Drinking water is a fundamental existential human need, without which existence is impossible. A person consists of 80 percent of water, so the lack of it in the body sooner or later becomes lethal. Currently, there is a shortage of drinking water on Earth, which kills many people every year. Modern society is trying to find ways to solve this global problem. This work contains examples of the drinking water shortage and ways of overcoming it.
Freshwater bodies are unevenly distributed, and there is such a global problem as a shortage of drinking water. Water shortage is experienced in 80 countries of the world (Water Scarcity, 2020). Africa has the most problems with the supply of drinking water. Under the influence of temperature anomalies, known as El Niño, the continent’s population is going through hard times. At the same time, fears of famine are growing in African countries, which could result in a drought that has already engulfed the countries of South Africa and Madagascar. There are ways of overcoming the problem:
- Saving water is something that every person on earth can do. It is necessary to reduce consumption, prevent leakage, tighten the taps in time, not pollute, and use water resources rationally.
- Formation of a reservoir with fresh water. Experts recommend improving the technology of water purification and processing, which will save it. It is also possible to process saltwater into freshwater, which is the most promising way to solve the problem of water scarcity (2021).
Access to fresh drinking water is a fundamental right that should be afforded to everyone. The world community needs to show humanity and allow all people to use drinking water without exception. According to the Ethics of Sustainable Development, the environment is not an intermedia. The attitude of a particular State to its resources is the key to survival and development. Some issues make sharing natural capital difficult. The first is a precautionary principle that prioritization should be given to preserving the ecosystem, not industrial growth. The second is remote responsibility to protect global public resources to maintain success in economic prosperity.
References
42 Causes, Effects & Solutions For Water Scarcity. (2021). E&C.
Water Scarcity | Threats | WWF. (2020). World Wildlife Fund.