This week marks the celebration of World Water Week, an event that has taken place from August 23 to September 1 since 1991. It provides a chance to contemplate the pressing global water issues at hand.
Water insecurity stands out as a pressing concern in the realm of climate change impact as no other issue. We will continue to witness the frequent bouts of severe floods and droughts that leave us grappling with an excess of undrinkable water or a shortage of the essential resource for consumption. This trend is projected to escalate in intensity over time. The escalating water crisis triggered by climate change is compounded by the rise in global population numbers.
The 2018 United Nations World Water Development Report finds that by the year 2050, 6 billion individuals may face challenges accessing clean water due to high demand, diminishing water resources, and rising pollution levels caused by rapid population growth.
The quality of water is significantly impacted by the growth of the population in a given area. A higher density of the human population leads to a greater likelihood of water contamination due to human activities. Sewage and wastewater volumes increase as more people occupy the region, resulting in the introduction of substances and pathogens into water sources.
Moreover, the growth of industries is linked to the increase in population, which leads to the release of substances into water bodies. An increase in population also drives activities that involve the use of fertilizers and pesticides, which seep into rivers and lakes, affecting their quality. As more people move into an area, it results in the cutting down of forests and increased urban development, which disturbs the natural flow of water, causing soil erosion and sediment buildup.
Consequently, human population growth exerts considerable pressure on water quality making it imperative to implement sustainable measures and enforce strict regulations to protect this crucial resource.
Water is fast becoming a resource that is deepening the divide between the wealthy and the less fortunate in society. Developing countries face greater vulnerability to sea level rise, while underdeveloped areas in more advanced nations bear the brunt of severe water-related incidents even as the wealthier neighborhoods fortify themselves from floods.
References:
UN World Development Report. (n.d.). In https://www.unwater.org/publications/world-water-development-report-2018.
Canada, G. A. (2024, January 25). Access to water in developing countries. GAC. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/environmental_protection-protection_environnement/water-eau.aspx?lang=eng
A Place Worth Protecting: Rethinking Cost-Benefit Analysis Under FEMA’s Flood-Mitigation Programs | The University of Chicago Law Review. (n.d.). https://lawreview.uchicago.edu/print-archive/place-worth-protecting-rethinking-cost-benefit-analysis-under-femas-flood-mitigation
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