We live in a planet where there are more bodies of water than actual land. And yet, 783 Million (11% of the world’s population) of earth’s inhabitants do not have access to clean and affordable drinking water. This problem usually affects those who live in underdeveloped countries. Reasons for why people don’t have access to water vary from location and country. Some don’t have access to water due to living locations and the quality of water.
In modern day today water scarcity is common in some of the world’s most politically unstable parts of the world. Places like the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asian countries such as Israel, Pakistan and Egypt. There is also a great difference when it comes to water access found in rural and urban areas. In sub-saharan Africa, people in urban areas are twice as likely as people in rural areas to have clean, safe water. Illegal activity also plays a role in water access. In Durban, a city in South Africa, 35% of the cities water is stolen or given out through illegal connections.
Population also plays a role when it comes to the problems with water access. In Africa, more and more people migrate into cities from rural areas, the pressure for the city to meet the water demands is ever increasing.
Big beverage companies also affect places where people depend on the local water to make a living. In Plachimada, India, there was a lot of conflict after it had been discovered that Coca Cola had been illegally pumping 1.5 liters of water a day. This water came from local reserves and was used by farmers and residents. This problem caused farmers to not be able to work on their crops and shortened the communities water supply. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Coca Cola was also responsible for the company’s plant produced waste that contaminated fields, underground wells, and free-flowing canals, which forced residents to walk for miles just to get clean drinking water.
11% of the world’s population do not have access to clean water. This is an issue that affects the human species on a global scale and will continue to affect people unless we decide to do something about. We need to remind company’s that they can’t own something that they can’t make.
In modern day today water scarcity is common in some of the world’s most politically unstable parts of the world. Places like the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asian countries such as Israel, Pakistan and Egypt. There is also a great difference when it comes to water access found in rural and urban areas. In sub-saharan Africa, people in urban areas are twice as likely as people in rural areas to have clean, safe water. Illegal activity also plays a role in water access. In Durban, a city in South Africa, 35% of the cities water is stolen or given out through illegal connections.
Population also plays a role when it comes to the problems with water access. In Africa, more and more people migrate into cities from rural areas, the pressure for the city to meet the water demands is ever increasing.
Big beverage companies also affect places where people depend on the local water to make a living. In Plachimada, India, there was a lot of conflict after it had been discovered that Coca Cola had been illegally pumping 1.5 liters of water a day. This water came from local reserves and was used by farmers and residents. This problem caused farmers to not be able to work on their crops and shortened the communities water supply. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Coca Cola was also responsible for the company’s plant produced waste that contaminated fields, underground wells, and free-flowing canals, which forced residents to walk for miles just to get clean drinking water.
11% of the world’s population do not have access to clean water. This is an issue that affects the human species on a global scale and will continue to affect people unless we decide to do something about. We need to remind company’s that they can’t own something that they can’t make.