Access To Clean Water

What is the problem?

There are around 1.2 billion people around the world who don't have access to clean water. They usually live really far away from lakes or rivers. The water is very dirty, and if people boil it, they'll get less of it. But the other alternative is drinking the dirty water, and this could cause diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. About 3.4 million people die of dirty drinking water every year.

What solutions have been tried?

A lot of companies and people give out money to build wells in developing countries with no access to clean water. The wells ensure refreshing, healthy water, and a lot of countries have been helped.

How did these solutions fall short of fixing the problem?

These solutions have helped tons of places get clean, healthy water. There just aren't enough wells around the world to help the rest.

This is an article from Scholastic Action about a girl living in Mozambique, having to walk two miles every day, and how her life changed forever.

“Two Miles for a Drink of Water.” Scholastic.com, Action, 2018, action.scholastic.com/issues/2017-18/030118/two-miles-for-a-drink-of-a-water.html#610L.

What solution do you recommend?

I recommend that every single person tries to limit the amount of water they use on a daily basis. This is probably the least we could do to support our fellow humans around the world, and if you want to aim bigger, you can by doing things like :

  • Donating to companies trying to solve the issue

  • Informing others about the issue

  • Learn how to make efficient wells

  • Join a company trying to solve the issue.

  • Research about medicines or cures for the diseases

  • Save up money for medicines or cures for the diseases

  • etc.

Who is trying to fix the problem?

There are many companies and organizations trying to fix the problem :

  • The Navy

  • Charity : Water

  • The United Nations

  • WHO

“Free Black and White Hammer, Download Free Black and White Hammer Png Images, Free ClipArts on Clipart Library.” Clipart-Library.com, 2016, clipart-library.com/ free/black-and-white-hammer.html. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.

This is an article from CNN about families in Hawaii being forced out of their homes because of dirty drinking water.

Chen, Natasha. “Hawaii Health Officials Order Navy to Clean up Contaminated Drinking Water after Families Are Forced out of Their Homes.” CNN, 7 Dec. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/12/07/us/hawaii-health-order-contaminated-water-navy/index.html.