Water Stress and Water Scarcity

by Juanita Cuervo, 10th Grade

Water is a resource that is essential for living; we need it to survive and in our daily lives. We not only drink it, but we also use this resource to shower, to wash our clothes, and even to cook. However, today about 2/3 of the world’s population is struggling with water scarcity for at least one month each year. There are many factors that could possibly cause water scarcity, like contamination, drought, and the uncontrolled use of this resource. Additionally, lack of water can bring various consequences, one of them being illnesses. Each year about 502,000 people die because of diarrhea caused by contaminated water. It can also be the reason for hunger, the disappearance of some plant species, and people migrating in search of a better place to live. 

Another topic that should be taken into account is the impact of water stress. Water stress happens when the demand for water is higher than what is available during a period of time or when the use has been restricted due to the water’s poor quality. Based on the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), throughout the last 20 years water stress has been increasing in various zones of the world, and this may lead many countries or regions to experience water scarcity in the future. 

This is a worldwide problem that not only affects the environment but also every human being. We are responsible for taking care of this valuable natural resource and preventing water scarcity as much as we can. We can do this by avoiding wasting water in our houses, either by shortening the time we spend showering or making sure we don’t leave the water running. We can also help by reporting any water leaks and by storing water. Even though we might think that water is a resource that will never run out, we still have to be cautious about how we are using it, and take care of the resources we have and the environment.