The global distribution of water is incredibly skewed towards countries which are industrially developed. This can help explain why only 46% of people in Haiti have access to clean water, and in the Dominican Republic, which shares the same island and has roughly the same population size, 86% have access to clean water. ("Progress since the World Summit for Children: A Statistical Review." 6-7). The fact that underdeveloped countries have a harder time procuring water from the Earth, and converting it into a clean useable resource is undeniable. But that doesn’t mean they should have to do without the most critical resource for survival. It should be the responsibility of countries with fully developed water supply networks to assist countries who don’t have the technology or expertise to create one on their own. This should be a part of a global initiative to guarantee the right to have safe clean water for consumption to every person on our planet. As a people we have the resources necessary to insure that every person is supplied with enough clean water to survive. All that is left is for citizens of developed nations to begin to impart the knowledge and tools needed on third world countries which desperately need help. While water consumption might be the most pressing issue of the water crisis, there are many more needs for water. Americans use water for things from brushing their teeth to power washing the sides of their homes. This seems relatively extravagant when you consider that in Africa most people only get 15 liters of water per day. ("World Water Council").
Surprisingly, most water is not actually consumed by humans. Nearly 70% of the world’s water is used for agriculture. Some of this is because in more arid climates, people need irrigation systems to be able to yield a crop at all. But some of this is due to overuse by farmers who are getting enough rainwater to produce a profitable crop. This is a part of the mismanagement of water which leaves some without it. In the deserts of Africa and the Middle East, water must be irrigated in order for a crop to be sustained. If farmers only used water when they needed it; for example when trying to produce a crop in an arid region, or in a time of drought, we could significantly cut down on our water usage. Water is also used for industrial purposes, which can include everything from power generators to paper products. While this works very well in places that have abundant water, like America or Japan, these processes fail in places where water cannot be used for industrial uses because it is being consumed or used to grow food. This makes it difficult for these “third world” nations to develop, because these industries are unable to survive in places where they cannot use water.
Water is one of the most basic things on our planet, and as a result is taken for granted by people who have it in abundance. The fact that one in six people do not have clean water is a black eye for humanity. It is a disgrace to know that we waste water for frivolous uses, when we aren’t even helping other nations gain access to it. Water is a critical resource for any nation to consume, grow things with, and use for its industries. This makes it extremely important that we help every country gain access to it. Not only from a humane standpoint for their citizens, but also to aid them in further developing as a country. If developed nations can help insure that every nation has the right to clean water, we will have taken a gigantic step towards ending the water crisis.
