A new study commissioned by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) demonstrates that unclean water for drinking as well as for sanitation services is responsible for more deaths than all forms of violence, including war.
There are two primary challenges surrounding water: quantity and quality. The study titled “Clearing the Water: A Focus on Water Quality Solutions” plunges into the latter challenge as fulfilling cleaner water standards is currently the more achievable goal.
Much of the water that is available in developing but also developed economies is polluted and contaminated to varying levels. Distressing. Add to this the unavailability of water in many regions and then the picture of a few decades of unmanaged water scenario is driven home. Will it take a few more million deaths for governments to take action?
Here are some thought-provoking facts from the report:
· 2 million tons of untreated sewage and industrial and agricultural waste are dumped daily
· 1 child under the 5-years-old dies every 20 seconds from water-related diseases
· $20 million worth of water technologies, such as drip irrigation and treadle pumps, could lift 100 million farming families out of extreme poverty
· Over 50% of treated water is lost to leaks
· 900 million people around the world do not have access to clean water
· 2.7 billion others lack sanitation facilities
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