The World’s Water Crisis

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Subsistence, hygiene, recreation, travel, and more-these are just a few of the uses of one of the world’s most valuable resources. Water is important in several ways, but there has been a lot of debate in recent years as to whether or not our world’s water sources are being destroyed and depleted. Droughts and melting ice caps are only two areas of concern when it comes to water, though there are opposing sides to the arguments regarding the dangers they entail. Additionally, pollution, cost of water, conservational methods, and economic effects are important factors to consider, especially if we are to tackle the challenge of feeding the world’s population. Regardless of differing opinions, it is important that we take measures to preserve this asset for the future and all the Earth’s people because if there’s one thing we can’t live without, it is water.
At first speculation, it seems evident that the world does have something of a water challenge. According to Paul Faeth, President of the organization Global Water Challenge, the biggest issue in regards to water trouble is climate change. Additionally, studies and numbers suggest that up to two-thirds of the world is living in a water-stressed area due to climate change (McDermott 1). Climate change is only one problem, though. Issues with sanitation and disease from unclean or unsuitable water have been a serious reality in recent years. It is estimated that a billion people in the world today do not have access to suitable drinking water, which kills 5,000 children due to diarrheal problems and also helps spread human diseases because no sanitation is available (McDermott 1). This factor has the ability to influence many others, particularly money.
One major factor that bec...

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"Threats: Water Scarcity." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.
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