Clean Water, a Resource Unavailable to Many, is Vital for Survival
Friday, August 31st, 2012Pure drinking water is a large problem in the developing world. While there are numerous sources helping with this dilemma, there are still almost one billion people without access to clean water. That is about one in eight people.
Water is a must for surviving. Without it, your body will not function. This liquid accounts for over half your body weight. Lack of water results in dehydration, which in serious cases, can lead to illness. And, survival for more than a few days without it is very unlikely.
In developed nations, safe drinking water is not an issue. In addition to water that is clean, we also have access to water filtration systems. Some of these water systems may also feature a self-cleaning filter. There are even water bottles that possess filtration systems. The point is, in developed countries we not only have access to clean drinking water, but equipment that further filter sediment and other potential pollutants from our drinking water to guarantee optimal cleanliness. In less developed countries, however, the lack of access to clean drinking water brings about many deaths every year. Further, the lack of sanitary water in less developed countries is the number one cause of disease in the world. Thousands of people who have consumed contaminated water die every day from these diseases. Some diseases that may be present in contaminated water include amoebic disease, cholera, diarrheal disease and typhoid among other risky diseases.
Not only do individuals need safe water for drinking, but a shortage of this resource also affects hunger. As with human beings, without water animals and vegetation cannot survive. This also has a bad effect on the individuals in the community. Without sources for food, people begin to starve. This weakens their body, leading them to be much more susceptible to illness. Further, a fragile body does not have much hope for fighting any type of disease.
The dilemma of safe drinking water does not just affect one individual; it has an impact on communities as a whole. The answer to this dilemma, therefore not only helps one individual, but many. Providing an impoverished, under-developed community with safe drinking water helps their entire population and its economy. And, the solution is often in close proximity to the community, they typically are just lacking the equipment or tools to obtain it.
Often in more developed countries we forget to appreciate all we have available to us, such as clean drinking water. What may seem like a little luxury to us can be a life-changing resource to less developed areas of the world.