Water on the Brain

We live on a blue planet - 70% of its surface is covered by water. But if we consider that most of that is salt water or locked up in icecaps and glaciers there is very little we can actually use to drink or grow food. Only 0.01% of all the world's water is fresh water that humans can actually use.

Population growth, industrial development and irrigated farming, have pushed up global demand for water over the last 50 years. By 2020 water use is expected to increase by a further 40 percent. According to the UN Environment Programme by 2025, two-thirds of the world's population could be living with serious water shortages.

One in Six People have no access to safe drinking water

But its not the scarcity of global water supplies that prevents people from access to water - most water experts are agreed that there is actually plenty of water to go round - what really keeps people from accessing water is poverty. And what helps people move out of poverty is water. This natural resource is essential to human life, so shouldn’t it be available to all? Or has it become just another commodity to be sold to the highest bidder?

As delegates gather at the Third World Water forum in Japan, Changing Currents takes a look at some of the stories behind the facts facing water experts and ministers as they set about seeking solutions for a thirsty planet.

The Real Water Wars

Despite increasing international tension and dire predictions of war between nations over water, so far the real conflicts have arisen within countries. From Bolivia to South Africa to the USA people have been taking to the streets over water.  They have one thing in common - they can't afford their water rates. As governments come under pressure to increase water tariffs to recover costs, it's the poorest of the poor who lose out.

Increasingly, the international development agencies are advocating the introduction of private companies into the water and sewerage sector. Water privatisation and public-private partnerships are a contentious issue in many developing countries. Investors say they bring efficiency. Opponents say they hurt the poor. Governments say they have no choice.

The United Nations have now enshrined the human right to water in international human rights legislation, putting pressure on governments to commit to providing affordable safe water. But waiting for governments to take action is not the only solution. Around the world people are taking action to improve their own situation and there is a growing movement to resurrect traditional methods of storing water.

Water is a human right

A village in Sariska National Park in Rajasthan, Northern India has built a traditional earthen dam, called a johad, to trap rainwater. Before the advent of a piped water network, catching rainwater was second nature in dry countries. Households and communities across India are re-learning the techniques of rainwater 'harvesting' to catch water from rooftops - and store it in tanks for the coming dry season.

Cleaning up our Act

The campaign to put sanitation on the political agenda is also gaining momentum and the United Nations target is to halve the number of people without affordable safe drinking water by 2015.

But in the rapidly growing megacities of the developing world, some serious challenges remain. Most at risk are people who live in urban squatter settlements. With no housing or land rights poor people are unlikely to risk investing in safe sanitation systems.

6000 Children die every day from waterborne diseases

Pollution is compounding the growing crisis. Water reserves worldwide are becoming increasingly toxic, both from chemical and industrial run off as well as natural compounds such as fluoride and arsenic. The rate of human expansion is placing more and more pressure on the environment to sustain our growth. Natural water resources are under threat from pollution and overuse. But as we grow we demand more and more water.

Running Dry

Agriculture is the most demanding water user and large-scale irrigation has changed our landscape beyond all recognition. Across all the major crop producing regions of the world farmers are drilling deep into the aquifers - ancient lakes of freshwater stored deep underground. As these aquifers run dry they are forced to drill deeper and deeper.

Water is needed to grow food but there must be a change in the distribution system. Coming up with more equitable ideas for local water collection and distribution is a first step. But for the poor, trying to persuade governments to meet them halfway by investing in small-scale projects is often a big struggle.

For millions of women and children the long walk to water is a daily struggle for survival

The changes in weather patterns caused by global warming seem to be increasing the incidence of extreme droughts and floods. Scientists in countries which are geographically vulnerable to these disastrous cycles are beginning to link the problems to global warming.

As always it will be the poor who lose out first. But while Climate Change may be partly to blame for making life more difficult in many areas there is also a growing belief that development schemes aimed at improving productivity could actually be making the problems worse.

Most of the world’s major rivers have been dammed to provide irrigation, drinking water, power and flood control. But dams have never been without their critics. Today the extreme weather patterns caused by Climate Change are revealing new dam related problems.

Instead of controlling floods, some dams have been found to make floods much worse - recent tragedies in Mozambique have led scientists to call for dams to release water at set times to simulate natural patterns of seasonal flooding. And while dams may be able to cope with many floods, some scientists doubt that they could cope with the most severe floods that may occur as our climate changes.

Despite the very real fears about water scarcity, there is general agreement that there is still enough water to go round everyone, if it was shared out equitably. But one thing is for sure - unless the link between access to water and poverty eradication is not acted upon - future generations will continue to suffer.

"5 billion, five sixths of humanity live under degraded conditions of environment; One sixth - the golden billion - enjoy the privileges of being alive… and we've got to look at this especially post 11th September to understand that we've got to eradicate poverty -  that if we're all to live in secure civilizations we cannot allow the disparity in the world to continue and create the frustrations which drive desperation."   Ronnie Kasrils - Minister for Water, South Africa