Isu 7-10

ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER 1
The Lack of Access to Clean Water Worldwide is a Devastating Crisis:

How Humanity is at Risk
Erica Freeman-Carter
Ms. Parnell
10 May 2019
Table of Contents
Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………...Pg. 02-04
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………..Pg. 04
Summary of Research Method……………………….………………………………..Pg. 05
Quote…………………………………………………………………………………..Pg. 06
Definition……………………………………………………………………………....Pg. 07-08
Significance……………………………………………...…………………………….Pg. 08-09
Background…………………………………………………………………………….Pg. 09-12
Expert………………………………………………………………………………….Pg. 12-14
Maude Barlow………………………………………………………………………....pg. 12
Matt Damon…………………………………………………………………………....pg. 13-14
Role of Control…………………………………………………………………………Pg. 14-16
International Organizations…………………………………………………………….Pg. 16-19

United Nations………………………………………………………………………….pg. 16-18
UNICEF………………………………………………………………………………....pg. 18-19
Case Studies…………………………………………………………………………...Pg. 19-28

Flint……………………………………………………………………………………...pg. 19-22
India………………………………………………………………………………….….pg. 22-25
Sub-Saharan…………………………………………………………………………...pg. 25-28
Canadian Connection………………………………………………………………….Pg. 28-32

Indigenous Communities……………………………………………………………..pg. 28-29
Walkerton……………………………………………………………………………....pg. 29-31
Logic of Evil…………………………………………………………………………..Pg. 32-35
Politics………………………………………………………………………………...Pg. 36-39
Solutions………………………………………………………………………….….Pg. 39-41
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..Pg. 42
Appendix…………………………………………………………………………....Pg. 43-44
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………...Pg. 45-49
Abstract
This paper emphasizes the issues surrounding the lack of access to clean water. It highlights the
issues from developed and developing nations around the world. The history of the lack of clean
water is outlined with the significance of obtaining safe water. Organizations such as the UN are
acknowledged within the contents. Within this paper, there is identification of different countries
who battle with their supply of clean water. Studies from the United States, India and Africa
reflect how different nations are struggling with the lack of access to safe water. Canada is
criticized with poorly managing the state of its Indigenous population. Privatization is called to
attention and how it can negatively impact nations through mismanagement. Governments are
also criticized for being passive and not executing solutions. Solutions are presented such as new
technological advances and education through information. There is a demand for every human
to have access to clean water. It is a violation under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
that individuals lack safe water. The importance of conquering the water crisis can contribute to
ending world poverty. The right to water is a right every human should have.
Summary of Research Method

The issue presented in the following report was composed of through large quantities of
information relating to the topic of the lack of access to clean water and how humanity suffers
from being stripped of their rights. Information was gathered through a computer as the internet
was the primary research source. Websites, scholarly reports, news reports, information from
international and charitable organizations, and journals were utilized through the internet within
the contents of this report. Information was easily obtained from the internet as an essential
research source. New, relevant and diverse information was easily received through the internet.
Different perspectives from various websites produced from several nations and countries create
a diverse sense of information.
The majority of information was received from secondary sources. Research methods
consisted of first education about the background of the subject, then narrowing down reports or
websites to important, factual information. In-text citations were used for paraphrasing or direct
quotes. Reliable sources were used to ensure an informative, accurate paper.
The report is intended to highlight, analyze and scrutinize the water crisis and the impact
on humanity. The intent is also to inform and understand the causes, issues, and solutions
regarding the lack of access to clean water.

