Three-quarters of the earth’s surface is water. Of the earth’s 510.1 million km² surface areas, only 148.9 million km² is a land area. The oversized water surface area doesn’t mean water is an infinite resource. Out of a large amount of water, only 3 percent is usable fresh water. More than 97 percent of the earth’s water is not useful. It has high salt amounts and has occupied most seas and oceans.
Approximately two percent of the earth’s water is freshwater, commonly found in snowy mountains, glaciers, and ice caps. Only one percent of the earth’s water is available for human consumption. The earth has its usable freshwater stored in lakes, streams, rivers, aquifers, and ground.
Studies indicate that the agricultural sector is the biggest consumer of fresh water. Roughly 49 percent of usable fresh water is used to produce electricity. Rural and urban homes, hotels, and offices consume 11 percent water. Mining and manufacturing activities consume the remaining eight percent.
Is Water Abundant?
Water is available in huge volumes all over the world. It’s the most renewable resource produced and used on planet earth. Water falls from the sky as rain and is available in oceans and seas in salt water forms. It’s confirmed that without water, humans and animals wouldn’t exist. So yes, water is abundant.
The water available on the earth’s surface equals 326 million cubic miles. Sadly, 2.5 percent of the earth’s fresh water is unavailable for human use. It’s often locked up in the soil, atmosphere, glaciers, or polar ice caps. Digging out this water costs billions and leaves a huge heap of air and land pollution.
It beats logic how we have so much water but very little is useful. Many of earth’s water resources aren’t easy to access. In fact, so many of these resources are so far away that it costs the world billions to get the water to our locations. The demand for water in all industries and sectors has grown massively of late. That has doubled or even tripped the need for water at our disposal.
Also, it’s painful to note that 844 million people lack access to usable water. These people have to travel for over thirty minutes to get safe water. Over 4 million people succumb to diseases caused by a lack of access to clean water. Approximately 300,000 kids die yearly from diarrhea caused by drinking poorly sanitized and unclean water.
Even though water is abundant, the useful amount is out of reach. The world needs an annual budget of over £21bn to ensure a clean and hygienic water supply to everyone in need. These are massive amounts that aren’t included in global budgets.
Water Stats and Facts
Water stats and facts unveil some interesting truths. Over 25.8 percent of the world’s population lives in water-stressed countries. These people drink water contaminated by feces. Approximately 74 percent of the world’s population has access to safely managed drinking water. Most of these people have the water at their disposal located on their premises or nearby stores.
We all deserve access to clean and ready water for domestic use, drinking, and recreational purposes. We as well need to access enhanced water supply and sanitation solutions. Water and sanitation are human rights as per the 2010 UN General Assembly. Everybody has the right to access clean drinking water every time in need.
Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 by the UN advocates for equitable and widespread access to cheap and safe drinking water. They ensure water is safely managed and controlled for human consumption. As of 2020, 5.8 billion people had quality access to safely managed drinking water services. 1.2 billion Of the remaining people had access to basic services.
Approximately 282 million people had access to limited services. That means they had water located at least 30 minutes away. Roughly 368 million people had no access to clean water. They consumed water from vulnerable springs and wells. The remaining 122 million people used water from untreated sources. These include streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds.
Water Pollution
Water pollution is a global issue. Almost half of streams and rivers contain polluted water not fit for human use. They contain phosphates, nitrates, and other contaminants. These render the water harmful for drinking and swimming.
Over 80 percent of wastewater in the water flows back into the environment. In other words, it mixes with water untreated and contaminated. In undeveloped countries, the sewage levels are as high as 95%. These leave the water contaminated and unsafe for human use. The old and damaged sewage treatment systems in many countries are also a problem. They release over 850 billion gallons of wastewater in its raw form to the atmosphere.
It has also been confirmed that tons of oil find their way into oceans and water sources yearly. These leave water contaminated and unsafe for use. Nuclear power plants, universities, hospitals, and uranium mining also causes extreme pollution. These sectors use radioactive materials. The materials can cause over 56 million gallons of radioactive wastewater yearly.
Clean Water and its Availability
Approximately one in every 10 people lack access to clean and safe water. Basically, the world has only 0.4% of drinkable water. The population of the world is currently heading to 8 billion. So, the amount of water available is not entirely enough.
We must note that 0.4% of the drinkable water is not readily available. It’s hidden in streams and rivers. People have to dig wells and boreholes to access most of such water. Drinking holes and wells cost billions of dollars.
The world is making bold and significant steps toward ensuring quality access to clean water. In 2015, only 70 percent of the people in the world had safe drinkable water. As of 2020, the population with access to safe potable water has increased to over 74 percent.
Considering the 2030 vision, it wouldn’t be possible to get everyone in the world accessing clean water. Only 82 percent of the global population would have access to clean, drinkable water by then.
Water Issues in Struggling Countries
Struggling countries are the most affected by water shortages and poor quality water. In fact, water flooding issues are rampant in struggling countries. It’s distressing that 80 percent of illnesses in most struggling countries result from poorly sanitized and unsafe water. These countries have no robust mechanisms to control rising sea levels and other water pollution issues.
Many of these countries have many health issues affecting populations of all ages. Eritrea is the most affected country regarding the lack of clean water. 80.7 percent of Eritreans don’t have access to clean and sanitized water sources. Papua New Guinea is the second most affected country, with 63.4 percent of its population lacking access to essential water services.
Uganda is the third struggling country that lacks essential water services. 61.15 of Ugandans don’t have access to primary water services. Approximately 60.9 percent of Ethiopians don’t have access to clean and quality water. Somalia is also among the countries with low access to clean water. 60% of Somalians lack basic water services. Angola is one of the six most affected struggling countries. Only 59 percent of Angolans have access to basic water services.
Everybody has the right to access clean water free of contaminants. Although responsible bodies have done a lot to change the situation, a lot is yet not done. With over 24 percent of people lacking basic water services, it’s time we did better to make water a necessity. There is a need to ensure everyone in the world gets access to this fundamental resource.
