Water, water… everywhere?

• A meeting of nations at the 5th World Water Forum took place in Istanbul this week, focusing on international diplomatic and economic solutions to the ever-present worldwide shortage of clean water.
• The primary causes of the shortage are climate change and poor local resource management. As the earth heats up, the hydrological cycle is disrupted. Rising sea levels begin to infuse natural fresh water sources with salt, which makes the water unfit for human consumption. In rapidly modernizing countries like China, deforestation and desertification also disrupt the hydrological cycle and encourage salinization of freshwater aquifers.
• Some outside conservation groups say that the council doesn’t go far enough beyond making proclamations to properly address the issue, though this year’s forum tried something new: Focusing attention on the economic impact of improved access to water and sanitation, in the hopes this would motivate local governments to take a more active role in dealing with the water crisis.

Facts & Figures

• Humans can survive 30 days without eating food but only 7 days without drinking water.
• 1 billion people lack any access to clean water; 2.5 billion lack water for sanitation purposes.
• According to the World Health Organization, every $1 spent on water and sanitation can result in economic returns of $7-$12.

Best Quote

“I don’t know why anyone should need to be reminded of this, because it’s so obviously important and so obviously solvable. The answer really is people are blind to the obvious. It’s not sexy.” – Susan Keane, Public Health Expert at Natural Resources Defense Council