WATER SCARCITY

Image

The ways water is prioritized changed dramatically over the years. Industries overrule farmers. Urban claims more water than rural. The rich take from the poor. Lifestyles dominate livelihoods. The scarcity of water is only strengthening these trends.

The country that pumps more groundwater than any other has reached a water supply and food safety reckoning that threatens to upend political and economic stability, and long-term public health. In this special report, building on years of on-the-ground coverage, Circle of Blue reveals how a nation of 1.3 billion people, by failing to protect its water, is courting disease and economic hardship as well as social upheaval. Hand in hand with the groundwater depletion and contamination, is a food supply “toxic time bomb” of global implications. When irrigation wells go dry, farmers turn to untreated wastewater that is laced with industrial chemicals and human sewage.

Water Scarcity Essay: Water scarcity is a fundamental issue faced by almost half of the population across the world. Like global warming and climate change, water scarcity affects human lives in different ways.

In some places, it disrupts smooth living. In other parts of the world, it makes the existence of human life difficult. At this point, it is beyond any argument that water is one of the essential requirements for humankind to survive on Earth. But, as it seems these days, probably humankind itself is responsible for its destruction. The scarcity of water across the globe cannot be wholly attributed to the rise in population. Irresponsible use of water is one of the significant reasons behind water scarcity.

Water scarcity happens when people do not save water or even lack the willingness to save it. In some countries of the world, water is abundant. People in such countries do not reuse water. For instance, water which is used for washing cars can be used for gardening too. And the water which is used to clean floors can be put to use for other domestic purposes. But in countries where water is abundant, people use fresh water for each activity. This leads to indiscriminate use of water. In countries where water is scarce, people save it in a lot of ways. Some Governments make use of financial incentives to save water. The scarcity of water affects people in a lot of ways. Some have to pay for water, while others have to bear the hardships of bringing them from nearby ponds and lakes. Often, there are cases of water poisoning. This happens mainly when people do not pay for water and tend to use it without filtration.

Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world’s wetlands have disappeared. Agriculture consumes more water than any other source and wastes much of that through inefficiencies. Climate change is altering patterns of weather and water around the world, causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others. At the current consumption rate, this situation will only get worse. By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. And ecosystems around the world will suffer even more.


Image
Previous Post Next Post