Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater – the stuff we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with – is incredibly rare. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use. As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year.
Inadequate sanitation is also a problem for 2.4 billion people – they are exposed to diseases, such as cholera and typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. Every minute a newborn baby dies from infection caused by lack of clean water and an unclean environment. And diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills a child under 5 every 2 minutes.
Water scarcity limits access to safe water for drinking and for practising basic hygiene at home, in schools and in health-care facilities. When water is scarce, sewage systems can fail and the threat of contracting diseases like cholera surges.
Water scarcity takes a greater toll on women and children because they are often the ones responsible for collecting it. When water is further away, it requires more time to collect, which often means less time at school. Particularly for girls, a shortage of water in schools impacts student enrolment, attendance and performance. Carrying water long distances is also an enormous physical burden and can expose children to safety risks and exploitation.

Even in countries with adequate water resources, water scarcity is not uncommon. Although this may be due to a number of factors – collapsed infrastructure and distribution systems, contamination, conflict, or poor management of water resources – it is clear that climate change, as well as human factors, are increasingly denying children their right to safe water and sanitation. Based on current trends, the world could face a 40% shortfall in freshwater by 2030.

Between two and three billion people experience water shortages for at least one month per year, posing severe risks to livelihoods, notably through food security and access to electricity. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7–2.4 billion people in 2050. The growing incidence of extreme and prolonged droughts is also stressing ecosystems, with dire consequences for both plant and animal species.

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As with other massive global challenges, charity cannot solve the problem. But we must surely support work to improve the condition of vulnerable people even a little, if only out of thankfulness that we do not experience their difficulties ourselves.

WaterAid is one such charity, bringing expertise and compassion to many places and people in the spirit of Christ if not directly in his name.

(from Peter Brain, derived from reports by United Nations agencies)