 3.6 billion people – lack safely managed sanitation. ( WHO/UNICEF, 2021 )  
• Only 14 countries report high levels of community and user participation for collaborative management and decision-making. ( UN-Water, 2021 )

Providing Access to Clean Water Essay

The shortage of clean water affects millions of people living in different regions of the world. For instance, one can mention Northern Africa and the Middle East since these regions are adversely affected by draughts. Moreover, this problem results in numerous diseases that can take thousands of lives [1]. This is the main reason why this issue should not be overlooked. Additionally, it is important to remember that the lack of clean water impairs the economic development of many countries.

In particular, one can speak about the needs of farmers and industrial enterprises [1]. One should keep in mind that in many cases, this problem is not directly related to climate, since very often people cannot get access to water due to political conflicts and economic difficulties. Overall, this issue is great concern to governmental and non-governmental organizations. These are some of the main details should be considered.

This topic is closely related to engineering since it is necessary to find technological solutions that can make water more accessible. In many cases, the countries, which are affected by this problem, may lack the technologies that can be used for water purification. While working on this problem, engineers will need to consider various factors.

For instance, very often it is necessary to remove a specific contaminant from water, and it is necessarily to design products that can be applied for this particular purpose. Additionally, one should consider such a criterion as cost-effectiveness since these technologies must be affordable to various communities. So, it is possible to say that this problem still presents a challenge to engineers. More importantly, these professionals can develop solutions that can benefit thousands or even millions of people.

Overall, there are several solutions that can be used to alleviate problem. For instance, one can speak about the desalination systems which are based on such a process as reverse osmosis (RO) [2].

The use of RO membrane facilitates the extraction of salt. It is important to remember that this technology has become more cost-effective. At present, the desalination of 1000 gallons of sea water costs approximately $2 [2]. This is why this option should be overlooked by coastal communities that can significantly increase the amount of clean water which is available to them.

Additionally, it is important to consider recycling technologies. In this way, people can increase the amount for water that can be used for industrial production or irrigation [1]. Admittedly, the water recycled in this way may not be suitable for personal uses. However, it can be of immense value to farmers and manufacturing companies that are strongly dependent on the supply of clean water.

Furthermore, the use of nano-membranes can also be useful because they can remove specific pollutants from water [1]. These technologies can be of great use to the communities that struggle with such a problem as water contamination that could have been caused some industrial activities.

Therefore, this discussion indicates that there are effective technological solutions that can increase the accessibility of clean water. Furthermore, in some cases, the cost of applying these technologies has considerably declined. Therefore, they can be of great use to low-income communities. Moreover, one can argue that engineers can work on the technological solutions that can benefit thousands of people. These are the main arguments that can be put forward.

• “ Provide access to clean water ,” n.d. Web.
• J. Menningmann. “ RO Membrane Technology Advances Improve Global Access to Clean Water ,” n.d. Web.
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1. IvyPanda . "Providing Access to Clean Water." December 18, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/providing-access-to-clean-water/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Providing Access to Clean Water." December 18, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/providing-access-to-clean-water/.

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Essay on Water for Students and Children

500+ words essay on water.

Water is one of the most important substances for life on earth to function. It is equally important for humans as well as animals. Water does not merely help us survive, but it is significant for our day to day functioning. It has numerous uses when we come to think about it. Majority of our earth is covered with water itself, but, not all of it is safe for consumption. Therefore, it makes it essential for us to utilize this transparent substance chemical wisely. Moreover, if we look at the shortage of water happening in our country, it makes it all the more important to conserve it immediately.

Uses of Water

As we have already said that water has numerous uses, we will see where it is used. This part will most importantly help us realize the importance of water . It will make humans aware of what absence of water in the following areas can do to human life. As India’s main occupation is agriculture, water is exhaustively used here. Irrigation and cattle rearing requires a lot of water. Thus, a lot of farmers’ livelihood depends on it.

Further, industries use water for various purposes. It comes in handy when cooling, manufacturing and transporting several goods. For instance, thermal power plants consume quite a substantial amount of water for their running.

Furthermore, the domestic use of water cannot be left behind. In the day to day life of the common man, water plays a vital role. That is to say, from drinking water to washing utensils, we need water every step of the way.

