Global Water Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Global Water Crisis - Essay Example In a global perspective, only a small proportion of water can be regarded as fresh. It is worth noting that much of the fresh water is not physically accessible by human beings. In fact, UNEP estimates that two-thirds of fresh water is tucked in frozen glaciers, meaning, it is not readily available for human and animals consumption, as well as for agriculture. In terms of accessibility, UNEP (2010) posits that approximately 1.1 billion people lack access to water, and a further 2.7 billion experience water scarcity at least a month annually. The World Bank estimates that 80 countries experience water shortages, translating to 2 billion people lacking access to clean water. One of the factors that has contributed to the global water crisis include population expansion. Figures from the World Health Organization (2012) points that population has undeniably doubled over the recent past. Consequently, this has led to transformation of water ecosystems, coupled with loss of biodiversity. Rapid population growth has contributed to overpopulation in many parts of the world and thus many people have been forced to inhabit or encroach on water basins and other water catchment areas. Consequently, increased human population, which increased from 1.7 billion to 6.6 billion people in the last century according, has also been linked with unsustainable use of water. Population growth has been accompanied by economic development in the last fifty years, and has also been supported by subterranean water resources which are non-renewable.