The mystery of water
Water is the simplest and most familiar substance on the planet. But at the same time, water holds many mysteries. Scientists continue to study it and are finding more and more interesting facts about water. Without eating, but drinking, a man can survive for around 40 days. Without eating or drinking, he dies in 3 days. We know how important water is, but we still don't realise it.
Humans continue to show insufficient respect for water. In the words of France's avant-garde ecologist, Pierre Rabhi: "For trees and plants to flourish, for the animals that feed on them to thrive, for human beings to live, the earth must be honoured."
Heartbreaking figures
Numbers can speak for themselves, but when it comes to water, it's heartbreaking. It is so present on the planet, and yet so rare: water covers 71% of the Earth's surface, 97% of it salty and 3% fresh. Of this 3%, 2% is difficult for humans to access. So we only use 1% of the Earth's freshwater.
Every year, humans consume 1% more water. Industries use 20% of freshwater for all their activities. Domestic consumption accounts for only 10% of global freshwater use, but it is very unevenly distributed. For example, the USA uses 300 litres of water per person per day, while Europe uses 100 to 200 litres per person per day. In Switzerland, the average person uses 142 litres per day in the domestic sector.
On the other hand, on the African continent, water is even more unevenly distributed: 14 countries are threatened by a serious shortage; 80% of people without access to a source of drinking water live in Africa; one African in two is obliged to travel ten kilometres every day to fetch the water they need. By 2025, with 750 million inhabitants, Africa's urban population will exceed the total population of Europe.
195 countries, each with a different relationship to water
The UN has recognised 195 independent countries, each with its own destiny in relation to water. Some are better, some worse. Compared to other regions of the world, Latin America, for example, is not short of water: on the contrary, it is one of the richest. But the region is lagging colossally behind when it comes to wastewater treatment.
Water knows no borders. International cooperation is therefore essential. Water is an instrument of peace; it must never become an instrument of war. There are 263 transboundary river basins in the world, around two-thirds of which have no joint management programme. International waters require international standards. Around 80 countries, i.e. 40% of the population, suffer from water shortages.
15,000 people, including 6,000 children, die every day from diseases linked to a lack of drinking water. At the same time, 1.3 billion people in the world do not have access to drinking water, i.e. almost a fifth of the world's population, and 500,000 million could suffer the same fate in the near future. More than a third of these are in Africa.
The primary cause of this threat of water shortage is climate change, caused by human interference. Global population growth, and hence demand, is also a cause.
What can be done to get more water?
All the countries of the world should invest in new water exploitation technologies. They should make their populations more aware of the economic management of water. The social responsibility of companies consuming large quantities of water and implementing the principles of sustainable development policy is also necessary.
We must react and start fighting today, because the future belongs to those who respect water.
