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The Blue-planet’s water crisis
- Earth is called the blue-planet with good reason, as two thirds of its surface (between 70 and 75 %) is covered by water. Admittedly only 2.5 % is “pure water” and can be used to feed the world, unfortunately the rest is salty and not suitable for use. The fact remains that the greater percentage of fresh water is still stored under the ground in aquifers - than on the earth’s surface.
- “The world's supply of fresh water is running out. Already one in five people have no access to safe drinking water” - BBC News
- According to BBC News Online environment correspondent, Alex Kirby, humans have less than 0.08% of all the Earth's water available. Yet over the next two decades our use is estimated to increase by about 40%.
- In 1999 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that 200 scientists in 50 countries had identified water shortage as one of the two most worrying problems for the new millennium (besides global warming)
- Why is the world water crisis getting worse by the day? Amongst the main reasons for the scarcity of clean water is: Pollution, “Out of balance” population growth, and Ineffective irrigation.
Water pollution
- Pollution is one of the major reasons for contamination of water.
- Approximately 1.2 billion people in developing countries across the world do not have access to clean drinking water, and are “forced” to drink contaminated/polluted water.
- Yearly, 25 million people die from diseases due to consuming contaminated water.
- Pollution alone causes approximately 3.5 million deaths.
- According to statistics, every 15 seconds a child dies due to a water-related disease
- Consumption of contaminated water worldwide has lead to 900 million cases of diarrhea and 900 million cases of roundworm.
- It’s estimated that approximately 80% of all diseases worldwide are associated with polluted/contaminated water.
- Medical conditions: Contaminated water can lead to various medical conditions such such as diarrhea, hepatitis, typhoid fever, dysentery, and gastroenteritis
- Causes for contamination: The most common cause for contaminated drinking water is human and animal fecal waste. Contaminated water usually contains either mineral, chemical or microbiological pollutants or both.
Population growth
- Population growth exceeds water availability on our planet
- It is quite logic that with the increase in growth of the population worldwide and constant water-withdrawals from our Water Bank without replacing any, will result in serious shortage of clean and safe water supplies
- “Pumping groundwater is like making constant withdrawals from a bank account without ever paying anything into it” – BBC News
Irrigation
- We currently use approximately 70% of all the water we have in agriculture. Improper irrigation (overall) causes a huge waste of good water, which could have saved lives.
- “The Inefficiency of the way we use much of our water. Irrigation allows wastage on a prodigal scale, with the water trickling away or simply evaporating before it can do any good” – BBC New
(For more information visit the WHO World Heath Organisation 2008. PWW Pure Water for the World. UN water 2008.The discovery channel website.)
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