Water Insecurity

Water Insecurity Facts and Figures

Water insecurity is an issue globally. The organisation WaterAid² has produced numerous statistics that demonstrate the issue of water insecurity globally. Let's example just a few.

• 771 million people do not have access to safe water supplies near where they live.
• 1 newborn dies per minute due to unsafe water.
• 31% of schools have no access to clean water.
• A child under 5 dies every 2 minutes from sickness caused by dirty water.

Causes of Water Insecurity

Several factors influence the rates of water insecurity. These can be both physical and human. Physical causes of water insecurity are caused by the climate or environment.

Humans themselves have actively caused problems for water insecurity globally, from an individual level with consumption to industrial levels with pollution. Let's take a look at some examples.

Physical causes

Let's take a look at some of the physical causes that lead to water insecurity:

Climate

Around the world, there are different climates which can determine how much rainfall (or lack of it) occurs. The rate of evaporation or evapotranspiration can also be an indicator of how much fresh water is available. Climatic events like flooding or droughts directly impact the availability of freshwater. Natural disasters can also influence water security, for example, tsunamis. With the damning effects of climate change, this will only worsen.

Fig. 2 - Map showing the proposed water shortage and stress in Africa in 2025.

Salt encroachment

This most often occurs in coastal regions, where saltwater from oceans contaminates the freshwater supplies on land. With climate change resulting in sea level rise, this will also get worse.

Geology

Rock types can affect the availability of freshwater; rocks can be permeable (which means water can flow through them). Water can flow through these rocks and create aquifers under the ground, where the water can accumulate. This water can either be extracted manually, or it may find its way into other natural water sources³.

Human causes

Increasingly, humans are the cause of water insecurity.

Population and demand

Population rise has led to an increased demand for water. In many parts of the world, with the rise of the middle class and income booms, living standards have improved, which has impacted water consumption patterns. By 2050 the world's population is predicted to have grown to 9.7 billion by 2050. With half the world's population living in urban areas due to increasing urbanisation, it is causing pressure on local areas to provide freshwater, especially in drought-prone areas.

Industrialisation and agriculture

Current water usage during crop production is affecting river flow rates, depleting aquifers and degrading wildlife habitats. Agricultural pollution from pesticides and fertilisers also influences water quality. Those involved in industrial processes, such as Transnational Corporations (TNCs), have often been criticised for their environmental impacts. Coca-cola was forced to shut down a $16m factory in India due to the overuse of water supplies that affected the local population's access to water.

Fig. 3 - Global sum of freshwater withdrawal in 2016.

Over-abstraction

Water can collect in aquifers as it runs through permeable rocks. This water can be abstracted for human use through infrastructure such as wells. However, with over-abstraction, the water supply can run out, especially when over-abstraction is higher than water replacement. This causes water deficits.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure, such as water storage or piping, is important for water provision. If there is a lack of infrastructure provision or poor quality infrastructure, this can impact water quality and levels of pollution.

Politics

In certain nations, for example, those that have corrupt governments or more authoritarian governments, water may be monitored in a way that reduces access for the population. Water can also be used as a method of controlling populations.

Effects of Water Insecurity

Having access to plentiful water sources that are safe and clean is vital for the human population. What impacts do water insecurity, water stress, and water scarcity have?

Development levels

The development level of a place is strongly linked to its water access and distribution.

Poverty

Access to water can be directly related to levels of development, most specifically, human development. Human development essentially describes the improvement of the well-being of a population. Access to clean water can directly contribute to the cycle of poverty; without clean water, people are more likely to get sick and therefore become unable to work. This subsequently affects income and poverty levels.

Health and education

Unsafe and unclean water can harbour diseases causing severe illness or even death, such as cholera, typhoid, and even hepatitis, therefore negatively impacting the health of a population. Education is also affected by water insecurity. Children often spend much of their time collecting water or suffering from water disease-related sickness rather than attending school. Those who menstruate are also more negatively impacted. This directly affects human development levels. The Human Development Index (HDI), a key indicator of human development, considers health, education, and the standard of living, therefore showing how water insecurity significantly impacts development levels.

Industry and agriculture

Water insecurity can significantly influence agricultural practices. Without plentiful water supplies (and clean water), crops cannot be maintained well. Animal rearing can also be affected. This can significantly impact the rates of food production. Reduction in food production consequently influences access to food, food prices, and international trade. This can also have an effect on development levels as agricultural production reduces.

Water conflict

Water insecurity can cause conflict between nations. These conflicts can be caused by disputes over access to or ownership of water sources. Building infrastructure, such as dams, can also be a cause for conflict. Conflict can also arise when populations are unhappy with water laws or when corrupt nations poorly manage water resources.

Migration

If there is a decrease in access to water, or the consequential effects on food access, food prices, and agricultural difficulties, people are more likely to leave their place of residence in search of better water security.

Reducing Water Insecurity

With water insecurity being such a large issue around the world, solutions are needed to provide better water security globally.

Politics

Certain laws and guidelines have been created that can help to reduce water conflict and issues surrounding water resources. The Helsinki Rules (used by the International Law Association in 1966) provide guidelines for the usage of international drainage basin waters.

In some countries, water prices are extremely high, which can help to reduce domestic water consumption and save water; for example, in Denmark, water costs €9.32/m^3.

Environmental solutions

Agriculture is a key culprit to water scarcity across the world. Using smart irrigation can help to reduce water usage; using systems that help monitor how much water the soil needs can help to reduce unnecessary waste. Of course, in some areas of the world, this may not be possible due to poverty levels. Other irrigation methods could also be adopted, such as drip irrigation. This provides water irrigation for plants in a more direct way, which helps to reduce waste water and evaporation rates. Water storage of rainwater, particularly in arid regions, as well as recycling polluted water resources, are great methods of reducing water insecurity. Pesticides and fertilisers can influence water pollution levels. Using particular agricultural methods that reduce the need for pesticide use can help to reduce the levels of water pollution, such as conservation buffers or crop rotation.

Infrastructural investment

Building or improving water infrastructure can be vital to increasing water access and reducing water insecurity. Salt encroachment means that water becomes undrinkable. Desalination plants can be vital for helping to remove salt from water supplies. Although costly, the introduction of solar-powered desalination plants proves to be significantly cheaper. Dams block rivers from flowing naturally, meaning they are a great method for freshwater storage. Water transfer schemes are also useful for the provision of water supplies; sometimes, in one country, there can be unequal access to water (surplus vs deficit). With water transfer schemes, this water can be shared. Improving water infrastructure is also important for the provision of fresh water. Sanitation systems and piping are vital for disease reduction.