Clean Water Kailey Chan

PART 1: OVERVIEW

Today 1 billion people in the developing world do not have access to clean, safe water drinking water, yet people on first world countries take it for granted. We waste it and pay way too much to drink it from plastic bottles.

"Water is the foundation of life. And still today, all around the world, far too many people spend their entire day searching for it."

CLIMATE CHANGE

As the world experiences climate change, percitpitation and rain are not expected to be consistent, resulting in a decrease of a safe water supply for humans. The total freshwater resources available are around 2.5%, the rest is salt water, which is not safe to drink.

Quantity of freshwater available in the world as of 2007
POLLUTION

Pollution refers to chemicals or other substances in concentrations greater than what would occur in natural conditions. Major water pollutants include microbes, nutrients, heavy metals, organic chemicals, and oil. These pollutants cause a great degradation in water quality around the world.

INCREASE IN TENSIONS

Over 260 river basins are used by two or more countries. Changes within a basin can lead to transboundary tensions and when major project proceed without regional collaboration, it can cause conflict. Water stress is caused by an imbalance between water use and water resources. Water stress can cause water deterioration in terms of quality (pollution) and quantity (dry rivers, aquifers).

PART 2: CURRENT STATE
"There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people - and the environment - suffer badly." World Water Vision Report
AGRICULTURAL CRISIS

Water withdrawals for irrigation account for 66% of the total withdrawals (and up to 90% in arid regions). The other 34% is used by do,estimates households, industries and is evaporated from reservoirs. Increasing population and changes in lifestyle, the water to produce food for human consumption and insutrial proccesses is becoming scarce.

Most Recently

In 2015, over 91% of the world's population used an improved drinking water source, which exceeds Millenial Development Goal of 88%. 2.6 billion people gained access to an improved drinking water source and of those 2.6 billion, 1.9 billion people gained access to a piped supply. Despite this accomplishment, there are still 663 million people who do not have access to an improved drinking water source, mostly people who are poor and live in rural areas. There are also many questions about the safety of these improved supplies regarding if they are free of contaminants and will serve as a reliable supply throughout the year.

Proportion of the population using improved water sources in 2015. Countries where less than 50% of the population is using improved drinking water sources are all located in Sub Sahara Africa and Oceania.

Recycling Water

Water recycling is a proven technology that can help the clean water issue. Wastewater, water from showers, toilets, or washingmachines, is filtered and is then used for other purposes. Although it is a great solution, the idea of it disgusts people, which is why recycled water is not going directly to our taps.

PART 3: CHINA

Background

China is home to more than 20% of the world's population, but contains only 7% of the world's fresh water. In cities like the Gansu province, situated along the Yellow River, the water supply has dwindled to dangerously low levels due to drought and a surge of urban development. This has left tens of thousands of people without water.

Construction crews work on China's South-North Water Diversion Project in Henan province. The project's three routes of about a total of 2700 miles, divert water from China's rich-water south to the dry north.

China's water resources are falling, while their demand for water is increasing. This imbalance will threaten China's economy, agriculture, and power.

If China does not do something about this issue and business countinues as usual, they will not be able to meet the demand for water, for their supply will be too little.

"More than 80 percent of the water from underground wells used by farms, factories and households across the heavily populated plains of China is unfit for drinking or bathing because of contamination from industry and farming..."
Discharge from a Chinese fertilizer factory winds its way towards the Yellow River.

In China, algae, waste, oil, filled waters has become a norm for the Chinese.

Credits:

Created with images by DFID - UK Department for International Development - "Providing clean water and sanitation" • Oxfam East Africa - "Families in Kule Camp, Gambella have access to clean water" • andreas160578 - "climate change climate drought" • indi.ca - "Crows Island Pollution" • www.hacienda-la-colora.com - "Pont Chaban Delmas - Bordeaux" • abdulmominyottabd - "bath shower bathroom" • thekirbster - "Irrigation System" • egorgrebnev - "Lijiang"

Made with Adobe Slate

Make your words and images move.

Get Slate

Report Abuse

If you feel that this video content violates the Adobe Terms of Use, you may report this content by filling out this quick form.

To report a Copyright Violation, please follow Section 17 in the Terms of Use.