Exam = UPSC CSE Main 2022 GS Paper 1
Questions- 5. The world is confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources
Answer
The world is confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources for several interconnected reasons:
1. Population Growth: The global population has been steadily growing, leading to greater demand for freshwater resources. As more people need water for drinking, sanitation, agriculture, and industrial purposes, the pressure on available freshwater sources intensifies.
2. Climate Change: Climate change is altering weather patterns, causing more frequent and severe droughts and floods. These extreme weather events disrupt the natural water cycle, making it challenging to predict and manage water availability.
3. Pollution: Pollution from agriculture, industry, and urban areas contaminates freshwater sources. Chemical pollutants, heavy metals, and pathogens can render water sources unsafe for human consumption and harm ecosystems. Treating polluted water requires significant resources and infrastructure.
4. Unsustainable Water Use: Many regions practice unsustainable water use, particularly in agriculture. Inefficient irrigation methods, over-extraction of groundwater, and poor water management practices contribute to water scarcity.
5. Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Changes in land use, such as deforestation and urbanization, can disrupt the natural flow of water, reduce groundwater recharge, and increase surface runoff, leading to water scarcity issues.
6. Inadequate Infrastructure: In many parts of the world, there is insufficient infrastructure for water storage, distribution, and wastewater treatment. Such lack of infrastructure limits access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation.
7. Water Stress: Water stress occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available supply. Many regions, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, are experiencing chronic water stress due to increasing demand and decreasing supply.
8. Geopolitical Tensions: Water scarcity can lead to conflicts between regions and countries over shared water resources. Competition for access to rivers and aquifers can exacerbate existing geopolitical tensions.
9. Inequity and Access Issues: Even when freshwater resources are available, there are often significant disparities in access to clean water and sanitation services, particularly in low-income communities and developing countries.
10. Poor Governance: Inadequate governance, corruption, and mismanagement of water resources can hinder effective water management, allocation, and conservation efforts.
Addressing the crisis of freshwater availability and access requires a combination of strategies, including sustainable water management practices, investment in infrastructure, efforts to mitigate climate change, pollution control measures, and equitable distribution of resources. Collaboration at local, national, and international levels is crucial to tackle this global challenge and ensure that freshwater resources are preserved and made accessible to all.