Access to clean water is a fundamental human right and a crucial component of public health. The abundance and accessibility to clean water has been hindered due to global warming. Public policy, agricultural water conservation efforts, international collaboration, coming up with new and appropriate technology, and educating people about clean water crises are all essential components that would enable clean and fresh water for all. For example, the Town of Middlebury, although it does not experience frequent water shortages like other cities in the US, is given reports of water quality and whether or not it’s safe to swim in the creeks and rivers. It is essential to consider the ecological, social, and cultural contexts of water use, as these vary among different communities. Sustainable implementation is also very important as we look towards creating a better future. Like many grassroots efforts, collaboration is key, as water affects everyone. When determining what is necessary in terms of clean water, it is important to consider water conservation, water treatment and distribution, and education.
The Clean Water Act passed in October of 1972 due to shifts in public opinion and awareness of water contamination. The 1960s environmental movement also played a major role in helping this bill. Evidence and media portrayed increasing amounts of polluted waterways, and literature like Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson informed American society of the importance of clean water. Scientific research also linked pollution to cancer, which caused increased amounts of public concern (Cancer Research UK, n.d). The problem with the Clean Water Act is that it fails to address the problems of capitalism and environmental racism, resulting in continued discrimination and disproportional access to clean water.
An estimated 3.4 million people die every year due to the global water crisis and 2.1 billion people worldwide lack access to safe water at home (Charity Water, 2023). 2.2 million people in the United States alone are living without access to running water and basic plumbing (Reese, 2023) These numbers are alarming, as clean water is essential to staying alive. So what can be done to solve this problem? Collaboration will be the path to ensuring safe water for everyone. Reducing water use in agriculture is essential; 70% of all annual water consumption goes to the agricultural industry. Working to secure state and federal funding for sustainable clean water practices will help incentivize people to make change.
Technology and innovation, along with group cooperation and education, can be extremely important in resolving the world water dilemma. Scientists and engineers are developing new approaches for water treatment and conservation, such as the use of solar energy for water purification and nanotechnology for pollution filtration. The provision of clean water to those in need is the focus of numerous organizations, including Charity Water and Water.org.
It is crucial to recognize that obtaining access to clean water is a social and political issue in addition to a technical one. Fighting environmental racism is critical: underprivileged communities, Indigenous and people of color suffer disproportionately from pollution and a lack of access to clean water. Water scarcity and contamination are complicated issues that call for political will and international cooperation to resolve because they frequently occur in areas of conflict and political instability. Access to safe drinking water is a critical human right that must be prioritized.
Governmental will, education, and community collaboration are all required to ensure that everyone has access to safe and clean water. As individuals, and as a society, we must accept responsibility, advocate for sustainable water management practices and policies that improve access to clean water for all, and provide financial assistance to non-profit organizations that try to provide clean water to those in need. We can only guarantee a future in which access to clean water is a fundamental human right and not an extravagance by working together in this way.
Recommended video: https://www.charitywater.org/stories/videos/the-spring
Works Cited
The Spring: Charity: Water. charity. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://www.charitywater.org/stories/videos/the-spring
Our work – clean water projects: Charity: Water. charity. (2023). Retrieved May 6, 2023, from https://www.charitywater.org/our-work
Cancer Research UK. How can air pollution cause cancer? Cancer Research UK,
The Nature Conservancy. Solutions to Address Water Scarcity in the US. Nature.org, The
Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/provide-food-and-water-sustainably/food-and-water-stories/solutions-address-water-scarcity-us/.
World Health Organization. Drinking Water. WHO, 21 March 2022, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water.
Rees, J. (2023, February 10). This is why we can’t dismiss water scarcity in the US. World Economic Forum. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/02/water-scarcity-united-states-un-water-conference/#:~:text=Figures%20suggest%202.2%20million%20people,needed%20for%20scale%20and%20sustainability.