“The right to water and sanitation is a human right, equal to all other human rights, which
implies that it is justiciable and enforceable”
-Maude Barlow
Definition
Access to clean water is a huge issue in the world today. More than 780 million people
worldwide do not have access to clean water. There are a lot of negative effects on the economy,
society, and human health from a lack of clean water. Third world countries have the least
amount of clean water. In developing countries, more than 801,000 children younger than 5
years of age die of diarrheal diseases (CDC, 2016, p. 1). Developed countries also have an
abundance of water problems. 121 Indigenous communities in Canada are currently under a
drinking water advisory. This is a daily challenge for these communities; will they be able to
bathe and have enough water to drink for their families for even one day? Surrounded by three
oceans, Canada has almost 20% of the freshwater in the world and yet many still have daily
water struggles (EcoJustice, 2018, p. 1). How badly is clean water affecting other countries?
Flint, Michigan, U.S.A., is a prime example of a water crisis in a developed country. In early
2014, Flint changed its water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Reports of funny
tasting and smelling water abounded after this transition. The Environmental Protection Agency
found high levels of lead traced in the water (CNN, 2018, p. 1). Lead is a persistent metal that
can interfere with the body at any level of exposure.
India is the second most populated country in the world with over a billion citizens and
roughly half of a population lives without regular access to clean water. Severe overpopulation
within India results in 52 percent of citizens living in poverty. The lack of money within over
500 million households does not make it easy to obtain clean, well-maintained water. Sickness is
extremely prevalent in India because of their lack of safe water, but citizens cannot afford
treatment or medicine to combat severe water-related diseases.
Sub-Saharan Africa is also at major risk. Sub-Saharan Africa struggles from water stress
more than any other region in the world. Only 22 percent to 34 percent of populations in at least
eight sub-Saharan countries have access to safe water (Tatlock, 2006, p. 1). This issue within
Africa will only continue to worsen with climate change making droughts and flooding more
likely to happen year-round.

