By Mercedes Quintanilla.

Water is a human right and an indispensable resource, which is why it has an important role in the development of individuals and societies.

Important data on access to drinking water.

• 844 million people do not have a basic drinking water supply service.

• Approximately 2,000 million people are supplied with polluted water, which causes 502,000 deaths per year and is one of the main causes of death in children under 5 years of age.

• Contaminated water can transmit diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, Escherichia coli, hepatitis A, Salmonella among others.

• 70% of the water extracted from lakes and rivers is used for irrigation.

• Millions of people do not have access to basic sanitation services.

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO) between 50 and 100 liters of water per person/day are necessary to cover the most basic needs.

It is estimated that the demand for water in 2050 will increase by 55% and we will be around 10,000 million people, so water stress will be greater, which means that the demand for water will be greater than the amount available or that its use or availability will be restricted.

According to NASA’s Grace satellite and the German Aerospace Agency, 27 aquifers have been studied and the figures are worrying. 21 are losing water, while 1/3 are depleting their reserves, 8 of them are stressed and 5 are very stressed.

Water can be affected by:

– Inorganic Contaminants: The levels of this type of contamination vary according to the geographical location and the source of water, among the dissolved materials are mercury and lead.

– Organic contaminants: They are generally found in minimal amounts in groundwater and surface water, among these are: Polychlorinated biphenyls and vinyl chloride.

– Agricultural contaminants: Pesticide compounds were detected in all streams in agricultural areas, mixed-use areas, and in 30-60% of groundwater.

Basic tips to take care of water at home and mitigate shortages:

• Set up a rain barrel. When it rains, the water usually flows directly into our sewage system. This amount of clean water does not contain chemicals and can be used for household cleaning.

• Another easy way to save water at home is to reuse water that has been poured into glasses and bottles but has not been consumed; instead of throwing it away, it can be drunk or used for watering, among other things.

• Install a gray water recycling system. This system can save up to 35% of the water that would otherwise be wasted. This system automatically cleans and reuses used water from the shower.

• If you have space for it, you can create a rain garden, which works by taking advantage of the natural runoff of water from the earth to nourish the plants.

• Kitchen water can be reused by pouring it down the toilet after washing dishes with it.

Drinking water is undoubtedly a basic need and also a matter of rights. It is considered one of the sustainable development goals because it is such a crucial element in human life and is highly related to other goals.

References

• Español, A. C. (2022, April 20). Access to drinking water for millions of people | and. UNHCR. https://eacnur.org/blog/acceso-al-agua-potable-reto-tc_alt45664n_o_pstn_o_pst/

• Kahn, C. (2020, September 29). 7 Most Common Waterborne Diseases (and How to Prevent Them). Lifewater International. https://lifewater.org/blog/7-most-common-waterborne-diseases-and-how-to-prevent-them/?gclid=CjwKCAiAwc-dBhA7EiwAxPRylGVmwgfWju7JN68MfNo-D8WOrJffQDzmtTkFwwQyCwlkFAhbQlYoUxoCVM0QAvD_BwE .

• What are we talking about when we talk about access to water? (n.d.). We Are Water. https://www.wearewater.org/en/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-water-access_346091

• What will the water situation be like in 2050? Aquae Foundation. (2021, June 16). Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://www.fundacionaquae.org/el-agua-en-2050/