Effect of human population on water availability and importance of

its preservation
I am going to discuss the effects of human population growth on water availability and the urgent
need for its preservation. As this issue has widespread effects on human population, it is of
special concern to me. I have chosen my housemate as my audience. He is studying social
sciences at the university, is immensely interested in social issues and is planning to work in
Africa. His background knowledge consists of information from social media and news. He is
moderately aware of the issues related to uncontrolled population growth but has not critically
analyzed the problem and its effects, especially related to water crisis.
Water plays an imperative role in our lives, its scarcity affects social and economic areas,
threatening the health of ecosystems; therefore it must be preserved. Being the most essential of
compounds, water is at the center of life for all species. Major functions of water in human body
include transportation of essential nutrients to cells, maintaining acid-base balance, thermal
regulation, and elimination of waste products. Outside the body, water is used in industries as a
solvent for various chemical reactions, in agriculture for irrigation and in households for
sanitation and hygienic purposes.
Despite being the most common substance on earth, only a small portion (3%) is fit for
human use (1). Two-thirds of freshwater is locked in glaciers and only 1% of total water is
available for human use (1). Population growth is the main factor that contributes to the problem
of water scarcity (5). Increases in population mean increases in demand for water. The resources
of freshwater are finite, but global consumption doubles every 20 years at a rate double the rate
of population growth (4). If this combined trend of water consumption and population growth
continues, it is estimated that demand for water would surpass the availability by 56% by 2020
(4). As a result, 1.8 billion people would be living in regions of water scarcity by 2025; the
number would rise to 3.6 billion by 2035(3).

Effect of human population on water availability and importance of

its preservation
Water scarcity has huge impacts on the agriculture because agriculture accounts for
approximately 70% of global water use and up to 95% in farming based countries (5). As
agriculture is one of the most inefficient uses of water, (5) so it may also promote water scarcity.
Since agriculture is a core component of global food security, thus water availability and global
hunger are closely interrelated.
Water scarcity also has a major effect on public health (6). Out of 37 major diseases in
developing nations, 21 are water and sanitation related (4). The WHO estimates that water
related diseases account for 80% of all diseases in developing nations (2). These diseases result
in 5 million deaths/year (2). If no action is taken to meet the basic water needs, as many as 135
million people may die from water related diseases by 2020 (8).
It is a high time to implement multi-dimensional strategies for efficient and sustainable
development of water resources. The problem must be understood and acted upon by all sections
of society. International policies that address direct issues like poverty, pollution and
infrastructural barriers should be executed. Farmers should be introduced to newer techniques
like center-pivot sprinkler irrigation and should be educated about the water cycle and the
importance of aquifers. Rainwater harvesting should be introduced to countries with seasonal
rainfall so that the underground water table is replenished. Most importantly water resources
should be used responsibly and judiciously.
Water resources are finite but renewable, and human beings are good at managing,
educating and supporting each other. Therefore I sincerely emphasize the importance of
preservation of water, as this single type of intervention has a greater overall impact upon global
development and public health than any other. Creating awareness in this generation towards the
global issues by educating each other would definitely lead to a better future.

Effect of human population on water availability and importance of

its preservation
Resources
1 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2006. Human Development Report 2006:
Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis. New York, NY: UNDP
2 Ballooning global population adding to water crisis, warns new UN report, UN News Centre,
(UN News Service, March 12, 2009), Accessed Feb 6, 2014.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30167&Cr=water &Cr1=supply
3 Population Action International (PAI). 2004. People in the Balance Update 2004:Population and
Natural Resources at the Turn of the Millennium. Washington, DC:PAI.
4 Population and Water, (The World Water Organization, 2010) Accessed February 6, 2014.
http://www.populationinstitute.org/external/files/Fact_Sheets/Water_and_population.pdf
5 United Nations (UN)-Water and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO). 2007. Coping with Water Scarcity: Challenge of the Twenty-First Century. New York,
NY: UN-Water and FAO.
6 Water and Public Health, Accessed February 6, 2014
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/S01.pdf
7 World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) 2005.Water
for Life: Making it Happen. Geneva: WHO and UNICEF
8 Dirty Water: Estimated Deaths from Water-Related Diseases 2000-2020, Accessed February 6,
2014 http://www.worldsthirst.org/docs/water_related_deaths_report.pdf