by Paula Testerman

Created on: August 08, 2008   Last Updated: August 26, 2008

The 2008 Global Corruption Report states that corruption in the water sector can and will affect the whole world. The report also states that corruption has become the "root cause and catalyst for the global water crisis". Corruption affects plans to respond to climate changes and food shortages, and is consistently felt all over the world. This report discusses many corrupt actions that occur in water resource management, drinking water and sanitation services, irrigation and agriculture, and hydropower. Corruption not only affects the surrounding areas of where the corruption occurs, but also fades into other parts of the world as well.

Corruption that occurs in water resource management occurs when political power and/or the elitists influence water policies in order to ensure that water distribution is in their favor. When this type of corruption occurs it overlooks regulations geared toward preserving the environment. This further exacerbates the problems by affecting large water infrastructure projects and water resources. Corruption in this case leads to polluted water ways and increases competitive demand for water. Water wars become a power struggle that causes political instability and insecurities throughout the region which then affects the cohesiveness of society.

Drinking water and sanitation services are affected by corruption as well. Corruption in this sector occurs in every part of the water delivery chain. Network extension, location of water collection sites, municipal water project contracting, household water access, and allowing access to community wells for public use are threatened on a daily basis due to corruption. When corruption involves safe drinking water and basic sanitation services it causes health concerns all around. Without safe drinking water or proper sanitation services, people's lives are at high risk for water-borne diseases and possibly even death.

Corruption in the water sector affects the irrigation and agricultural systems, too. The Global Corruption Report states that "70 per cent of all human water use" is geared toward agricultural regions. When irrigation systems rely on experts for maintaining irrigation waterways and/or the system becomes difficult to monitor it opens the door for corruption. Corruption in this sector affects small farming communities who have little influence on the irrigation systems. When farmers are affected, food supplies decrease and the cost of food rises which then trickles down to affect

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