The water problem poses a significant social issue both in the US and in many countries around the world. The essence of the problem is that people do not have access to clean drinking water, in other cases, access to water is problematic. Moreover, although many people have access to water, it is unfit for consumption because it is not purified. Consequently, drinking such water can lead to severe health problems and provoke problems in the healthcare area. Therefore, the purpose of the work is to analyze the social issue connected with water and identify possible solutions and recommendations.
A threatening factor is that the problem is intensifying as climate change occurs and many water bodies dry up. Thus, several of the largest reservoirs in the United States, which provide residents not only with water but also with electricity, can dry up. Besides, it is worth mentioning that hurricanes that regularly occur in some regions of the United States also negatively affect this problem (Gonzales, 2020). It is because tornadoes, floods, and fires destroy the infrastructure responsible for the extraction, cleaning, or supply of water. As a result, fewer people have access to treated or untreated water. Rising average temperatures are causing many reservoirs to reach historic lows. If this trend continues, millions of people may be unable to access drinking water for extended periods.
The problem with water is formulated not only by climate change but also by anthropogenic factors. Human activities such as industry, namely the release of harmful substances into the ground, water, and air, pollute a significant amount of water (Roller, 2020). It is because the owners of factories and companies are trying to save money on the safe disposal of waste. Thereby, one may notice that there are several solutions to a given problem. Primarily, it is necessary to eliminate the problem of pollution of water supplies, which can be achieved with the help of strict rules. Fines for pollution should be significant, in addition, conditions should be created for the inspection commissions to be independent.
A decrease in rainfall, among other things, leads to land degradation. It is a related problem that can lead not only to a lack of water but also food. Efficient land use, farming, and cultivation require large amounts of water. Thus, the threat of water shortages can lead to famine, growing tensions among the population, unrest, and chaos. To solve this problem, in addition to commissions, it is necessary to reduce emissions into the atmosphere. It is articulated by the fact that harmful substances weaken the ozone layer of the atmosphere, increasing the average temperature. Emission reduction can be achieved by improving the legal framework and the creation of enhanced commissions.
Finally, the last solution to this problem is to improve the systems for extracting, treating, and supplying water to the population. Today, there are many problems associated with water logistics. For example, if one region has large water supplies, but the majority of the population is located in another region, there are problems with transportation. Transporting large amounts of water over long distances is costly and complex. Thus, primarily, it is necessary to improve the logistics system, namely, to create an improved pipeline. Although expensive, it will allow for easy and fast transfer of significant water supplies to problem areas. This factor is critical since many territories do not receive enough water precisely because of the impossibility of transportation.
References
Gonzales, M. (2020). Mitigating disaster in digital space: DiaspoRicans organizing after Hurricane Maria. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 38(1), 43-53.
Roller, Z. (2020). Water justice crisis and resistance strategies. University of Massachusetts Press.