The issue of water is a global affair because of the alarming rate at which limited fresh water reservoirs is depleted. Water is important for the sustenance of human life and most people treasure it. Due to its limited supply and the reduction of fresh water sources, it has become a sought after natural resource the same as oil.
The documentary ” Blue Gold: World Water Wars” talked about the disturbing rates at which individuals use water commercially and domestically to a point of altering nature including the wetlands and excessive mining of underground water.
A large number of corporate companies have control over water resources, including the distribution systems, in view of the fact that third world governments have relinquished their responsibilities in terms of protecting water supply as well as water conservation (Barlow & Clarke 4). The corporate companies in charge of managing fresh water resources are taking advantage of the increasing population.
Presently, world’s population is growing at an alarming rate and the population becomes concentrated in urban areas (Barlow & Clarke 6).
These urban areas lack proper sanitation services and fresh water for consumption, therefore the global water consumption rises (Barlow & Clarke 7) and the corporate companies obtain extreme financial benefits. The documentary illustrated that another way the corporate companies benefit from privatization of the fresh water resources is through exportation to other countries at a very high price.
Human activities are the leading cause of fresh water depletion. This natural resource becomes polluted by human activities such as dumping of solid and industrial wastes, development purposes and also for human consumption (Barlow & Clarke 5). The depletion of fresh water supply as a result of human activities especially industrial use contributes to global warming.
Since rainfall is an important aspect of the hydrological and the percentage of finite supply of fresh water that evaporates into the atmosphere is negligible, then the amount of rain pour expected becomes minimal and in the end, the arable lands becomes arid and dry (Barlow & Clarke 5). According to the interviewee, the sustainability and availability of fresh water as a natural resource becomes inevitable since the ecosystem becomes destroyed.
The issue of water is serious and should be addressed before it becomes worse. Globally, the amount of fresh water is dropping and it is believed that fresh water is a finite resource (Barlow and Clarke 5). Fresh water supply accounts for less than half the amount of the one percent water in the world and the rest is salt water, frozen ice caps and underground water.
The approximate land area fresh water accumulates is about 1.4 billion cubic kilometers (Barlow and Clarke 5). Even with this percentage, fresh water supply is not enough. People have turned to mining of underground water reservoirs up to a rate of about thirty billion gallons per day.
In conclusion, water is an important aspect for human survival. It enables people to coexist; therefore water resources should be conserved. As a result of global warming and personal interests from certain nations, water is becoming a fast moving commodity and the rate at which it is being used the human species might end up being extinct.
Even though scientists are exploring other alternatives, for example seeking other life supporting planets, it is up to every individual to conserve their environment for a future of sustainable development of natural resources.
Works Cited
Barlow, Maude, and Tony Clarke. Blue Gold: The Battle against Corporate Theft of the World’s Water. London: EarthScan, 2003. Print.