40 Percent of the World’s People — More Than 2 Billion Human Beings— Have No Access to Clean Water

Water for Humans recognizes the critical need of ensuring sanitation and safe drinking water today and in the future. We work to eliminate current contamination by creating sustainable solutions to waste-water treatment and management.

So, it comes as no surprise to Water for Humans and many of our followers that the world is on pace to experience unprecedented water shortages this century. And we’re not talking three or four decades from now–but rather starting in this decade!

An article published by the University of Arizona (U of A) paints a poignant picture of what the world will look like in the near future if we do not take action. Facing the twin challenges of a surging global population–particularly in the developing countries, and the depletion of groundwater supplies, many millions of people are in danger of not having access to safe, clean drinking water and reliable sanitation.

The article referenced below U of A article points out that the inadequacy of surface water supplies, salination of land, and conversion of agricultural land to other uses all spell disaster when it comes to ensuring we have enough safe drinking water. None of these developments is conducive to irrigated agriculture.

We invite you to read the highlights of the U of A article and consider joining our cause at Water for Humans to to provide low-cost, clean water solutions to under-served populations while ensuring that water remains a local, public resource. Thank you for your support!

Global Water Shortage Looms In New Century

Highlights of University of Arizona Article on Global Water Shortage

1. The World Bank reports that 80 countries now have water shortages that threaten health and economies while 40 percent of the world — more than 2 billion people — have no access to clean water or sanitation.

2. A story in The Financial Times of London began: “Water, like energy in the late 1970s, will probably become the most critical natural resource issue facing most parts of the world by the start of the next century.” This analogy is also reflected in the oft-repeated observation that water will likely replace oil as a future cause of war between nations.

3. According to the World Bank, world-wide demand for water is doubling every 21 years, more in some regions. Water supply cannot remotely keep pace with demand, as populations soar and cities explode.

4. Since 1900, there has been a 6-fold increase in water use for only a 2-fold increase in population size. This reflects greater water usage associated with rising standards of living (e.g., diets containing less grain and more meat). It also reflects potentially unsustainable levels of irrigated agriculture.