After that, plants need water to survive and make food. It is one of the main elements which help them grow. Hence, water is extremely important for humans, animals, and plants to survive .

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Do not Waste Water

While water is quite essential and yet so scarce, however, people fail to realize this fact. They waste water with little or no care for the results of this activity. There are various ways in which one can avoid wasting water . To begin with, all households must get their leaking taps checked. They should fix them immediately as every drop is precious.

Similarly, we must choose buckets instead of showers for bathing. This is a very debatable topic and it needs to be settled. Showers waste a lot of water, so people must prefer buckets. This particular habit is quite commonly found in most of the households. People do not turn off their taps while brushing their teeth and washing utensils. Always remember to keep the tap off when doing so.

In addition, encourage rainwater harvesting system in all homes. This can help conserve water like never before.

In short, water is essential for the survival of mankind. But, it is, unfortunately, being waster rapidly. Every citizen and government must come together to tackle this issue. Governments must ensure all areas get water equally. On the other hand, citizens must keep in mind to use it wisely and not waste it unnecessarily.

FAQs on Water

Q.1 State the importance of water.

A.1 Water is of the utmost importance for human and animal life. It gives us water to drink. It also comes in great use for farmers and industries. Even common man requires water for various purposes like drinking, cleaning, bathing and more.

Q.2 List the ways to avoid wastage of water.

A.2 Everyone must avoid wasting water. We can do so by fixing our leaking taps, avoiding showers for bathing, and turning off taps when brushing. Furthermore, we can adopt rainwater harvesting system to conserve water.

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• Water Scarcity Essay

Essay on Water Scarcity

Water is the basic necessity of every human being, but water scarcity is a major issue that is rising very rapidly in India nowadays. The problem has become so severe that in many states the groundwater has almost dried up and people have to depend on water supply from other sources. In addition, water is one of the most misused natural resources that we still waste. It is the central point of our lives but unfortunately, not our priority concern. 

Earlier, people understood the value of water and planned their lives around it. Moreover, many civilizations were born and lost around water, but today, in spite of having knowledge, we still fail to understand the value of water in our lives. 

Reasons for Water Scarcity

Mismanagement of water and the growing population in our country are the two main reasons for water scarcity. There are also a number of other man made disturbances that continue to rise. Besides this, some of the reasons for water scarcity are:  

Wasteful Use of Water for Agriculture  

India, an agricultural country, produces a huge quantity of food to feed its population. The surplus that is left, gets exported outside. 

It is not unknown that producing this much food requires a lot of water too. The traditional method of irrigation wastes a lot of water due to evaporation, water conveyance, drainage, percolation, and the overuse of groundwater. Besides, most of the areas in India use traditional irrigation techniques that stress the availability of water.

However, the technique of irrigation has changed during modern times and we provide water to plants using a sprinkler or drip irrigation.

Reduction in Water Recharges Systems  

Rapid construction that uses concrete and marbles may not let the rainwater get absorbed in the soil, but still, we install some mechanism in our houses so that we can hold the rainwater. Then we can recharge the groundwater.

Lack of Water Management and Distribution

There is a need for an efficient system to manage and distribute the water in urban areas. The Indian government also needs to enhance its technology and investment in water treatment. Besides, we should ensure optimization at the planning level.

Solutions to Overcome this Problem

Close the running tap.

 During dishwashing and hand washing people often let the tap run. These running taps waste thousands of liters of water per year. Therefore, closing the tap will reduce this problem.

Replace Dripping Taps  

In India, it is commonly seen that most of the houses have taps or faucets that go on dripping water even when they are closed. This running tap wastes up to 30,000 liters of water that nobody bothers to change. So, we should replace these taps immediately.

Brief on Water Scarcity  

Water is a basic necessity for every living being.  Life without water is impossible, not just for us humans, but for all plants and animals too. Water scarcity is an issue of grave concern these days as water scarcity has become very common. Water is one of the most wasted natural resources and corrective measures should be taken before the water scarcity situation becomes worse. In spite of being aware of the implications, not much is being done today. 

In India, and across the world, it has been recorded that about half a billion people face a shortage of water for about six months annually. Many well-known cities around the world are facing acute scarcity of water. Many facts and figures are available to know about the water scarcity problem, but what are the reasons for this scarcity? 

