Water scarcity essay by Janie Ingenito

In recent years, most of available water has been faced a situation which is it will be less and less in the future.

According to a research of IWMI 25% population of the world or 33% population of developing countries will suffer water shortage in the next century (Seckler et al. , 1998). Water occupies an extremely important position in the human history of thousands years, this case has been become because of water crisis which is dangerous for food, people health and environment (Seckler et al. , 1999).This essay will claim that the main reasons for water scarcity which contribute to human activities will accelerate water decreasing, and that effects such as human health and food production will also be impacted by water shortage. The first main cause is that human activities can lead to the water scarcity; they not only waste water, but also use a large amount of contaminated water material.

For example, the agriculture uses more chemical fertilizers which can damage the underground water (Anitei, 2007).Moreover, people need use water in everyday, but water has become more not enough because of the demand exceeds supply of water; this is showing that the pollution water has been increased, and the clean available water has decreased (Hejazi et al, 2013). According to Seckler et al. (1999) the use and management of fertilizer should promote the growth of crops, but in fact there is no increase in crop production in recent years because of the overuse of the water and the water salinity content increased.So that human misbehaviors generate water risk in a large extent in the world.

Another main reason is climate change which could be to increase the shortage of water resources. Climate change may reduce the amount of precipitation and expand drought area, especially the influence in the semi-arid and arid areas (Peterson & Posner, 2010; Mujumdar, 2008). Seckler, Barker and Amarasinghe (1999) argue that these areas will have approximately 1 billion inhabitants to suffer absolute lack of water in 2025.And then, the natural source of water which involve snow cover and glaciers, to be decline due to the global warming (Kanae, 2009), Peterson and Posner ( 2010) believe that this reason not only dwindles water, it will also pollute fresh water with sediments, nutrients, pesticides, pathogens, and salts.

In addition, global warming will raise the sea level, and the salting water intrusion to groundwater which will be polluted (Werner & Simmons, 2009). Therefore, climate change is a most important cause for to affects the water that is it becomes increasing unavailable.However, people are vulnerable of diseases because of lack of water, hence water shortage will become a great threaten for people. In developing countries, people need to use some water which is not health and get more pollution.

Definitely, agriculture is a really significant role in developing countries, FAD (2012) obtain that 70% of available water is used for agricultural irrigation, it is the most important for the world. In addition, people use more chemical fertilizers to help crops growing; meanwhile, these chemical things pollute the underground water (Anitei, 2007).Anitei also take that 80% of diseases are spread through the consumption of infected water in developing countries. Because the water system is circulatory and the water crisis to become increasing serious, one research has shown that the pathogens, which consist of diarrhea and intestinal nematode infections, enter the body due to people had to use contaminated water with the shortage of water, particularly in the African and Asia (Moyoshita et al, 2011). Hence, water can bring health to person; also can erode people’s health.Water also is the most important one for food production, which need water to product.

In fact, each one should get 2 to 3 liters for drinking in everyday, and it is not enough because 1kilo of grain and 1kilo of meat each need 1500 liters and 15000 liters (FAO, 2012). Also, according to FAO (2012) water scarcity can decrease development of agriculture which includes the quantity and quality. A study gains that about three-quarters’ water be consumed by irrigation (Seckler et al. , 1999).If water scarcity is becoming more and more serious, it will affect the irrigated agriculture which in turn affects the food security and shortage of the world.

IPCC estimates that people will face serious problems that are food shortages and distribution of disease vectors because of water shortages and rising temperatures (FAO, 2008). It shows that the relationship between water and food, a lack of water can lead to decrease food production; of course, the flooding also can influence it.In conclusion, the main causes for water scarcity are human activities which can waste and pollute fresh water and let water to becomes unhealthy to impacts people health; and climate change such as global warming which decrease the acreages of snow cover and glaciers, then it can reduce the natural water and also contaminate some fresh water, thereby lead to the reducing of irrigation water and to decline the safety of the food producing water. As a result, water is the source of life, it is very urgent to protect water.