Access to water It is a basic and inalienable human right since having drinking water and sanitation systems are two essential elements for the realization of all human rights.. Water is a necessary and essential universal good that no one should be without.
The water It is present in different states and we will find it in the different natural elements distributed throughout the planet. In its liquid state it flows through rivers, streams, seas and oceans.
In its solid aspect it is found at the poles, in glaciers, in permafrost and, in winter, on the surfaces of some river currents. Finally, water in gaseous form is present throughout the atmosphere.
70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in liquid water, and corresponds to the salt water that makes up the oceans. Only a minimum percentage of the water is fresh and most of it is frozen, so what we have available must be carefully cared for.
Today, water is a luxury for millions of people.so those who have it within their reach should value it. To make matters worse and according to scientists, This lack of water is being aggravated by Climate Change, as droughts and floods are becoming more frequent and severe and it has never been more important to protect the ecosystems that conserve and contain fresh water across the planet..
UNICEF assures that at least 1,000 children die every day around the world from thirstfrom preventable diseases such as diarrhea, from drinking unsafe water and/or for having poor sanitation or lack of it altogether. Hundreds of thousands of people spend an entire day looking for the minimum amount of water that allows them to at least survive..
On the other hand, in the most developed countries and in many emerging nations, this precious liquid is not valued properly, it is wasted in agriculture, it is contaminated, wastewater is not managed or recycled properly.. And people in general do not feel the need to take care of it, since they have the concept that whenever it is needed, there is a tap nearby to provide it.
Let’s not waste more water
Water is wasted in many ways. And the first is through the agriculturewhich uses around 70% of the fresh water available on the planet. And it mostly relies on flood irrigation, where fields become soaked and the excess runs into nearby streams and rivers.
But this type of irrigation causes loss of millions of liters of water. And it can pollute waterways with fertilizers, creating dead zones in the ocean (where oxygen is depleted and unavailable to sea creatures) and contributing to algal blooms, or eutrophication.
Alternatively, drip irrigation is highly efficientas it directs water directly onto the roots of the plant. However, these systems are expensive to implement and do not work for all crops, but there are intermediate solutions. Such as sprinklers, which produce less runoff, or mulching crops to prevent water evaporation..
Besides, It makes no sense to plant crops that require a lot of water in arid or desert areas.but should opt for those that best adapt to local circumstances. As the planet becomes drier, countries will have to change their economies and redistribute crops. And in each place you should plant what best adapts to that area..
Finally, At an individual level it is possible to take care of water in many ways. As do not let it run without using it, water it at night or recycle it properly. It is imperative to stop wasting water, since In many places, golf courses and swimming pools proliferate, while, in another part of the world, a child dies of thirst or preventable diseases every few minutes..