Water Scarcity: Solutions to a Worldwide Problem
Water scarcity affects 4 billion people at least one month of the year.1 This scarcity presents many hardships and can lead to various diseases and even death. Though many people are deeply impacted by water scarcity, solutions are possible.
One such solution is sustainable water management, which includes improving water infrastructure, water conservation and efficiency.2
Water needs some reliable, efficient manner by which to reach people and supply their everyday water needs. For the water to be truly beneficial, this infrastructure should include pollution control and better sewage treatment.3 Otherwise, the water people consume will only make them sick. According to research by World Resources Institute and the World Bank, “Built infrastructure (like pipes and treatment plants) and green infrastructure (like wetlands and healthy watersheds) can work in tandem to tackle issues of both water supply and water quality.”4
Water can also be reclaimed.
According to Solar Impulse Foundation, “Rainwater harvesting and recycled wastewater also allow to reduce scarcity and ease pressures on groundwater and other natural water bodies.”5 A related solution is to increase water storage capacity in available reservoirs to preserve larger amounts of rainfall.6
Some cities have begun recycling sewage water. In El Paso, Texas, for example, the city’s water utility company is in the process of installing a water purification system that will eventually “treat and purify sewage water and pipe it back as natural water.”7 Some facilities further recycle the waste by turning the byproducts from such treatments into fertilizer.8
Another solution is increased agricultural efficiency.
Agriculture accounts for roughly 70 percent of the world’s freshwater usage.9 To conserve water, “Farmers can use seeds that require less water and improve their irrigation techniques by using precision watering rather than flooding their fields,” says World Resources Institute.10 More efficient farming practices, such as growing only water-intensive crops in water-rich regions, can also help conserve water.11 Additionally, technologies could be developed to improve farming efficiency.
Desalination is also a possible solution for water shortages.
After all, nearly 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans, representing more than one billion trillion liters of water.12 There are, however, challenges with this solution. First, the process of desalination is expensive and energy intensive, which could contribute to negative emissions that help fuel water scarcity.13 There is also the brine, or leftover salt, to consider. Once fresh water is separated in the desalination process, the brine is returned to the ocean, where it depletes oxygen and suffocates organisms.14
Ultimately, humans must be good stewards of the earth’s limited resources.
Waterlogic lists several ways individuals can better steward water, including taking shorter showers, installing low-flow toilets, repairing leaks, collecting rainwater, reusing graywater and protecting wetlands.15 Planting trees can also help by boosting rainfall.16
There is not a single, simple answer to eradicating water scarcity, a complex issue with a myriad of often inter-related causes.. Nevertheless, many organizations are seeking solutions for this critical issue. For example, in the United Nations’ long-term plan for the world’s peace and prosperity, it has included the Sustainable Development Goal to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”17
GFA World is one non-profit organization working to provide clean water in areas of need. As part of its mission to serve “the least of these” in areas such as Asia and Africa, GFA missionaries install Jesus Wells, which access water deep below the surface, and distribute BioSand water filters to ensure people can drink pure water that protects their health. Through these clean water initiatives, more than 38 million people have gained access to clean, lifegiving water.
1 Mekonnen, Mesfin M., and Arjen Y. Hoekstra.. “Four billion people facing severe water scarcity.” Science Advances. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1500323. February 12, 2016.
2 “Solutions to Water Scarcity: How to prevent water shortages?” Solar Impulse Foundation. https://solarimpulse.com/water-scarcity-solutions#. Accessed November 19, 2021.
3 “Solutions to Water Scarcity: How to prevent water shortages?” Solar Impulse Foundation. https://solarimpulse.com/water-scarcity-solutions#. Accessed November 19, 2021.
4 Hofste, Rutger Willem, et. al. “17 Countries, Home to One-Quarter of the World’s Population, Face Extremely High Water Stress.” World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/17-countries-home-one-quarter-worlds-population-face-extremely-high-water-stress. August 6, 2019.
5 “Solutions to Water Scarcity: How to prevent water shortages?” Solar Impulse Foundation. https://solarimpulse.com/water-scarcity-solutions#. Accessed November 19, 2021.
6 “How people are resolving to reduce water scarcity.” Waterlogic. https://www.waterlogic.com/en-us/resources-blog/how-people-are-resolving-to-reduce-water-scarcity/. Accessed November 19, 2021.
7 Felter, Claire, and Kali Robinson. “Water Stress: A Global Problem that’s Getting Worse.” Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/water-stress-global-problem-thats-getting-worse. April 22, 2021.
8 “Water scarcity: why our most precious resource is dwindling.” Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/water-scarcity-whats-the-big-deal/a-58840373. Accessed October 25, 2021.
9 Felter, Claire, and Kali Robinson. “Water Stress: A Global Problem that’s Getting Worse.” Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/water-stress-global-problem-thats-getting-worse. April 22, 2021.
10 Hofste, Rutger Willem, et. al. “17 Countries, Home to One-Quarter of the World’s Population, Face Extremely High Water Stress.” World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/17-countries-home-one-quarter-worlds-population-face-extremely-high-water-stress. August 6, 2019.
11 Leahy, Stephen. “From Not Enough to Too Much, the World’s Water Crisis Explained.” https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/world-water-day-water-crisis-explained. March 21, 2018.
12 “Water scarcity: why our most precious resource is dwindling.” Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/water-scarcity-whats-the-big-deal/a-58840373. Accessed October 25, 2021.
13 “Water scarcity: why our most precious resource is dwindling.” Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/water-scarcity-whats-the-big-deal/a-58840373. Accessed October 25, 2021.
14 “Water scarcity: why our most precious resource is dwindling.” Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/water-scarcity-whats-the-big-deal/a-58840373. Accessed October 25, 2021.
15 “How people are resolving to reduce water scarcity.” Waterlogic. https://www.waterlogic.com/en-us/resources-blog/how-people-are-resolving-to-reduce-water-scarcity/. Accessed November 19, 2021.
16 “Water scarcity: why our most precious resource is dwindling.” Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/water-scarcity-whats-the-big-deal/a-58840373. Accessed October 25, 2021.
17 Solutions to Water Scarcity: How to prevent water shortages?” Solar Impulse Foundation. https://solarimpulse.com/water-scarcity-solutions#. Accessed November 19, 2021.