The Scary Truth About Global Water Conditions

Children have died at an alarming rate

Water is essential to live. While nearly 70 percent of the world is covered by water, only 2.5 percent of it is considered fresh. From that staggering number, only about 1 percent is easily accessible, making it difficult for people to find access to safe drinking water all over the world.

While unsafe water is a problem for all ages, those who suffer the most are actually children. UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said, “The odds are already stacked against children living through prolonged conflicts — with many unable to reach a safe water source. “The reality is that there are more children who die from lack of access to safe water than by bullets.”

UNICEF conducted a study that analyzed how water impacted children in 16 different nations including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

The study found that “children under-five are on average more than 20 times more likely to die from illnesses linked to unsafe water and bad sanitation, than from conflict.” Additionally, 85,700 children under the age of 15, die from diarrhea linked to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities (WASH), compared with 30,900 from conflict.

Children all over the world are the most vulnerable to malnutrition in this water crisis. Most of the diseases including diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, and polio, are preventable, so it’s on all of us adults to make sure all nations are sustaining a clean water system.

While children are greatly impacted, many of their parents, friends, and neighbors are too. According to Life Water, “Over 579 million people worldwide are drinking unsafe water from hand-dug wells, ponds, swamps, rivers, and springs.” Additionally, 262 million people have to travel outside of their home for miles to obtain fresh water. Most people impacted by unsafe drinking water, 81 percent, are living in rural, underserved regions of the world.

If you’re an American, chances are you don’t have to think too much about your drinking water. Although the U.S. has some of the safest and most regulated water in the world, a report found that, “As many as 63 million people — nearly a fifth of the United States — from rural central California to the boroughs of New York City, were exposed to potentially unsafe water more than once during the past decade.” Just think of the atrocities of Flint, Michigan. Insufficient water treatments left 100,000 Americans exposed to elevated lead levels.

National Geographic stated, “By 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will live in areas plagued by water scarcity, with two-thirds of the world’s population living in water-stressed regions as a result of use, growth, and climate change.”

With more education on the dangers of contaminated water, improvement has been shown in combating this crisis. Water crisis centers are taking the lead and really making a difference in the fight for clean water, however, our water conservation practices are still inefficient.

“The average hamburger takes 2,400 liters, or 630 gallons, of water to produce, and many water-intensive crops, such as cotton, are grown in arid regions.” Going forward, we must learn to effectively manage and maintain our freshwater supply.

Here are some of the best ways to help the contaminated water crisis:

Try a system that helps you reuse water. A rainwater system can help you do things like water your garden, or wash your car without using the hose or water from the sink.

Keep chemicals such as oil, paint, and cleaners out of your drains. Be mindful of what is going into the sewage system.

Always pick up after your dog. Pet waste can go into storm drains and contaminate water systems.

Get involved in a local cleanup effort. Scout out lakes, rivers, and beaches and organize a trip to remove trash and educate others on the importance of safe water.