Clean Water & Sanitation
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
The Issue
Over 1.1 billion people don't have access to clean fresh water and around 2.4 billion - 32% of the world - don't have possession of proper sanitation facilities. People are dying due to lack of water.
Impacts Of Physical Geography
- Limited Fresh Water
- Earth is warming up
- Using water up at fast rate
Fresh Water Supply
- Only 3% of our world's water is fresh and 2/3 of that is locked away in polar icecaps and glaciers
- Also many groundwater supplies, aquafires, are running out due to over usage.(BBC News)
- Only 1% is for direct Human use
Impacts of human Geography
- Global Warming
- Landfills/Pollution
- Industrial and Agriculture
Global Warming
As us humans keep burning fossil fuel to run our cars and factories, we don’t realize we are causing global warming to increase at a very fast rate. This affects our water supply by if our climate keeps rising we will have loss of mountain snow packs and early spring snow melt will cause less water to be available for drinking water downstream. If the mountain snow packs melt many millions of people will be without drinking water. If people keep contributing to global warming this next fact may become a reality sooner, as the temperatures rise, so does the sea level, and the salt water ocean can slip into ground drinking water supplies, especially in low lying coastal areas.(Global Warming)
Landfills
Humans also affect the water supply is by creating landfills. They don’t only affect the air but also the water. The landfills have a liquid that drains from them called leachates. It is a hazardous waste that drains from landfills and contaminated groundwater or if located near a fresh body water. These toxic are very unhealthy for our bodies and make water undrinkable.(Landfill Problems)
Agriculture & Industrial
Around 70% of our industrial waste gets thrown into our drinking water, polluting it.(40 facts) Around 70% of our fresh water is used in agriculture, and around 60% is wasted due to leaky irrigation systems. It is drying out our lakes, rivers and aquifers. Also the human population has doubled in the past 50 years. This means there will be more demand and more use of water, which will make fresh drinkable water run out quicker.(Water Scarcity) .
Effects On the World
More than 840, 000 people die due to lack of water in developing countries where water scarcity is high. Every minute a kid dies due to a water related disease. ⅓ people don’t have access to clean proper sanitation.(11 facts) 1.1 billion lack access to clean freshwater around the world and 2.7 suffer water scarcity once a month. It is estimated that in 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortage. Many of the wetlands around the world have disappeared since the 1900’s, they are home to many animals and other living organism. They also supply rice and staple which is apart of most of the world’s population. They also help with water filtration, storm control and helps control flooding. Water scarcity can damage ecosystems such as a lake that was once fill with clean fresh water, it was home to many fish and many other animals. Also other living organisms, but when we start polluting that lake, many of the organisms leave or die out, damaging the ecosystem inside.(Water Scarcity)
Canada's Role
Canada has a lot of fresh water, which means we have a lot to give out. Also, Canada nearly owns 9% of the world's fresh water. Sadly, At the same time we are one of the highest consumers of water in the world An average Canadian uses about 329 L of water per day, just at home use. This is devastating knowing what some countries have to go through. “In Africa, household water use averages 47 litres per person. In Asia, the average is 95 litres.”(WATER and PEOPLE)
Possible Solutions
We can support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation. We can take action and try to help slow down climate change. Help restore water sources such as mountains, rivers, lakes and aquifers by 2020.(Goal 6). Start using our water wisely because it is running out. Support sustainable water plans and organizations.