This problem is not only prevalent in these countries: numerous other countries do not
have access to clean water due to varying factors such as pollution or water sanitation. The lack
of safe water is detrimental; millions of innocent people will continue to die every second if
solutions are not put in place. The water crisis can still be solved.
Significance
Half of the people living in hospitals globally are affected by water-related diseases. In
developing countries, about 80 percent of diseases are linked to poor water conditions (The
Water Project, 2019, p. 1). Clean water can help improve the health of people living in poverty
and lower the costs of healthcare. “Globally, at least two billion people use a drinking water
source contaminated with faeces. Contaminated water can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea,
cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio. Contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause 502
000 diarrhoeal deaths each year” (World Health Organization, 2018, p. 1). In developing
countries, when individuals contract a water-related virus, their family and community members
are at an increased risk of exposure to a contagious illness. Doctors and other healthcare
professionals are also exposed because they might not have the supplies or technology to protect
themselves, which can potentially spread illness even more. Where water supply is low or
inaccessible, many people refrain from washing their hands to conserve water for drinking and
bathing. This further increases the risk of spreading disease.
Better access to clean water promotes economic growth and can help reduce poverty. The
amount of time spent collecting water represents an enormous economic cost. In some
developing countries, many people - mostly women - may spend hours multiple times daily
waiting in lines for a small bucket of water or walking long distances to a clean water source
such as a pond or river. “An estimated 260 billion dollars is lost globally each year due to lack of
basic water and sanitation” (Water.org, 2019, p. 1). These adults may not be able to work
because of the time demands required to ensure their families have clean water. Children are also
sometimes asked to transport water. These children can be exposed to a high risk of sunstroke,
dehydration, water-borne diseases and more. When children return from collecting water, if they
have managed to contract a disease, they may transmit this disease to family members. Kids also
cannot attend any type of schooling if they are needed to provide for their family for half the day.
Children who are not being able to attend school continues to extend the cycle of poverty.
In developing nations, the lack of safe water accounts for 80 percent of deaths. Even
though water diseases affect a majority of underdeveloped countries, first-world nations also
struggle with this issue. In Canada, more than 100 water advisories are put in place on
Indigenous reserves. Education is needed to raise support about this issue, especially in
developed nations. The Water Crisis affects everyone, not just the people at risk.
Background
Nearing the end of the 18th century and into the beginning of the 19th century, the
London, England government after years of research regarding cholera illness, installed water
treatment plants; the number of cholera deaths decreased significantly. From there, they
questioned how clean water affects their citizens’ health. Decades of research turned up reasons
why people were dying of diseases such as typhoid and typhus: the solutions all lead back to
clean water. The Metropolitan Water Act of 1852 was then introduced. The act was designed to
protect British citizens after the government realized how clean water benefits health.
Pollution levels then started to rise during the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial
Revolution lead people to populate cities by moving away from farming communities. This
created a need for more jobs and promoted economic growth. Factories, increased infrastructure,
and mass production led to heavy levels of both air and water pollution. Modern industrial
production facilities carelessly pumped sewage, waste and toxic materials into local water
sources. This pollution issue only worsened throughout history in every part of the world.
In 1969, chemical waste released into Ohio’s Cuyahoga River caused it to burst into
flames (History.org, 2009, p. 1). In 1972, the United States passed the Clean Water Act to help
protect water sources and reduce pollution. Yet in 2006, the Environmental News Service (ENS)
reported that “more than 62 percent of industrial and municipal facilities across the country
discharged more pollution into U.S. waterways than their Clean Water Act permits allowed
between July 2003 and December 2004” (History.com, 2009, p. 1). While the pollution crisis
started more than 150 years ago, today it still contributes significantly to the lack of clean water.
The loss and demand of natural resources do not help with the struggle to find clean
water sources. Climate change is one of the main leading causes of lack of clean water. Paul
Dickinson, the CEO of the CDP Water Disclosure Project states, “Much of the impact of climate
change will be felt through changing patterns of water availability, with shrinking glaciers and
changing patterns of precipitation increasing the likelihood of drought and flood. If climate
change is the shark, then water is its teeth and it is an issue on which businesses need far greater
levels of awareness and understanding” (Dickinson, 2009, p. 1). Climate change strongly
disrupts the water cycle and precipitation. A frequent pattern currently combines lengthy dry
spells intertwined with heavy precipitation and possible flooding. The back-and-forth between
precipitation extremes is sometimes described as “drought and deluge” (Water Footprint, 2018,
p. 1). As the Earth warms, it affects the cycle because warmer air can hold more water. The rise
of warm days can lead to higher evaporation rates. When the atmosphere holds more water, the
chances of heavy rainstorms that can result in flooding increase significantly. Climate change is
widely expected to continue at a rapid pace, leading to more storm and flooding activity.
As the earth warms up and humans start caring less about the access to clean water
through dumping waste into water sources, this issue only gets worse. Saving the planet also
means saving lives. Individuals need to realize that the water crisis will soon start affecting them
directly due to factors beyond their control. This issue will continue to affect more and more
lives as steps are not taken.
There are varying factors as to how the water crisis has been worsening for centuries.
Pollution and climate change will continue to get worse, threatening millions of water sources
