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Someone@example.com Password Can't access your account? Sign in with a single-use code Don't have a Microsoft account? Water Facts: Water. Water 1 in 10 people lack access to safe water Sanitation 1 in 3 people lack access to a toilet Women & Children Women and children spend 125 million hours each day collecting water Disease Every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease Economics Every $1 invested in water and sanitation provides a $4 economic return Facts About Water & Sanitation Share 663 million people - 1 in 10 - lack access to safe water.1 2.4 billion people - 1 in 3 - lack access to a toilet.1 Twice the population of the United States lives without access to safe water.1,2 1/3 of the global population lives without access to a toilet.1,2 More people have a mobile phone than a toilet.1,3 The water crisis is the #1 global risk based on impact to society (as a measure of devastation), as announced by the World Economic Forum in January 2015. 4 Resource Links Look for more facts in our collection of Water Resource Links.
References Donate now Get involved chevron_right Enewsletter sign-up. Global Water Shortage: Water Scarcity & The Importance of Water. Risk of water wars rises with scarcity. Click on the water conflict map to see some of Al Jazeera's coverage of an issue which could define 21st century strife The author Mark Twain once remarked that "whisky is for drinking; water is for fighting over" and a series of reports from intelligence agencies and research groups indicate the prospect of a water war is becoming increasingly likely.
In March, a report from the office of the US Director of National Intelligence said the risk of conflict would grow as water demand is set to outstrip sustainable current supplies by 40 per cent by 2030. "These threats are real and they do raise serious national security concerns," Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said after the report's release. Internationally, 780 million people lack access to safe drinking water, according to the United Nations.
Some analysts worry that wars of the future will be fought over blue gold, as thirsty people, opportunistic politicians and powerful corporations battle for dwindling resources. World Water Council - Water Crisis. Towards a way to improve the situation "There is a water crisis today.
But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people - and the environment - suffer badly. " World Water Vision Report With the current state of affairs, correcting measures still can be taken to avoid the crisis to be worsening. Saving water resources Whatever the use of freshwater (agriculture, industry, domestic use), huge saving of water and improving of water management is possible. Improving drinking water supply Water should be recognized as a great priority.
Guarantee the right to water; decentralise the responsibility for water; develop know-how at the local level; increase and improve financing; evaluate and monitor water resources. Improving transboundary cooperation As far as transboundary conflicts are concerned, regional economic developement and cultural preservation can all be strengthened by states cooperating of water.