Some individuals believe that they can use water freely to whatever amount they want, while others think that the usage of fresh water should be controlled by the government, as it is a finite resource. While allowing people to use water uncontrolledly could enhance personal liberty, I am more inclined toward the latter view for the reasons that are explained in this essay.
As one would probably argue, people in developed and developing countries mostly use their own money to purchase water, therefore, they have the total right to use it as soon as they bought it before. This would allow people to get access to activities that require an enormous amount of water, such as gardening or bathing. These two activities are, in fact, considered to be hobbies of many people, alongside other water-based activities, making limiting water use considerably an act of hindering personal interests. Moreover, many families also garden for a living, and their financial capabilities depend on the amount of water they can use. As a result, imposing a limit on water use would put more strain on these farmers’ financial well-being, and in extreme cases, they may even protest against the government to reclaim their rights.
However, I still believe that new regulations to limit the amount of water use are still necessary for two main reasons. Primarily, having the freedom to use as much water as they want would eventually create wasteful habit patterns. To elaborate, even when a person acknowledges that water is a limited resource that they should not waste, regularly using it with no limit would render the act of wasting water to be done subconsciously. Furthermore, at the moment, water scarcity is only a problem in African nations, but without limitation, it could evolve into a universal issue in the future. In fact, many states in the US, which is one of the most developed countries, have been reporting that they are in short supply of water, and only by exporting water from other states can they fulfill their citizens’ water needs.
In conclusion, while limiting water use could hinder personal freedom and may even create more burden on farmers, I believe it is beneficial and vital in the long run. This is because governmental regulations on water usage would discourage people from using water excessively, subconsciously, and prevent a universal water scarcity.