Summertime in Texas, and the temperatures are sweltering. There has been no rain, so maintaining my garden has been a severe challenge. The soil cannot get enough water. No neighbors are looking at my lawn and thinking, "The grass is greener on that side."
My 2023 gardening experience got me thinking of water—a naturally occurring and essential commodity of life. As crucial as it is for all living things, access to clean and safe water remains a pressing global issue.
Regardless of how much progress has been made in the past few decades, global access to water still needs improvement.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF's Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), as of 2019, about 2.2 billion people around the world lack safely managed drinking water services, meaning water from an improved water source that is located on-premises, available when needed, and free of contamination.
In various parts of the world, groundwater is a primary source of freshwater, and boreholes are commonly used to access the groundwater. Unfortunately, the rate at which groundwater is being extracted exceeds its natural replenishment, which could lead to reduced water availability and quality over time.
In an effort for improvement, the sustainable development goal for clean water and sanitation created by the United Nations is in place to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. By incorporating various initiatives and partnerships, efforts are being made towards improving global water access and quality.
Access to an improved water source doesn't guarantee the water is free from contamination, with issues like fecal contamination remaining prevalent in many areas, even those with infrastructure in place.
While predicting the state of access to water in the future is complex and impossible, some assessments and projections have been made by different bodies. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that water scarcity will intensify in many parts of the world due to changes in rainfall patterns, more frequent and severe droughts, and increased evaporation rates. Some regions will experience heavier rains and floods, while others will face prolonged droughts.
As the world population is projected to increase, there is anticipated to be more pressure in regions already water-stressed. The World Bank has discussed that while economic growth can increase water demand, it can provide better water infrastructure and management resources. Technological solutions, particularly desalination techniques, might be critical in delivering water as technology advances. Desalination, for example, has been a topic of interest, but its scalability and environmental impact are research topics.
When I imagine what the world would look like 40, 50, or even 60 years from now, my optimistic side hopes that our collaborative efforts, significant investment in water infrastructure, and breakthroughs in water technology could improve water security globally. Pessimistically and I hope this is not the case, water scarcity worsens in many regions due to a combination of factors, leading to conflicts and more significant disparities in water access. However, it might be a mix of both scenarios where some regions improve their water security while others face increased challenges.
It is our responsibility to act now and push boundaries to address this pressing issue and safeguard the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.
Citations:
IPCC, 2018: Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/
RFT, Author at Coconut-Shell Carbon Water Filters - Rajah Filter Technics. https://rajahfiltertechnics.com/author/rft/
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019.
Rodell, M., et al. (2018). Emerging trends in global freshwater availability. Nature, 557(7707), 651-659.
World Health Organization (2017). Progress on drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene: 2017 update and SDG baselines.
Shannon, M. A., et al. (2008). Science and technology for water purification in the coming decades. Nature, 452(7185), 301-310.
World Resources Institute (2019). Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas.
World Bank (2016). High and Dry: Climate Change, Water, and the Economy.
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