Doesn't water fall from the sky?You may know water as the boring alternative to a soda, but water is really important. Without it, Earth would be like most other planets, devoid of life. As you know, or as you will soon discover, the Earth's most fundamental resource, water, and specifically clean water, may be running out.
How is this possible? Many people don't realize or can't conceptualize there fact that not everyone can turn on the tap and immediately have access to water. As citizens of the United States, we take clean, readily available water for granted, and we are unaware that a serious issue in todays world is a lack of clean water. The warning signs of a future without clean water are beginning to be felt through the prolonged droughts in California, the melting of the arctic, and rising water levels that promote the flooding coastal regions. Bodies of water are being drawn from unsustainably, and the byproduct of this industrialization pollutes more water. According to National Geographic, even thought water makes up 70% of the Earth, only 2.5% of that is fresh water, and only 1% of that freshwater is easily accessible. Fresh water, is not a common good, but rather a rare commodity. Those of us that can access it should appreciate it, and we should make it our goal to let everyone experience the gift of clean water. How does the lack of clean water affect daily life? |
Important dates in history
1854: Dr. John Snow discovers a link between water and cholera
1972: The U.S. Water Act updates 1948 legislation to control water pollution and funds construction of sewage treatment plants. 1993: The U.N. General Assembly designates March 22 as World Water Day. 2003: UN-Water was founded to solve accessibility of clean water and related issues dates recorded from World Vision (link located at the bottom of the page) |
Lack of clean water causes many complications in one's life. Water has to be collected everyday, causing the loss of precious time and energy. Children, specifically young girls, often take up the brunt of the water fetching responsibilities. Some travel for hours just to reach a water source. This keeps children out of school, which a successful future near impossible. The lack of clean water is key factor that causes generations of people to get stuck in a cycle of poverty.
Without clean water, people are forced to drink from less sanitary sources. dirty water leaves people more susceptible to diseases and bacteria that could prove rehabilitating or even fatal. How are people combating this issue?While there is no instant solution to the conflict itself, there are numerous ways to provide safe water for communities, including pumps, wells, etc. Relative to all the benefits clean water could provide for a community, the cost for the installation for a pump for example, is relatively cheap too. Pictured below, is called an Omniproccesor. The one below was funded by Bill gates and turns sewer sludge into electricity, clean water, and ash.
The future will be determined by people like you. I want a world where anyone can turn on a tap and receive clean water. Now that you know our plight, do something about it. If you're interested in learning more about this global conflict, check out a few of the organizations below. Any donation would be helpful in providing clean water for all.
|
Meet the people
You know Matt Damon as a famous big-screen actor, but did you know he was a water activist too? Matt Damon, as the picture above suggests, as of 2009 is the co-founder of water.org. He has been recognized as one of the world's experts on water and sanitation issues.
This young woman is named Aysha. She is 13 years old and lives in Ethiopia. She travels eight hours a day everyday to collect water for her family. Learn more about her story and the effects of the water crisis on woman.
This 14 year old girl is named Brittany Harris, and she is the founder of Water Wells For Africa. She began raising money in 2009 and has raised over 100,000 for water pumps in Africa.
|
|
All photos that appear on this page have been taken from the general web.
Infographics made through canva. Information gathered from Business Connect
|