Shortage of clean water is a rising problem all over the world. First, it leads to diminished agricultural land, which leads to low produce and, consequently, famines. Second, it forces a lot of populations to rely on polluted sources of water, and thus leading to public health crises. Combating climate change and ensuring equal access to water-treating technology are possible solutions to these issues.
Lands suitable for planting crops are shrinking, and many countries are facing challenges in fulfilling their needs. Our food depends on agriculture, not only will there be scarcity in fruits and vegetables, but also in meats of animals and poultry that feed on grass. Furthermore, people are forced to use polluted water during times of drought, and this leads to the prevalence of infections transmitted by water, causing diarrheal illnesses that claim many lives yearly, especially among children. Droughts that hit some countries such as Somalia every few years are living examples of what would happen to the world if water shortage grew out of control.
Since climate change is one of the main reasons for water shortage, combating it out to be the first step in preventing a global water crisis. Steps have to be taken to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, also better filtering techniques must be implemented to ensure no pollutants are constantly emitted in the air, before finally entering our water sources and food chains. Moreover, technologies that facilitate treating water and access to new sources, such as deep wells, must be equally distributed among all populations, because the poorer ones are those most severely affected. For example, modern water filtering equipment and technological infra-structure shall be supplied to poor countries such as those in middle Africa.
In summary, lack of fresh water is a global problem leading to wide spread of famines and infections, and we shall take real steps to combat this problem by fighting climate change, and supplying water-treating technologies to poor nations.