Polluted Water: A Deadly Crisis For Millions

Water is essential to life, yet millions of people worldwide lack access to it. Unsafe drinking water is one of the world's most significant health and environmental problems, particularly for the poorest people. It is responsible for over a million deaths each year, with diarrhoea being the most widely known disease linked to contaminated water. In addition, inadequate sanitation is a problem for 2.4 billion people, exposing them to cholera, typhoid fever, and other waterborne illnesses. This article will explore the topic of water pollution, the diseases it causes, and the efforts being made to address this global crisis.

Global water crisis

Water is essential to life, but the global water crisis means millions of people worldwide are struggling to access the quantity and quality they need. In 2022, 703 million people lacked access to clean water, down from 1.1 billion in 2000. However, this number is expected to rise again, with half of the world's population potentially facing water scarcity by 2025.

The global water crisis disproportionately affects women and children, who are often responsible for collecting water. This takes time away from work, school, and family, and can expose them to safety risks and exploitation. In the developing world, women and girls walk an average of 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) every day to carry 44 pounds of water. This saps their energy and takes time away from income-generating activities, locking them in a cycle of poverty.

The crisis is caused by a range of factors, including collapsed infrastructure, contamination, conflict, and poor management of water resources. Climate change is also a significant contributor, with increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns reducing water availability. In addition, inadequate management of urban, industrial, and agricultural wastewater means that the drinking water of hundreds of millions of people is dangerously contaminated or chemically polluted. Natural chemicals in groundwater, such as arsenic and fluoride, can also be harmful, while other chemicals, such as lead, may be present in drinking water due to leaching from water supply components.

The impact of the global water crisis is severe, with over one million people dying each year from lack of access to safe water and sanitation. Diarrhoea, caused by unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hand hygiene, is a major contributor to these deaths, with an estimated 505,000 diarrhoeal deaths each year. In addition, unsafe water facilitates the spread of other diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio.

However, the crisis is solvable, and organisations such as Water.org and World Vision are working to address it. By providing access to safe water and sanitation, these organisations are helping to improve health, increase school attendance, and create economic opportunities for millions of people worldwide.

Unsafe drinking water sources

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers access to safe drinking water a basic human right. However, the lack of access to safe drinking water is a pressing issue, with an estimated 1.5 to 2 billion people lacking safe drinking water. This issue disproportionately affects low and lower-middle-income countries, with a strong negative relationship between death rates and income levels. In other words, death rates decline as countries become wealthier. As of 2022, 6 billion people, or 73% of the global population, used safely managed drinking water services, while 2.2 billion people still lacked access to safe water.

The consequences of unsafe drinking water sources are dire, with contaminated water estimated to cause more than half a million deaths per year. Diarrhoea, transmitted primarily through the faecal-oral route, is the most well-known disease linked to contaminated water and results in approximately 505,000 deaths annually. It is largely preventable, and addressing risk factors could save the lives of 395,000 children under five years old each year. Other diseases associated with unsafe drinking water include cholera, dysentery, typhoid, polio, hepatitis A, and gastroenteritis.

In addition to the direct health impacts, unsafe drinking water sources also have indirect effects. When water is not readily available, people may deprioritize handwashing, increasing the likelihood of diarrhoea and other diseases. Furthermore, women and girls living in poverty may spend hours each day collecting water, impacting their productivity and well-being.

While the world has made progress in improving access to safe drinking water, the changes have been slow. Organizations like Water.org are working to address this crisis, reaching millions of people with access to safe water and sanitation solutions. However, the scale of the problem remains vast, and continued efforts are necessary to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.

Waterborne diseases

There are several waterborne diseases, with diarrhoea being the most widely known and the second leading cause of death for children under the age of 5. Other waterborne diseases include cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, polio, and schistosomiasis. Cholera is commonly found in humanitarian emergencies or marginalised villages where poverty and poor sanitation are rampant. It is spread through contaminated water and causes severe dehydration and diarrhoea. Typhoid fever is also well-known in extremely poor parts of developing nations, with an estimated 20 million people suffering from the illness annually. It is spread through contaminated food, unsafe water, and poor sanitation.

In many parts of the world, insects that live or breed in water, such as mosquitoes, carry and transmit diseases like dengue fever. These insects, known as vectors, can breed in clean or dirty water, and household drinking water containers can serve as breeding grounds. Covering water storage containers can help reduce vector breeding and faecal contamination of water.

