The crisis of drinking water has become a serious and growing challenge worldwide. This issue is worsening due to several factors, including climate change, population explosion, urbanization, industrialization, and imbalanced water usage. Human life depends on water, but currently, many parts of the world face a shortage of clean drinking water. This crisis could be the seed of many future disasters.
Although about 71% of the Earth is covered with water, only 2.5% of it is fresh and suitable for drinking. A large part of this fresh water is trapped in glaciers and ice caps. Thus, the amount of water available for human use is minimal. In many countries around the world, water sources are depleting, and water misuse is increasing. This exacerbates the drinking water crisis.
According to UNESCO, the situation is so severe that there is an urgent need to establish a robust international system before this global crisis spirals out of control. According to the World Water Development Report 2023, the goal of providing clean drinking water and sanitation to everyone by 2030 is still far off. The reality is that over the past 40 years, global water consumption has increased by 1% annually.
Water scarcity is not just a national issue but a global problem. The intensity of the crisis is so severe that half the world is grappling with a lack of clean and safe drinking water. Additionally, people are shedding blood over water disputes worldwide. The year 2023 bears witness to this, with 347 reported cases of water-related violence globally. India is also not far behind, with 25 incidents of water-related violence recorded this year, compared to 10 cases in 2022. This more than 50% increase in water-related violence is alarming. Many people have lost their lives in these incidents, with the main causes being disputes over irrigation water and attacks on dams, pipelines, wells, and plant workers.
Apart from these conflicts, drought and mutual disputes also play a significant role in escalating the situation. On a global scale, regions like the Middle East, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia have witnessed an unprecedented rise in water-related violence. According to a recent study by Oxford University, published in Science Magazine, 4.4 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water.
This figure is higher than previously reported and indicates a severe danger. According to UN statistics, 26% of the world's population currently faces drinking water challenges. UNESCO stresses the urgent need for an international system to address this crisis before it spirals out of control.
The World Water Development Report 2023 highlights that the goal of providing clean water and sanitation to all by 2030 is still far from being achieved. The global demand for water, driven by population growth and socio-economic changes, is expected to increase by 2050. This poses a serious challenge. Furthermore, due to the presence of contaminants in water and a lack of infrastructure, over 690 million people in regions like South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and East Asia live in areas without reliable water supply systems.
80% of the population in Northeast China, India, and Pakistan faces a severe drinking water crisis
According to a UNICEF report, millions of households in India have to drink water contaminated with fluoride and arsenic, leading to annual healthcare costs of approximately ₹42 billion to address waterborne diseases.
The economic burden of water-related issues is increasing, especially in Asia, where 80% of the population in regions like Northeast China, India, and Pakistan faces a severe drinking water crisis. By 2050, the global urban population affected by this crisis is expected to increase from 933 million in 2016 to between 1.7 and 2.4 billion, with India being the hardest hit. If this issue is not addressed immediately, it will become even more difficult to cope with the crisis.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also stated that water is as essential to humanity as blood. Thus, it is crucial to stop the wastage of water and conserve it. There is no doubt that climate change is increasingly threatening global water security. This crisis is already affecting five billion people worldwide. According to scientists at the University of California, worsening climate change will only exacerbate this dire situation.
The reason for this is the lack of awareness about environmental threats related to climate change and water security. Scientists predict that within the next 20 years, this crisis will reach a catastrophic level, posing a serious threat to humanity. The most significant need is to make environmental issues more concrete and relevant, as only then can meaningful change be expected.
It is also noteworthy that in many parts of the world, people have to travel long distances to access clean water. Even within some Indian states, similar challenges exist. Meanwhile, the cleanest water is available to the people of Southern Europe. Will India be able to achieve this level through sincere improvements? If it does, it will undoubtedly be considered one of the world's great wonders and a significant achievement.
Global efforts are being made to find solutions to the water crisis. Sustainable water management, water recycling, and conservation measures must be implemented urgently. Using water conservation technologies and preventing wastage is essential. Governments, organizations, and civil society need to work together to ensure sustainable management of water resources.
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*Social activist
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