earthstory: World Water Day 2019 Across the world, with global population increases, climate change

earthstory:

World Water Day 2019

Across the world, with global population increases, climate change, degradation of the environment, and large-scale urbanization, more and more people are coming to realize that our water is not an endless resource. Approximately two-thirds of the world’s population (around 4 billion people) encounter severe water shortages during at least one month a year.

Although more than 70% of Earth’s surface is covered in water, only 2.5% of it is fresh water and much of that is trapped in glaciers and snowfields. Agriculture uses 70% of available freshwater for irrigation. Industry uses about 20%, for energy and manufacturing, leaving only 10% for domestic use. When all is said and done, a mere 0.007% of the planet’s water is available for 7.7 (and growing) billion people. Already, 2.3 billion people in our world lack safe methods of sanitation and 844 million (1 in 9 people on the planet) are living without access to potable water. Every year, 1 million people are killed by water, sanitation, and hygiene-related diseases. “More than 700 children die every day from diarrhea linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation” (www.worldwaterday.org/theme).

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