The Global Water Crisis

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Freshwater in the world makes up only a small portion of water on the planet. While the percentage of water in the world is nearly 70%, only 2.5% is consumable. Even further, only <1% is easily accessible to basic human needs. According to National Geographic, “by 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will live in areas plagued by water scarcity, with two-thirds of the world's population living in water-stressed regions as a result of use, growth, and climate change.” With this current trend, water will become more immersed in environmental, economic, political, and social changes. Many of these in later years shall need to be addressed as tension rises:  Saving and consumption of water  Improving drinking water supply  Increasing access to clean water supply  Decreasing tension between war-ing nation over resources With the population expecting to rise 40-50% within the next 50 years, the demand for water in Agricultural needs and Environmental needs will rise as well, creating a more desperate water crisis. Developed countries struggle with managing water consumption. Our high demand in agriculture, industry, and domestic use further complicates this issue. With increasing urbanization and extravagant changes in lifestyle, our use and wasting of water will only increase. As of this year, nearly 1.1 billion people live without clean drinking water and 2.6 billion live without adequate water sanitation. The McDonald's down the street, however, will sell you a 1/3 pounder burger for only 150 gallons. Changes in lifestyle can easily reduce this number and help not only save water, but money as well. Currently, with our diminishing water supply, one of the main goals of humanitarian organizations is ensuring that everyone has t... ... middle of paper ... ...gineeringChallenges.org. National Academy of Science, 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9136.aspx Smith, Jeffery J. "Simple Solutions That Can Change the World." The Progress Report. N.p., 30 Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. http://www.progress.org/2010/03/30/simple-solutions-that-can-change-the-world/ Sweet, Bill. "China's Suntech in Bankruptcy Proceedings." - IEEE Spectrum. Energywise, 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/green-tech/solar/chinas-suntech-in-bankruptcy-proceedings "Water Crisis & Solutions." Water Crisis & Solutions. Water For People, 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. http://www.waterforpeople.org/extras/crisis/water-crisis-and-solutions.html "Water Crisis." World Water Council. 7th World Water Council, 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/library/archives/water-crisis/

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