The World’s Current Water Scarcity:
As the world approaches the 7 billion population mark, our problems are becoming equally sizeable and ominous. As populations grow, so does our need for water. Water is required for the mankind's huge industrial, agricultural, and individual demands. According to the World Bank, the world’s demand for water is doubling every 21 years. This is a general analysis, but some countries are suffering severe water problems; around 90% of the severe problems are in developing nations (Usa Today). You would assume that wealthier countries have realized the problem and become efficient in their water conservation techniques, yet according to BBC NEWS individuals in most wealthy countries use up to 10 times more water than those in poor ones, and consequently, they face dire consequences. In the US, drought is on the rise. In Atlanta, a bustling US city with over 3 million residents, there is only an estimated 3 months of water left (TruthOut.Org). Three months before 3 MILLION people will lack the most basic necessity of life, and have to deal with no showers, no clean sanitation, and nothing to drink. Three months before there is not enough water in the river to create steam for power plants; three months till there’s no electricity. Drought warnings have also been issued for Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. America, Arguably the most powerful country in the world, will be reduced to nothing without water.
With the current growth of population, there is no obvious and fair way that water will be distributed uniformly, and it seems like governments are moving towards privatization. Water is becoming a commodity, and the cost of living will consequently rise to the increasing demand in water, with the obvious and imminent decrease in supply. Estimates of this shortage in supply include:
* Severe water shortages affecting at least 400 million people today will affect 4 billion people by 2050. Southwestern states such as Arizona will face other severe freshwater shortages by 2025.
* Adequate sanitation facilities are lacking for 2.4 billion people, about 40% of humankind. (Usa Today).
Everyone’s saying it, and the ominous forecast will hold true, unless everyone contributes to solve the problem.
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It seems from what I am reading that countries with water problems are capable of obtaining the water. Unfortunately it always seems to be a matter of money. The technology is present to conserve and obtain new fresh water, but the infrastructure and funds just aren't there for many modernizing nations. Perhaps economic incentives for multinational companies capable of building this infrastructure could help. Rapid modernization should also leave room for technological improvement.
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