Water management programs help building managers and owners develop strategies to limit the growth and spread of waterborne pathogens. These programs are now an industry standard for large buildings and are required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for healthcare facilities. Organisations like Water.org and Water For Good are working to provide safe water and sanitation solutions to communities in need, with Water.org reaching over 66 million people and Water For Good teaching proper handwashing techniques to families in developing countries.

Water scarcity

One of the primary causes of water scarcity is the changing global climate. As the climate changes, water cycle patterns are disrupted, leading to droughts or floods and impacting water availability. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide, is a key contributor to these changes. As a result, water systems are under stress, with rivers, lakes, and aquifers drying up or becoming too polluted for use.

Inadequate infrastructure and poor management of water resources also play a significant role in water scarcity. This includes the collapse of distribution systems, contamination of water sources, conflicts over water access, and inefficient or wasteful use of water. Additionally, economic factors, such as the affordability of water and prevailing economic policies, can further exacerbate the issue.

The effects of water scarcity are widespread and devastating. Firstly, it poses a significant risk to public health. When water is scarce or contaminated, the risk of contracting waterborne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid fever, and diarrheal diseases, increases. These diseases can be deadly, particularly for children, and inadequate sanitation further compounds the problem.

Moreover, water scarcity has social and economic implications. In many communities, women and children bear the burden of collecting water, often spending hours each day on this task. This reduces their time for education, employment, or other opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty. Additionally, water scarcity can lead to economic decline, as insufficient water for agriculture, industry, and energy generation disrupts production and livelihoods.

To address water scarcity, organizations like UNICEF and Water.org are implementing various strategies. These include improving water infrastructure, promoting water reuse, planning for future water needs, and developing climate-resilient water sources. By tackling the issue from multiple angles, these organizations aim to increase access to safe and affordable water for those affected by this global crisis.

Water pollution sources

Water pollution is a critical issue that jeopardizes human health, ecosystems, and the economy. It is caused by various sources, including point source and non-point source pollution. Here is an overview of the significant sources of water pollution:

Point Source Pollution

Point source pollution originates from a single, identifiable source and is regulated by environmental protection agencies. Examples include:

• Wastewater Treatment Facilities: These facilities treat sewage and wastewater, reducing pollutants such as pathogens, phosphorus, nitrogen, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals. However, ageing infrastructure and system overloads can lead to the release of untreated wastewater.
• Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities: Legal and illegal discharges from factories, refineries, and other manufacturers can introduce pollutants like toxic chemicals and heavy metals into water bodies.
• Oil and Chemical Spills: Accidental or illegal releases of oil, chemicals, and other hazardous substances can contaminate water sources.
• Leaking Septic Systems: Ineffective or malfunctioning septic systems can leak sewage into the environment, leading to water pollution.

Non-Point Source Pollution (Diffuse Pollution)

Non-point source pollution comes from widespread, diffuse sources and is challenging to regulate. Examples include:

• Agricultural Activities: Farming practices contribute significantly to water pollution. Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste contain nutrients, bacteria, and viruses that wash into waterways during rainfall. Nutrient pollution from excess nitrogen and phosphorus can cause harmful algal blooms.
• Fossil Fuel Power Plants: Air pollution from power plants can eventually return to land and water bodies, contributing to water pollution.
• Household Waste: Consumers are a significant source of oil pollution in marine environments. Oil and gasoline drips from vehicles, as well as improper disposal of toxic substances, can contaminate water sources.
• Natural Presence of Chemicals: Groundwater can naturally contain chemicals like arsenic, fluoride, and lead, which can be harmful if elevated.

Other Sources

Water pollution also has other, more specific sources:

• Inadequate Wastewater Management: Improper management of urban, industrial, and agricultural wastewater can lead to contaminated drinking water sources.
• Insect Breeding Grounds: Insects that breed in clean water sources, such as household drinking water containers, can transmit diseases like dengue fever.
• Radioactive Waste: Accidents or improper disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear energy facilities can result in highly toxic releases into the environment, including water bodies.

Addressing these diverse sources of water pollution is crucial to ensuring safe and accessible drinking water for all, as highlighted by the Sustainable Development Goal target 6.1.

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