More than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. Nevertheless, only 3% of it comprises fresh water whereas close to 70% of it is stored in frozen glaciers or by other means not readily available for human consumption. Water is classified as a renewable resource since it is replenished constantly by the ecological system through hydrological cycle. This amount of fresh water in the planet is sufficient enough to meet the needs of over seven billion people of the world. However, more than a fifth of the world’s population currently does not have access to clean and fresh water. This incredible insufficiency is brought about by both human and natural causes. Particularly, it is attributed to uneven distribution of fresh water over the planet, wastage, pollution and unsustainable management. This has resulted in what is known as “water scarcity”.
The European Environment Agency defines water scarcity as a situation where “there are insufficient water resources to satisfy long-term average requirements”. Peter Schulte on the other hand defines it as “volumetric abundance or lack thereof, of water supply”. However, water scarcity is generally understood to mean unavailability of access to sufficient amounts of water for human consumption and environmental uses.
Over time, global water consumption has increased to approximately 1700 liters per capita a day. Interestingly, the rate at which it has increased is higher than the world population growth rate. This trend negates the presence of a positive causal relationship between rising global water consumption rate and global population growth rate. Therefore, other than natural causes, industrial consumption is to blame for lack of adequate fresh water for domestic purposes. Industrial sector takes up to 90% of available fresh water leaving only 10% for domestic consumption.
Another interesting fact about water scarcity is that it is not only a problem unique to the developing world. It affects the developed nations too, though not on necessarily equal measures. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), water scarcity has plagued every planet. It approximates that 1.2 billion people currently live in areas of physical scarcity.
Water scarcity has had adverse impacts especially on the rural poor members of the society. A case in question is most parts of Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. Here, rural communities live on the mountains where water tables are extremely deep. More so, they are sparsely settled making it very expensive to supply clean water to every homestead. As a result, they have to fetch water down in the streams and carry them up the mountain to their homes. These streams are mostly seasonal and where there are permanent ones they are far apart. Therefore, these people have to walk for long distances access them resulting in loss of working hours.
In addition, water scarcity has negatively affected the development of girl child and women in general. In most of these communities, household chores are gendered. It is the role of girls and women to fetch water according to their customs. Consequently, women and girls spend their time and energy in walking long distances to fetch water for domestic consumption at the expense of their personal development such as educational pursuits.
Given that water is manually fetched, only limited amounts can be obtained. These amounts are used exclusively for cooking leaving none for sanitation purposes. To most of them, hand washing is an alien concept leave alone hand washing with soap. Furthermore, they lack sewerage infrastructure. Therefore, they openly defecate in the fields leading to their wastes being washed downstream to the rivers, the very rivers from which they fetch water for domestic consumption. The situation has fueled the spread of communicable diseases such as diarrhea. Consequently, they end up spending their little income if any on health cyclically aggravating their already dire economic situation.
Ever wondered what would happen if water disappears? Well it will be an end to life on earth. As illustrated above, there is a direct causal relationship between lack of adequate access to clean and safe water and spread of communicable diseases. In addition, water is indispensable in food production. Threats posed by climate change for instance endanger food production by exacerbating desertification.
Despite the glaring challenges, there is hope. As aforementioned, the quantity of fresh earth’s fresh water is sufficient enough to meet both personal and domestic needs all the seven billion of us. To this end, this paper calls for even and proper distribution of fresh water. It strongly advocates for adoption of policies that will curb pollution, ensure that extraction rate of ground water remains within its replenishment rate and that rain water remain within local sheds.
Specifically, this paper recommends recognition of right to fresh water as opposed to privatization. Privatization of provision of clean water was promoted by the World Bank in late 1980s. This policy was meant to ease the burden carried by overwhelmed governments. It was informed by the fact that privet sector is endowed with massive resources not readily available to public sector. Additionally, it was inspired by the fact that governments are mismanaged and are corrupt compared to the private sector that is efficiently ran. However, private sector is driven by capitalist ideologies. They have focused more on making profits than ensuring universal supply of clean water. Guided by golden rule of free market, it has left the economically disadvantaged members of the society thirsty. Additionally, private organizations are not prone to taking huge risks, an attribute which cannot be dispensed with in ventures such as supply of clean water to every homestead.
It is on this premise that the paper strongly pushes for adoption of policies that recognizes the right to clean and fresh water. This recognition will establish both legal and policy framework upon which everyone will be guaranteed access to clean and fresh water irrespective of whether it is supplied by private or public sector. Nevertheless, it does not belittle the role played by private sector in supply of clean water. It recognizes the invaluable resources endowed on the sector and the fact that governments are too economically overwhelmed to singularly deliver on the right to universal access to clean water. It therefore suggests adoption of public-private partnership approach. This will make it possible to involve the private sector in alleviating water poverty by tapping into their huge resource base and capacity. At the same time, the state will be in a position to ensure that everyone irrespective of their economic status is guaranteed access to clean water.
Furthermore, the paper advocates for re-evaluation of land-use and planning policies. It suggests adoption of policies that will see to it that people are settled in areas where it will be economically possible for the state to supply clean water. It discourages sporadic and sparse settlement especially on the mountains.
Moreover, the technological advancement promises to provide windows of opportunity upon which the right to universal access to clean and fresh water can be realized. Inventions such as life saver bottles for instance, have helped surmount challenges faced in supplying clean water. Life saver bottle filters filthy water making it sterile and safe for drinking. It is instrumental in supplying clean water to people in disaster-struck areas. Modifications can be encouraged to make it suitable for circumstances of rural poor. It has been adopted by the British military and every soldier in Afghanistan is issued with one as a standard practice.
In conclusion, this paper reiterates the recognition of universal right to access to clean and fresh water. It proposes formulation of policies and legal framework that will guarantee implementation of this right. Besides, it recommends, abolishment of policies that are anti-thesis to the said right. Additionally, it acknowledges the role played by advancements in technology in restoration of hope for access to clean water in areas currently faced by water scarcity. Furthermore, land use and planning policies ought to be reassessed and amended to ensure that there is economic congruence between human settlement and access to clean and fresh water.
References
Curry, E. (2010). Water Scarcity and the Recognition of the Human. Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights, 9(1), 103-121.
Schulte, P. (2014, February 4). Defining Water Scarcity, Water Stress, and Water Risk: It’s Not Just Semantics. Retrieved March 3, 2016, from Pacific Institute Insights: http://pacinst.org/water-definitions/
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). (2014, November 24). Internation Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015. Retrieved March 3, 2016, from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA): http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity.shtml
Water scarcity. (2008, November 26). Water scarcity. Retrieved March 3, 2016, from European Environment Agency: http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/featured-articles/water-scarcity
White, C. (2012, May 7). Understanding water scarcity: Definitions and measurements. Retrieved March 3, 2016, from Global Water Forum: http://www.globalwaterforum.org/2012/05/07/understanding-water-scarcity-definitions-and-measurements/
