We all know that water is a precious resource.
In spite of our planet being made up of 70% water, only 3% of this water is freshwater that we can access and use. When communities face shortages in clean, safe water, it is known as water scarcity. Water scarcity is an important issue that impacts more than 2 BILLION people worldwide. While climate change is one reason for water scarcity, a majority of water scarcity causes are driven by humans. The good thing is that we can do a lot to alleviate the issue of water scarcity with focused water programs.
What Causes Water Scarcity?
Wasteful Water Systems: Did you know that wasteful irrigation on farms consume 70% of our worldwide freshwater supply? Municipal use is a mere 8% of global water use. Farms
Water Demand from Consumable Goods: As countries with more money demand more consumer goods, water resources get diverted to providing these goods. From the water needed to raise meat to energy from fossil fuels, this resource is slowly being outstripped due to demand.
Aging Water Infrastructure: Water systems such as dams, wells, irrigation systems are not efficient and can lose precious water through leaks or lack of recycled water options.
Pollution: Human activities such as farming and manufacturing have polluted many of our natural water resources. From pesticides to factory waste, our waterways and underground liquid aquifers are being polluted and contaminated.
What Can We Do About Water Scarcity?
As a global community, we have to recognize that water is a resource that we all need. Water is a right for all living things, not a privilege for a few. We need to create awareness that water isn’t an infinite resource. This includes treating water as a scarce resource that needs to be managed. We can’t afford to squander this resource.
On a global scale, this means assisting communities with integrated water systems that are more efficient.
On a micro scale, it means that we teach each person in a community the importance of water. We can mitigate and bring clean, safe water to communities. Our Water Program digs wells in responsible locations, teaches communities about water management, and water testing.