With the growing population, the use of water has increased manifold. The lack of more freshwater sources and the increase in population is a major reason for this scarcity. The lack of proper Water management systems and proper drainage systems in India, especially in the urban areas is a major cause too. Kitchen wastewater should be able to be recycled but due to a poor drainage system, this is not possible. An efficient water management system is required in order to distribute water in urban areas.

Another major issue is Deforestation. Areas with more greenery and plants are known to have good rainfall.  Industrialisation and urbanization are two major factors here. Due to Deforestation, and cutting down of trees, rainfall has become an issue too.

Rivers are a major source of fresh water in India. Today we see a lot of industries that have come up and all of them are mostly near the rivers and these rivers become highly polluted as a result of all the industrial waste.

Effect of Global Warming and Climate Change

Global Warming and Climate Change are also responsible for the scarcity of water. The melting of icebergs into the sea due to the rise in temperatures is a reason as to how salty water is increasing day by day instead of freshwater. The percentage of rainfall has decreased drastically these days. Climate change along with the decrease in rainfall percentage has greatly affected freshwater bodies. 

Water scarcity has become a major problem and an alarming issue these days, and we must consciously strive to work together to find some solution to this issue of water scarcity. The Indian government today has formulated and come up with many plans on how to tackle and solve this problem.

To conclude, water scarcity has become an alarming issue day by day. If we do not take the problem of water scarcity seriously now, our future generations are going to suffer severely and may even have to buy this necessity at a high cost.

FAQs on Water Scarcity Essay

1.  What are the reasons for Water Scarcity?

The lack of proper Water Management and proper Drainage system plays a major role. Many other factors and reasons can be held responsible for the scarcity of water. Some of the major reasons are Global Warming and Climate Change; Pollution of the rivers due to industrialization; Deforestation and the cutting down of trees is another reason; Reduced percentage of rainfall due to the climate change pattern; Increase in the population which leads to increase in the use of water.  Learn more about water scarcity on Vedantu website helpful for long-term.

2. What is meant by the scarcity of water?

The scarcity of water means a shortage of water and not being able to manage the demand and supply of water. Water scarcity refers to the lack of freshwater bodies to meet the standard quantity and demand of water. Unequal distribution of water due to factors like Climate Change and Global Warming. Water Scarcity is also due to pollution and lack of rainfall. Water scarcity means a scarcity due to some physical scarcity or scarcity due to the lack of regular supply.

3. What are the two types of water scarcity?

Physical water scarcity is the result of regions' demand outpacing the limited water resources found in that location. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, about 1.2 billion people live in areas of physical scarcity and many of these people live in arid or semi-arid regions. People who are affected by this Physical kind of water scarcity are expected to grow as the population increases and as the weather patterns keep changing as a result of climate change.

Economic water scarcity is due to the lack of proper water infrastructure and a proper water management system or also because of poor management of water resources. The FAO estimates that more than 1.6 billion people face economic water shortages today. Economic water scarcity can also take place because of the unregulated use of water for agriculture and industry.

4.  How can we solve the problem?

Conscious awareness is required to deal with and understand the problem of water scarcity. We can start off by consciously saving water in our homes and surroundings.  Small easy steps like taking care when washing hands, or when working in the kitchen, have to be taken. The running water taps are a major reason for losing hundreds of liters of water on a daily basis. And we should be careful not to waste this water. Conscious decision to save and the need to understand the problem of water scarcity is of utmost importance.

5. How do we waste water?

Water is wasted in ways we do not even realize, in our homes and in our workplaces. When we brush our teeth, when we shave or when we wash the dishes, one of the most common things we do is to keep the water running, especially when running water is available. As soon as we begin cleaning or washing, we do not think of the water that is being wasted. While washing hands, we leave the water tap on, which results in wasting water too. Small things like these should be kept in mind and this could be our small step towards preserving water.

Clean Safe Drinking Water Essay Example

• Pages: 4 (1080 words)
• Published: December 26, 2016
• Type: Essay

Many people living in poverty and not having much of anything like safe places to live let alone clean and safe drinking water which also comes under good health due to drinking and washing in the polluted water it becomes even harder to stay healthy. More than 884 million people suffer from not having the basic clean water that is 3x the United States population. It is mainly places situated in Asia and especially Africa these water problems affect half of humanity but it really takes place I LEDC’S. The lack of safe drinking water is the cause of disease in the world today.

