Water scarcity is an increasingly dire problem worldwide. As the population continues to grow, the demand for water rises exponentially while supplies remain limited. Today, 1.42 billion people – including 450 million children – live in areas of high water vulnerability.
A lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene affects children’s health, their physical development and their education, sometimes forcing them to skip school to walk long distances to collect water.
Water scarcity and climate change are also drivers of conflict and migration, as communities and populations compete for shrinking water resources.
Factors contributing to the water crisis:
- Climate change, droughts, heat waves.
- Increased water usage. Growing global population, growing agricultural production.
- Pollution from sewage, wastewater, pesticides.
- Outdated or poorly maintained water supply systems.
Some solutions:
- Reduce household water usage.
- Improve agricultural irrigation techniques.
- Implement water recycling.
- Protect freshwater ecosystems.
- Desalination (but it is costly and energy consuming).
- Improve water infrastructure.
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