Introduction
Water is an essential resource for human survival, and access to clean water has also been deemed by the United Nations as an essential human right. Currently, 746 million people around the world, roughly one tenth of the world’s population, do not have access to safe or sanitary water. The extent of this water crisis is only increasing, as every 21 seconds, a child dies from a water-related illness. Additionally, according to the Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights, water consumption grows by a factor of two every twenty years, which is twice the rate of global population increase, indicating that population growth is not the only cause of of the world’s astronomical water consumption rate. One major organization dedicated to solving this cause is UNICEF. Since 1990, two billion people have gained access to clean water with their help. Using donations from sources like the UNICEF Tap Project, UNICEF is able to train local entrepreneurs and engineers how to create wells, by using manual drilling to create boreholes, and also to promote sanitations practices, like increased handwashing, and discouraging open defecation. Their main approach to this problem is to create access to clean water and promote good hygiene and sanitation practices. According to Nature Materials, a solution to the global shortage of clean water is carbon-nanotube-based membranes or robust bioinspired membranes but these solutions will take years to become affordable for even developed countries. It could take twice that time for them to become available to countries in need, and shortages are already occurring
The lack of sanitary water supply is an issue that also has roots within America itself. Although water scarcity is commonly considered purely a third world issue, it is important to comprehend the significant impact that water scarcity has in certain regions of the United States. Water shortages not only affect citizens residing in drier climates such as Arizona, but also impacts those that live in cities that have abundant access to water; due to recent increases in pollution, demand, and other factors, even regions that have never lacked water are finding themselves in unforeseen situations involving water shortages. The average American uses upwards of 100 gallons of water per day, which is significantly more than people in other countries, such as China; in China, daily water consumption per capita is less than half of what Americans use on average. Additionally, much of American water consumption is unnecessary and can be significantly reduced by taking basic procedures to change; according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans can reduce their overall water use by up to 30% by simply installing more water-efficient fixtures and appliances. Another issue is water contamination. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, “waterborne and foodborne diseases continue to cause significant morbidity in the U.S.” For example, there were 1330 water-related disease outbreaks in the U.S. in 2002, the sources ranging from recreational water to drinking water.
Existing Organizations:
~The Water Project http://thewaterproject.org/?gclid=CNCu2v2rrL4CFU5afgod2QgAGQ
~Water is Life http://www.waterislife.com/
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