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Over 70% of the Earth's surface comprises salt seawater that cannot be used as drinking water. Only 2.5% of water is fresh, and although it does not seem a lot, it is more than enough for everyone's needs. However it is not evenly distributed.
Over 33% of the land mass is desert where there is little water and this is growing due to the effects of deforestation. 13% of the world's population lives in desert areas. (Source Oxfam's Cool Planet).

As demand for water increases due to industrialisation, more intensive agriculture and increased population, the quantity of available useable water decreases. Global consumption has more than doubled in the last hundred years. (Source FAO Aquastat)

Fresh water pollution is a problem for about half the world's population. Currently there are 6.7 billion people in the world (U.S. Census bureau). More than five million people die from water related diseases every year.

Even when fresh water is available, people do not have access to it. It affects the poorest that do not have the resources to sink wells or build pipelines. In Africa only 24% of the population has piped water into their homes (source: World Health Report (WHO, 2004)
A study of 21 water utilities in Africa revealed that two thirds of their operating costs were lost to corruption, and this must have some impact on the numbers of homes serviced. Similarly, it also effects the provision of irrigation projects in India for small farmers. (Source: Transparency International)

The United Nations formulated a world programme after the Rio earth summit in 1992, in which they pledged to half the number of people who cannot reach or afford safe drinking water by the year 2015. This depends upon the money available to put the infrastructure in place, and on the cooperation of the governments receiving such aid. In many cases, there are internal conflicts that prevent any attempt to organise help, and corruption throughout the global provisioning sectors means that the most vulnerable are left without access to clean and affordable drinking water.

There is no simple answer. Global warming further compounds the problem by changing the climate of areas so that areas previously short of water become flood plains, while other areas become devoid of water.
Life on earth has always been evolving and changing. Some life forms exist as they are and others adapt. Populations may have to move to areas where water is more plentiful.
Everyone has the right to clean drinking water. The only thing that will make sure this happens is for all nations to provide for their citizens as a matter of priority.

Learn more about this author, Dorothy Skinner.
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