The problem of the global water crisis is only getting worse, with water shortages having been the cause of some international disasters in recent months. If nothing is done to reduce water wastage and protect resources, these occurrences could become more and more frequent.
What is the problem of water scarcity?
As demand for water is ever increasing, thanks to a growing global population, there is not enough supply to keep up.
Additionally, as a result of climate change, water resources are slowly diminishing. For instance, water held in snow, ice and soil is declining as temperatures continue to rise.
Many waterways have also dried up due to pollution or urbanisation. Climate change causes weather problems, such as droughts, as well as floods that result in soil run-off and pollutes otherwise clean rivers and lakes.
Inefficient agricultural processes also mean lots of water is wasted, and as the industry uses more water than anything else, this is becoming a huge problem.
So much so that according to the United Nations, one-tenth of the population lived in countries with critical water level stress in 2021. What’s more, two-thirds experience severe water scarcity at some point in the year.
How does this impact the world?
Water scarcity has a huge implication for human health. Without enough clean water to drink or wash themselves in, people are more likely to develop water-borne diseases. Inadequate sanitation already affects 2.4 billion around the world, and this problem is only set to worsen.
Additionally, there will not be able to feed crops, not only affecting the agriculture industry and economy, but also how much nutritious food is available. Disappearing waterways means that many animals are losing their habitats, and are also becoming under threat.
Thanks to a decline in wetlands, the rice industry could be at risk, which is a staple food for half of the world.
Recent signs of a global water disaster
The water crisis does not just pose a long-term threat for years, but it is also having an immediate impact on the world.
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Cailfornian fires
Most recently, wildfires across California have resulted in the loss of several lives as well as the destruction of thousands of homes and buildings. This was caused by a lack of rainfall, warm weather, and dry soil. Consequently, surrounding vegetation was parched, increasing the fire risk.
Rescue services have also experienced water shortages, with fire hydrants running dry and the local water system cannot cope with the demand of trying to put out fires on this scale.
Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, told the LA Times: “The system has never been designed to fight a wildfire that then envelops a community.”
While aircraft have been used to help slow down the spread of the fire, strong winds meant this has been too dangerous to employ at times.
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Extreme water shortage in Uganda
Residents from the Central and Nyamwamba Divisions in Uganda have been experiencing extreme water shortages lately, leading to many using contaminated water from rivers and ponds instead.
Due to the limited availability of water, tap operators have increased the cost of water to an unaffordable price for many. Subsequently, most families are putting themselves at risk of water-borne diseases, such as typhoid.
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Water being used as a war weapon
As water is such a necessary commodity, it has become increasingly valuable, both in terms of price and also as a source of power. This has been seen in the Syrian conflict, with many water facilities across the country having been destroyed during wartime.
For instance, the Basha al-Assad regime cut off the city of al-Bab from its local pumping station as a punishment.
Drone strikes by Turkish Armed Forces also damaged the Khabur River and the Alouk pumping station in areas that were held by the Kurds.
UNICEF reported as many as 46 attacks on Syria’s water infrastructure in 2019 alone, exacerbating the problem of water shortage due to climate change and natural disasters like the 2023 earthquakes.
If Syria is going to rebuild itself following the fall of Assad, it needs to develop a new water infrastructure that can provide residents with the amount of clean water they need, as currently nearly 13 million need assistance for water, sanitation and hygiene in the war-torn country.
What can you do to help?
Households and businesses might feel as though the problem is too big for them, but there is lots they can do to help. For instance, simply switching water providers to one that aims to reduce water wastage, protects the environment, and uses efficient water systems can have a huge impact.
It is also important to cut down on the amount of water used, such as having shorter showers; harvesting rainwater and using this on lawns or for irrigation; fixing leaks when they appear; and fitting water meters to encourage less water usage.
