How Can We Solve the Problem of Water Shortage

Water is a fundamental aspect of human life. Your body is made of water, we need water to survive, and we use water on a daily basis. Looking at a picture of the Earth, it appears that the world has more than enough water; after all, most of the Earth is covered in it. However, less than three percent of the water on earth is actually freshwater. Of this supply of freshwater, a majority of the freshwater is not accessible.

Currently, 1.1. billion people worldwide lack access to water, partially because of the inability to reach the freshwater source. What’s more, an additional 2.7 billion people have found water to be scarce in their area for a minimum of month. Water is a necessity to live. The ability for an individual to access drinking water is a fundamental human right. Each State’s government has a duty and responsibility to ensure their citizenry has access to reliable, safe, accessible, affordable, and clean drinking water. Sadly, such access to fresh drinking water is not a reality in some countries around the world.

What is the Current Water Scarcity Problem?

So, what exactly does “water scarcity” mean in layman’s terms? As explained by Waterlogic, water scarcity “refers to insufficient access to the water resources necessary to sustain a region.” When referring to humans’ insufficient access to water resources which are necessary to an individual, the term water scarcity is divided into two separate categories: physical water scarcity and economic water scarcity. As the name in and of itself implies, physical water scarcity, as furthered by Waterlogic, “refers to a lack of available water resources relative to its demand.” Likewise, economic water scarcity “refers to limited water access resulting from insufficient financial resources to access, store, and/or distribute water to homes, business, and so on.”

There are a variety of factors that cause water scarcity. Climate change is one factor. As the weather patterns shift, access to, and the supply of freshwater, similarly shift over time. Other factors which contribute to water scarcity are water pollution, industrial agriculture, unsustainable energy production, unsustainable industrial practices. When industries do not practice healthy water recycling habits, our lakes, rivers, and streams become more polluted from the run-off from these various industries. For instance, a factor that dumps its waste, or allows its waste to run-off into the local river results in the pollution of that river. Finally, the ever-growing global population contributes to water scarcity. Put simply, the more people that exist, the more water is required to supply individuals with their basic needs.

In the world today, Waterlog explained “[t]he most vulnerable to water scarcity today live in India and China, while the problem also affects dozens of other countries including Great Britain, Australia, Mexico, Yemen, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States.” Because other nations are affected by water scarcity as well, it is imperative we all work together to help increase the freshwater supply on our Earth.

How You Can Help Eliminate the Water Crisis

There are a variety of practices and methods you can start to work towards eliminating water scarcity and solving the current water crisis. 

Healthy Water Stewardship

Promoting healthy water stewardship is something you can start to implement in your daily life now to eliminate water scarcity. In order to promote water stewardship, consider taking shorter showers. By taking shorter showers, you will use less water with each shower, thus saving more freshwater. You can also install low-flow toilets, reuse graywater, and eradicate leaking and other water inefficiencies at your home, school, or office. Additionally, consider starting to collect rainwater. By collecting rainwater, you can use this water in place of freshwater. For instance, fresh rainwater can be used to water your garden or clean the outside surface of your house.

Alternative Yard Irrigation Systems

Switch out your flood irrigation system for sprinkler or drip irrigation systems. Also, consider opting for better soil management practices that will prevent evaporation from the soil. These include using limited tillage, mulching, or no-till tillage.

Desalinize Your Water

Although water desalinizing is a relatively new technology, desalinizing water allows you to convert your seawater into freshwater. This freshwater can, in turn, be used for cooking, bathing, drinking and etc.!

Substainable Energy

A fourth method is to consider investing in sustainable energy or water saving initiatives. Initiatives such as though organized by Green Line or initiatives that work to promote sustainable energy. Also consider initiatives that work to protect wetlands. Wetlands play a major role in purifying water. Notably, wetlands are disappearing at a quick rate, meaning not as much water is being purified as before. By investing in initiatives that aim to protect wetlands, you can protect a major natural resource that works to collect and purify water.

A fifth method is to donate directly to water saving NGO’s. At Green Line, we have 4 different tiers you can invest in to promote water health education. The tiers Green Line offers are as follows:

  • $25 per month – allows you to bring safe water health and hygiene education to 10 people in a year
  • $50 per month – allows you to bring safe water and health and hygiene education to 5 families in a year
  • $100 per month – allows you to bring safe water and health and hygiene education to a classroom of kids in a year
  • $250 per month – allows you to bring safe water health and hygiene education to 100 people in a year.

Click here for more information on how to donate to Green Line.

A sixth method is to become involved in water saving policy making. Water is an important part of our lives. By each of us working individually to conserve freshwater, we can create a greater global impact on eliminating the