There is so much hype about the world water crisis…even with all the warnings about ‘global warming’ being “… the defining challenge of our times”, environmental issues consistently rate near the bottom of public concern, according to many opinion polls. A U.S. poll released in January found global warming last among 20 voter concerns.
Bob Perkowitz, founder of ecoAmerica, said recently: “When someone thinks of global warming, they think of a politicised, polarised argument. When you say ‘global warming,’ many people think it’s a code word for progressive liberals, gay marriage and other such issues.” In fact, ecoAmerica surveys and focus groups have discovered that in order to be listened to, it’s time to drop the term “the environment” altogether and talk about “the air we breathe and the water our children drink.”
Whatever words you use, there’s little argument that global weather patterns over recent years have had a negative impact on ‘the environment’ and resulted in a world water crisis that few people deny. On top of that, while the world's population tripled in the 20th century, the use of renewable water resources has grown six-fold. Within the next 50 years, the world’s population will increase by another 40 to 50%. This growth, coupled with that of industrialisation and urbanisation, will result in an ever-increasing demand for water and will have serious consequences on the environment.
Worldwide data of safe drinking water
According to the World Water Council, there is already more wastewater generated and dispersed today than at any other time in the history of our planet. More than one out of six people globally (i.e. 1.1 billion) lack access to safe drinking water… and more than two out of six, or 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation. 3,900 children die every day from water-borne diseases. (Estimates were made by the WHO and UNICEF in 2004).
This inability to provide safe water and adequate sanitation services to all people has been humanity’s greatest social failure of the last 100 years. As no creature can live without clean water, what can be done to address the crisis?
There is even talk that water will be the cause of future wars, as oil has been in the past. Many current conflicts from Chad to Darfur, Sudan, to the Ogaden Desert in Ethiopia, to Somalia and its pirates and across to Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been inflamed by water scarcity. All lie in a great arc of arid lands where water scarcity is leading to failed crops, dying livestock, extreme poverty and desperation. And when Governments cannot guarantee their populations’ most basic needs, such as safe drinking water, they lose their legitimacy.
No one Government, non-profit or commercial organisation, community nor individual can solve the problem in isolation… but each of us can do our bit, whether in our own small corner of the world, or by supporting those working on a grander scale where help is most needed.
Australian companies working on water treatment
Fortunately there are examples in Australia of companies like AdTechEnviro.com that embrace the cause of water, helping redress humanity’s water failure. Over the years this company has researched, developed and refined a series of unique technologies, which, in the simplest layman’s terms, treat contaminated water to the point it can either be recycled, or even consumed.
These technologies have been put to use in emergency response situations (e.g. transforming polluted water sources into clean, clear drinking water for survivors of the 2004 tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka); are used every day to decontaminate and recycle heavily polluted industrial wastewater; and can even improve the performance of sewage treatment plants, therefore addressing the importance of sanitation.
It is time we all reassess what most concerns us and realise that water is our most precious resource. It must be protected… and it must be provided to those who need it most.
If you want to find companies that can help you with your Water needs take a look in the water section of the Green Times Business Directory.
Written by David Keogh
