Today, nearly 800 million people lack basic access to clean water. Those who live in countries without clean water can fall sick, struggle to attend school regularly amidst regular trips to faraway water sources, and battle poverty.
When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water.
Nearly the quarter of the worlds population appear to be suffering from water shortage.
17 countries mostly in the middle east face the risk of extremely high water stress.
Some countries which face water crisis:
1)Qatar
2)Israel
3)Lebanon
4)Iran
5)Jordan
6)Libya
7)Kuwait
8)Saudi Arabia
9)Eritrea
10)United Arab Emirates
11)San Marino
12)Bahrain
13)India
14) Pakistan
15)Turkmenistan
16) Oman
17) Botswana
But do not forget, there is a difference between a country that has little water but enough resources to buy all it needs, and an undeveloped country that has neither. Gulf nations like Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait top the list in the ratio of available local resources per person, but these countries are capable of trading one precious liquid for another or financing desalination efforts.
Day Zero’ – the day when taps run dry – has threatened large cities from Cape Town to Chennai in recent years, while Australian country towns across New South Wales and Queensland are facing the reality that their drinking water supplies might dry up.
The poorest countries tend to be the hardest hit. According to figures released by Action Against Hunger, in Syria more than half of the water network has been damaged in the fighting, and in Yemen, the population without access to safe water has risen from 40% to 70% since the start of the conflict.
Nearly one-fifth of all countries worldwide will face water scarcity problems by 2040.
CAPE TOWN:
Cape Town faced a severe drought between 2016 and 2018. It was only in September that Capetonians were given a limit of just over 23 gallons (87.06 liters) of water per day per person.
People had really tough times. People were not able to have a bath and some women cut off their hair in order to use water for important things.
By changing the city’s habits, along with the return of some rain, Cape Town managed to avert the worst of the water scarcity crisis. However, the risk of future shortages remain.
Cape Town is one of many countries that have fallen into such a situation. If we do not take adequate measures, we will gradually fall into Cape Town's situation as the countries of the world, and perhaps we will not be able to produce any solution for this.