Access to clean, safe drinking water—one of the most basic human rights—is a luxury that billions of people do not have. In fact, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than two billion people worldwide use water sources contaminated with fecal matter and other dangerous components. Despite being essential for survival, access to clean water has become an increasingly complex problem due to climate change and population growth, among other factors. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at why access to clean water has become so precarious in recent years and discuss what can be done on an individual as well as a global level if we want everyone to have safe drinking water.
Why is there a lack of access to clean water for people in different parts of the world?
Unsustainable water use and growing populations have resulted in a scarcity of fresh water sources, especially in arid regions. Climate change has also had a significant impact on the availability of clean water, as rising global temperatures lead to more frequent and intense droughts that further deplete freshwater bodies like rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. Water pollution is another major problem—chemical runoff from fertilisers used in agriculture and industrial waste are two primary sources that contaminate drinking water sources.
What can be done to ensure everyone can access safe drinking water?
There is no doubt that access to clean, safe drinking water should be the right of everyone. However, in order to grant this fundamental human right to all, we must work together on both an individual and societal level.
- Governments and organisations can work together to implement conservation policies that focus on reducing water waste and improving wastewater treatment systems in order to protect available clean water sources.
- Investing in better infrastructure is also crucial, as improved pipes and wells can help ensure that people have access to safe drinking water.
- Governments can also provide incentives for companies to adopt sustainable practises that reduce their water use.
- On an individual level, we can take some simple steps, such as being conscious of our own daily water consumption and encouraging others to do the same.
- We should also support organisations working towards providing clean drinking water to those who need it most.