World Water Day: The power of water

March 16, 2023 Kelley Stuart

World Water Day: The power of water

Water is central to sustainable development because it is necessary for socioeconomic development, energy and food production, healthy ecosystems, and human survival. Water is also central to climate change adaptation, acting as a vital link between society and the environment.

As the world’s population grows, there is a greater need to balance competing commercial demands on water resources so that communities have enough for their needs. Women and girls, in particular, must have access to clean, private sanitation facilities in order to manage menstruation and maternity in dignity and safety.

Water unites all aspects of life. Access to safe water and sanitation can quickly transform problems into opportunities, giving people more time for school and work and contributing to better health for women, children, and families all over the world. Today, 771 million people (one in ten) do not have access to safe drinking water, and 1.7 billion people (one in four) do not have access to a toilet.

Is a global health crisis caused by a lack of water?

Water cannot be considered in isolation from sanitation at the community scale. They are critical for reducing the global burden of the disease and improving population health, education, and economic productivity.

2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water services
(WHO/UNICEF 2019)
Almost 2 billion people rely on health-care facilities that do not provide basic water services. (World Health Organization/UNICEF 2020)
Over half of the world’s population, or 4.2 billion people, do not have access to safe sanitation services. 2019 (WHO/UNICEF)
Every year, 297,000 children under the age of five die from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor sanitation, poor hygiene, or unsafe drinking water. 2019 (WHO/UNICEF)
2 billion people live in countries with severe water scarcity. (UN 2019)
Weather-related disasters from climate change, such as floods and droughts, account for 90% of all natural disasters. (UNISDR)
Almost all water, (80% )of wastewater is discharged into the environment without being treated or reused. UNESCO (2017a)
A cooperative management framework does not exist for roughly two-thirds of the world’s transboundary rivers. (SIWI)
Out dated agriculture practices is responsible for 70% of global water withdrawal.

How do a lack of water affect kids in developing regions?

Globally, more than 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children, live in areas of high, or extremely high, water vulnerability, according to a new analysis released by UNICEF. This means that 1 in 5 children worldwide does not have enough water to meet their everyday needs.

The study, which is part of the “Water Security for All” initiative, identifies areas where physical water scarcity risks intersect with inadequate water service levels. These communities rely on surface water, unimproved sources, or water that can take more than 30 minutes to collect. This is a basic essential to life. We can build oil pipelines all over the world, but our children still have to walk to get water to eat, shower, and drink.

Water stress has been exacerbated by decades of mismanagement, poor management, over-extraction of groundwater, and contamination of freshwater supplies. Simultaneously, water demand is increasing due to rapid population growth, urbanization, and increased water needs from a variety of sectors. Water stress is being exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather events. The resulting impact on children’s health, development, and safety jeopardizes decades of significant progress in child survival and sustainable development. It endangers children’s lives today and threatens future generations.

What effect does water have on the climate?

Water stress has been magnified by decades of poor management, poor management, over-extraction of groundwater, and contamination of freshwater supplies. Simultaneously, water demand is increasing due to rapid population growth, urbanization, and increased water needs from a variety of sectors. Water stress is being amplified by warming temperatures and severe weather events. The resulting impact on children’s health, development, and safety jeopardizes decades of significant progress in child survival and sustainable development. It endangers children’s lives today and threatens future generations.

Extreme weather events and changes in water cycle patterns are making access to safe drinking water more difficult, particularly for the most vulnerable children.

Between 2001 and 2018, 74% of natural disasters, including droughts and floods, were water-related. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of such events.
Around 450 million children live in areas with a high or incredibly high risk of flooding. This means they don’t have enough water to meet their daily requirements.
When natural disasters strike, they can destroy or contaminate entire water supplies, increasing the risk of diseases such as cholera and typhoid, to which children are especially vulnerable.
Rising temperatures can cause deadly pathogens to grow in freshwater sources, making the water unsafe to drink.
Major water pollution endangers the lives of children. Water and sanitation-related diseases are among the leading causes of death among children under the age of five.
Rising sea levels are causing fresh water to become salty, threatening the water resources on which millions rely.
Adapting to climate change’s water effects will protect children’s health and save their lives. Water efficiency and the transition to solar-powered water systems will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and further safeguard children’s futures.

The world needs to become more water-savvy. Everyone has a part to play, and we can’t afford to waste time.

Source: UNICEF

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Kelley Stuart

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