Global Water Crisis-

Currently, while the need for water has been acknowledged, it is far from completion as the constant struggle for water availability and quality plagues the various regions in the world. This is not only limited to the drinking water as the water availability for the various other household and sanitation needs are also evident in many parts of the world. The essay covers the various issues with unsafe water management practices and their common solution and proposes a new and innovative solution for achieving the goals of the population. The first issue being discussed is the unsafe water inadequate sanitation and insufficient hygiene. The common solution presented for this issue is based on stopping malpractices like dumping chemicals and waste in the water bodies and the investment in sanitation and awareness campaigns to raise the knowledge of the population regarding best practices (Abbott et al., 2019). The second issue considered is the release of untreated wastewater in the environment whereas the solution provided is based on the protection of the natural resources from the release of contaminants in nature. The final issue addressed in the essay is based on water scarcity which is a major issue affecting up to 40% of the global population (Cummings, 2017). The solution proposed for this is based on the restoration of the ecosystems to ensure the availability of safe water. However, along with the common solutions mentioned, the essay also explores two new and innovative solutions for each of the issues mentioned. This is covered in the essay with support from the extant literature which is used to propose innovative solutions for the common issues related to water.

Discussion

The global water crisis has been recognized as one of the major problems facing human society as the issues such as pollution, unsafe drinking water and scarcity of water are affecting human development and health in numerous regions across the world. Aside from the drinking water, the water used for cooking, bathing and other daily household activities are also essential for human development and proper hygiene. This not only ensures the health and wellbeing of the population but also ensures their growth as a collective. However, currently, more than 844milion people lack access to clean water which is resulting in generational poverty and health issues (Byker et al., 2019). There is little that can be done for geographical barriers to water availability but the issues like the overconsumption of water and pollution can be addressed by proper water management practices. Not only does this address the problem facing a significant part of the human population but also prevents the issue from getting worse. There are many reasons for the global water issues like pollution and malpractices like releasing contaminants in the local water bodies without any treatment. However, there are many solutions that can be used for addressing the specific issues causing the water issues on a global scale.

Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and insufficient hygiene

Contaminated water is the cause of sickness of 1 billion people each year and in the year 2015 alone, water pollution has caused the deaths of more than 1.8 million people globally. Both virus and disease-causing bacteria are responsible for the unsafe status which is mainly transmitted through ingestion of the unsafe water. Many waterborne diseases like typhoid, giardia and cholera are major causes of mortality and morbidity across various regions across the world. The lack of filtration facilities for both groundwater and other water sources are also responsible for the diseases caused by the unsafe water. The biological contaminants are not the only cause for concern as heavy metals like mercury and arsenic are naturally occurring contaminants that cause the water to be unsafe for consumption (Kammeyer, Hamilton & Morrison, 2020). The unsafe drinking water, lack of proper hygiene and inadequate sanitation are therefore responsible for the death of millions while common issues like skin rash, pinkeye and hepatitis are accompanied by other issues such as cancer, hormone disruption and alteration of brain functions in some cases.

The main solution proposed for the issue is based on stopping the dumping of chemicals and waste into the natural sources of water and the investment and sanitation along with rising awareness of the population regarding the necessity for proper water management practices. The proper management of the depositing o the pollutants in the water bodies are a major factor in this initiative as this is one of the main sources of contamination for the drinking water and water used for other household purposes (Pearce, 2018). The overall understanding of the malpractices and their long-term impact is just as necessary as the knowledge of the proper ways of filtration and disposal of pollutants. This makes the awareness campaigns to educate the populace about the best practices a major factor for preventing water pollution. Proper sanitation is also an essential aspect of water management as sewage contamination is also responsible for the spoiling of the various natural sources of water in the rural regions which lead to disease and widespread contamination. Therefore, proper sewage infrastructure is another solution that can be used for the benefit of the populace.

One innovative solution for the problem is the availability of cheap and efficient filtration devices that can be used to separate the contaminants from the drinking water. There have been several initiatives where enterprising individuals invested devices that could be used by the people to filter their water collected from natural sources to ensure their health which serves the purpose of ensuring a supply of clean and safe drinking water for the people. However, these efforts are mostly localized and there has been no large-scale implementation making their effect very limited for the global water crisis (Kammeyer, Hamilton & Morrison, 2020). Not only are these initiatives limited to the specific contamination issues faced in different regions but there is also the lack of knowledge making these lack popularity which is affecting the development of this solution to its fullest potential. Therefore, not only is there a clear need for further development in this area but there is a need for publicizing the development to the various government bodies so that they can be implemented on a more large-scale basis making the more effective in terms of global impact.