Every day, people die from causes related to contaminated water. And for those who survive, without good health, there is little chance for a normal happy life. Contaminated

water causes 80% of the health problems throughout the world. Much of the reason is because in areas of LEDC’S the only water source for people to wash with and drink from is often badly polluted used by both animals and humans So there is more chance of infection and disease spreading meaning more people will die but those who are born into this crisis will have the same thing going, like the lack of water and having to survive.

The people who are suffering are the women children older people and also those with disabilities. For starts women have to carry water, Water containers usually hold about 20 litres of water, which weigh 20kg. Constantly carrying such heavy weights, commonly on the head, back or hip, has severe health problems . However, it is ill health from the state

of unsafe water and lack of sanitation that causes millions of deaths a year. Providing clean, safe water supplies, effective sanitation and helping communities understand about good hygiene means that these deaths can be prevented.

There is an issue with clean safe drinking water because of the hot climate in places such as Africa & Ghana as well which the environmental causes are but there are also humans that contaminate the water. In hot climates there are certain areas where water is and only to get to that water you need to travel at least 3 or 4 miles and back again but this water is already dirty because of bacteria that enter sewage systems and is still unclean in the less developing countries as well as both animals and humans washing in the rivers and waste getting dumped in there it adds to the ncleanliness of their source of water. Another reason is because of economics not having the money from debt being paid of because of borrowing the money to develop their country it begins a cycle of debt and repayment which will carry on for years if we all don’t contribute to supplying these countries with safe clean drinking water.

What are the issues that arise from people having no access to clean safe drinking water? The issues that arise are diseases, lack of education & death just because of not having safe drinking water. Because of not having that safe drinking water there are diseases and viruses that are carried in the water to the rivers with families then washing and drinking the water it becomes even worse ,

even more dirtier.

From carrying these diseases or viruses you then cannot work or go to school because of this illness affecting you so those people are losing out on their education for their mothers its more the case of carrying the water for such a long time on their heads or hips that they get body deformities like curved backs and the chance they get something from the water children are more affected because living in that environment their immune systems are low especially with toddlers or babies.

The people who are trying to help are organisations such as water aid and the UN by providing campaigns and allowing people to donate their money to the less fortunate to build things such as water pumps and helping those villages to have what basic resources they need to survive. In addition to this fund raisers and shows like comic relief support the people with malaria but can also go to helping them in general which means the obvious factor of providing clean water to drink.

Drought affects some of the world's poorest countries, increasing hunger and malnutrition. Recent developments are Technologies being developed, for instance, to improve recycling of wastewater and sewage treatment so that water can be used for non-personal uses such as industrial purposes. Recycled water could even resupply aquifers. But very effective methods and safeguards are necessary to preserve the safety of recycled water. With that it can be designed to remove specific things that pollute the water while allowing important nutrients to pass through.

A different technological approach to the water problem involves developing strategies for reducing

water use. Agricultural irrigation (to supply things with water) consumes enormous amounts of water; in developing countries, irrigation often exceeds 80 present of total water use. Improved technologies provide crops with water, such as “drip irrigation,” can reduce agricultural water demand. Already some countries have reduced water use substantially with this, but it is not a perfect solution for plant growth because it does not provide enough water to cleanse the soil.

The use of water can be improved in a sustainable way by stopping the massive debts to LEDC’S or at least half the amount so it is payable so that way that country can also help themselves to have clean water with the money that they are saving and with that they can go at a steady pace to paying the money back and it is sustainable because once they are built in areas that it is convenient for people who live there everyone will get safe clean drinking water.

A map to show how many people who are actually suffering from this water crisis is below; As you can see in parts of Asia and Africa from the key on the left they don’t really have fresh clean water but are in the oranges and reds which is water stress and by cutting down on how much water the MEDC’S use then more money will be saved to help the less fortunate and if we keep doing this as well as using the sustainable and new recent ideas of providing people with safe water then this water crisis will eventually be solved.

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