Water Sustainability: Why Is It Important?
Yoonseo Kang
January 18th, 2022
January 18th, 2022
According to the Water Foundation, sustainable water management means “using water in a way that meets current, ecological, social, and economic needs without compromising the ability to meet those needs in the future.” Sustainable water use is important to keep communities healthy: it provides for clean air, non-toxic environments, and natural resources. Without clean water in our communities, disease would be rampant, food wouldn’t grow, and access to clean drinking water would be impossible. Water sustainability is crucial as clean water is important for sanitation in rural areas, water stress affects agriculture and food security, and water pollution destroys the natural balance of ecosystems.
Firstly, water sustainability is essential for improved sanitation in rural areas, for access to clean drinking water is crucial for the prevention of diseases. Water can be contaminated by naturally occurring chemicals such as arsenic, manufacturing processes, and local land-use practices. For example, insanitary water supply for hygiene and sanitation causes diarrhea, one of the main causes of death in children in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In fact, according to the CDC, “diarrhea kills 2,195 children every day, more than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined.” The consumption of contaminated water can also cause water-borne diseases such as cholera, which is caused by ingesting a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. Furthermore, contaminated water can contain high levels of harmful chemicals, such as arsenic, which can cause death when exposed to high amounts. Water sustainability would allow rural communities to have access to clean water for hygiene and safe drinking water.
In addition to improved sanitation, water sustainability also affects agriculture and food security as livestock and crops need water for irrigation and nourishment. Water scarcity causes problems when farmers need water for crops, which can be an issue with the increased demand for crops as the population increases. However, agriculture can also be a cause of water stress, which, according to the EEA (European Environment Agency), occurs “when the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use.” Agriculture accounts for nearly 70% of global water withdrawals, which calls for more sustainable uses of irrigation, to preserve water for crops that do not deplete freshwater stocks or environmental flows. For example, deficit irrigation is a watering strategy that maximizes water efficiency by applying irrigation to crops only during drought-sensitive growth stages of a crop. Other than drought-sensitive stages, rainfall provides water to the crops. With poor water sustainability, the amount of water stress future generations face will increase.
Furthermore, water sustainability in a certain area keeps the surrounding environment healthy. If a water source is contaminated, plants will draw water from that contaminated source, exposing plants to harmful chemicals. Then, animals will consume those contaminated plants and drink from the polluted water source, resulting in the animals containing toxic chemicals as well. Water pollution not only decreases the amount of clean water surrounding communities have left to use, but it also damages the health of nearby plants and animals.
Today, researchers are developing solutions to achieve water sustainability. An example of a system used to achieve water sustainability is solar power desalination, which provides clean water from saline water using methods of desalination powered by solar power. To reiterate, water sustainability is important because it provides us with sufficient clean water for a sanitary lifestyle, improves food security, and keeps the natural balance of ecosystems. As Thomas Fuller, a British scholar and author, says, “we never know the worth of water till the well is dry.”
Sources:
http://doi.org/10.15406/ijh.2020.04.00250
www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/03/7-reasons-why-water-is-vital-for-a-sustainable-future
waterfdn.org/sustainable-water-management-swm-profile
unfoundation.org/blog/post/tapping-benefits-clean-water-sanitation-hygiene-achieve-sustainable-development-goals
thewaterproject.org/water-scarcity/water-scarcity-and-agriculture
www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/global/programs/globaldiarrhea508c.pdf
Firstly, water sustainability is essential for improved sanitation in rural areas, for access to clean drinking water is crucial for the prevention of diseases. Water can be contaminated by naturally occurring chemicals such as arsenic, manufacturing processes, and local land-use practices. For example, insanitary water supply for hygiene and sanitation causes diarrhea, one of the main causes of death in children in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In fact, according to the CDC, “diarrhea kills 2,195 children every day, more than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined.” The consumption of contaminated water can also cause water-borne diseases such as cholera, which is caused by ingesting a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. Furthermore, contaminated water can contain high levels of harmful chemicals, such as arsenic, which can cause death when exposed to high amounts. Water sustainability would allow rural communities to have access to clean water for hygiene and safe drinking water.
In addition to improved sanitation, water sustainability also affects agriculture and food security as livestock and crops need water for irrigation and nourishment. Water scarcity causes problems when farmers need water for crops, which can be an issue with the increased demand for crops as the population increases. However, agriculture can also be a cause of water stress, which, according to the EEA (European Environment Agency), occurs “when the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use.” Agriculture accounts for nearly 70% of global water withdrawals, which calls for more sustainable uses of irrigation, to preserve water for crops that do not deplete freshwater stocks or environmental flows. For example, deficit irrigation is a watering strategy that maximizes water efficiency by applying irrigation to crops only during drought-sensitive growth stages of a crop. Other than drought-sensitive stages, rainfall provides water to the crops. With poor water sustainability, the amount of water stress future generations face will increase.
Furthermore, water sustainability in a certain area keeps the surrounding environment healthy. If a water source is contaminated, plants will draw water from that contaminated source, exposing plants to harmful chemicals. Then, animals will consume those contaminated plants and drink from the polluted water source, resulting in the animals containing toxic chemicals as well. Water pollution not only decreases the amount of clean water surrounding communities have left to use, but it also damages the health of nearby plants and animals.
Today, researchers are developing solutions to achieve water sustainability. An example of a system used to achieve water sustainability is solar power desalination, which provides clean water from saline water using methods of desalination powered by solar power. To reiterate, water sustainability is important because it provides us with sufficient clean water for a sanitary lifestyle, improves food security, and keeps the natural balance of ecosystems. As Thomas Fuller, a British scholar and author, says, “we never know the worth of water till the well is dry.”
Sources:
http://doi.org/10.15406/ijh.2020.04.00250
www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/03/7-reasons-why-water-is-vital-for-a-sustainable-future
waterfdn.org/sustainable-water-management-swm-profile
unfoundation.org/blog/post/tapping-benefits-clean-water-sanitation-hygiene-achieve-sustainable-development-goals
thewaterproject.org/water-scarcity/water-scarcity-and-agriculture
www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/global/programs/globaldiarrhea508c.pdf
