Question.
Why is the world today confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources?
(UPSC 2023 General Studies Paper 1 (Main) Exam, Answer in 150 words)
Answer.
About 71 % of the earth is covered with water, yet there is a crisis of fresh water in most of the world. Only about 2.7 % of the earth's water is freshwater and most of it is in the form of ice caps. Only 0.6 % of the earth's water is available for actual use for about 8 billion people. This makes freshwater a scarce resource.
The world today is confronted with a crisis of availability and accessibility of freshwater resources due to a wide gap between the supply and demand of freshwater.
The following are some factors that contributed to a crisis of availability of freshwater resources:
Population Growth and Overpopulation[ High demand and low supply]:
The rapid growth of the global population increases the demand for freshwater as more people require more water for drinking, sanitation, and agriculture. It reduces the availability of freshwater resources.
Urbanization and Industrialization:
Urbanization and Industrial development also increase the demand for water for domestic use and industrial processes, which increases the gap between the demand and supply of freshwater.
Water Pollution:
Pollution from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage contaminates freshwater sources and reduces the availability of freshwater resources.
Climate Change and Low Rainfall:
Insufficient rainfall in some parts of the world disrupts the natural replenishment of freshwater sources. For example, shortfalls in monsoon rain cause a water crisis in many parts of the country, especially in the summer season.
Unsustainable Practices:
Over-extraction of Groundwater for agriculture, industry, and domestic use in regions is often unsustainable, especially in urban regions. This leads to the depletion of aquifers, reducing the overall availability of freshwater.
The following are some factors that contributed to a crisis of accessibility of freshwater resources:
Unequal Distribution:
There are significant regional disparities in freshwater availability. Some areas have abundant water resources, while others face scarcity of water.
Economic disparities:
Unequal population distribution and income inequality lead to unequal access to freshwater resources. Some people are not able to access sufficient freshwater due to lack of money.
Lack of Infrastructure:
Inadequate infrastructure and lack of investment in water supply and purifying services hinder access to clean water, mainly in rural and remote areas.
Natural Disaster and Conflict:
Natural disasters like floods, droughts, earthquakes, and landslides prevent access to freshwater for many people.
Human-man conflict like war, revolt, etc disrupts the water infrastructure which restricts access to fresh water. For example, the Gaza and Israel conflict disrupted the access of freshwater to people living in northern Gaza.
In summary,
The world today is confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources due to many factors including overpopulation, water pollution, unequal distribution, economic disparities, and lack of infrastructure.
That is why United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 6 focus on ensuring access to water and sanitation for all.
Addressing the crisis requires a comprehensive approach involving sustainable water management practices, water harvesting, water conservation, improved infrastructure, and community cooperation to ensure equitable access to freshwater resources for all.
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