worldwide. Even though the past has been destructive to water sources, the present needs to start
implementing change if people want an optimistic future.
Expert
Maude Barlow
Maude Barlow is a Toronto-born activist and author. She is a highly accomplished
individual having received over twenty awards for her advocacy. Barlow is currently the
Honorary Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, an executive member of the Global Alliance
for the Rights of Nature and is also a councillor with the Hamburg-based World Future Council.
In 2008 and 2009, Barlow served as Senior Advisor on Water to the 63rd President of the United
Nations General Assembly. Barlow has received fourteen honorary doctorates, the 2005 Right
Livelihood Award (known as the “Alternative Nobel”), the 2005 Lannan Foundation Cultural
Freedom Fellowship Award, the Citation of Lifetime Achievement at the 2008 Canadian
Environment Awards, the 2009 Earth Day Canada Outstanding Environmental Achievement
Award, the 2009 Planet in Focus Eco Hero Award, and the 2011 EarthCare Award, the highest
international honour of the Sierra Club (US) (Canadians.org, n.d., p. 1). She has written eighteen
books and co-authored an additional twelve. She is one of the world’s most renowned advocates
and the most influential force to have water recognized as a basic human right globally. Barlow
fights to protect Canada’s freshwater sources, mainly the Great Lakes, from pollution,
privatization, and other harmful factors. She runs a Canada-wide initiative known as the Blue
Community Program to promote water issues throughout the country. Barlow’s contributions
have significantly influenced and improved the water crisis.
Matt Damon
Matt Damon, the co-founder of the non-profit organization, Water.org, is an actor,
screenwriter, producer, and humanitarian. Damon travelled with his parents to Mexico and
Guatemala as a child where he was exposed to different social and environmental issues. Damon
initially launched the H20 Africa Foundation after years of interest regarding the water crisis in
Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2009, he joined Gary White in partnership to created Water.org. Damon
received the Environmental Media Award from The Environmental Media Association in 2013
in recognition of his advocacy. He has been recognized as one the world’s most influential
people for the water crisis because of frequent visits to struggling countries, strategy
development, and charitable donations (Water.org, 2019, p. 1).
Damon is a firm believer in helping underdeveloped nations worldwide because of his
travels in his younger years to places like Mexico and Africa. Water.org provides access to clean
water in thirteen countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Asia, Bangladesh,
Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Honduras, and Peru. "You have a million people
dying a year, just completely needlessly, because they lack access to clean water," says Damon,
in an interview on March 22, 2018, with CNBC. Damon and his team specialize in travelling to
underdeveloped countries who suffer from the lack of safe water to install toilets and wells. "The
potential it robs people of, right?" says Damon. "If you are a little girl who now can't go to
school because you are in charge of water collection for your family, and you are spending your
entire day scavenging for water, what kind of outcome can you expect for your life? Certainly
you are not going to live up to your potential." (CNBC, 2018, p. 1). Women, mainly young girls,
are typically responsible for collecting water for their household every day in developing
countries. This conflicts with girls ability to get an education by attending school and can also
lead to sickness or physical problems. Damon is passionate about spending time in nations in
need and truly finding the route of the issue and remedy the situation.
Another major contribution from Water.org-the founders have done an excellent job
reaching individuals and educating the public. Education is the most important factor to solving
the water crisis. People who live in developed nations are not as aware of the issue in
undeveloped countries because of the lack of awareness. With non-profit organizations becoming
more and more prevalent in society, citizens are more aware of serious issues and can improve
the situation. Donations to these non-profit organizations also benefit society. Education is still
the most important factor in achieving clean water for all. Acknowledging the water crisis is the
first step to solving it.
I am not sure where you want an interview and what about. I put it a short few questions
with Matt Damon, but they way you worded it makes it sound like you want a local interview
from Barrie. Do you want one for Barlow or a longer one for Damon or something else? I am
just confused as to what you would want and how you would suggest to fit that in. I just want
you to tidy up this section editing wise. I was hopeful that contact would be made with a local
expert since clean water is such a timely issue in this region. You selected to explore Maude
Barlowe and Matt Damon and that’s what you need to finish editing.
Role of Control
Influential, developed countries have the most control over this issue. Brazil, Russia, the
United States, Canada, and China have the largest supplies of clean water on earth. This reality
gives these countries considerable influence over clean water matters. With this influence, these
countries have a moral obligation to help smaller, less-developed countries ensure their citizens
have safe, clean access to water. Many developing countries need assistance with resources and
funding to help address this problem. Education within these countries can help better the crisis.
If citizens in first-world nations are not aware of the severity of this issue, they cannot be
expected to improve it. The United Nations should be held responsible for pressuring countries
to voice this issue on a country-wide scale because it has been recognized as a global crisis by
their standards. The role of governments should be educating their citizens and making this issue
publicly known at all levels of politics. People cannot start to make a change if they are unaware
of the situation at hand. Governments can help by enforcing citizens to learn about the water
crisis through campaigns, advertisements or any other means.
Water companies can also help as they have a great deal of power and influence over
water resources. Water companies are privatizing water, making it extremely hard to access. One
problem with water privatization is that governments cannot step in and manage a vital system
because they do not have control over it. Corporations have an obligation to maximize profits
which can often conflict with the provision of clean, safe, and accessible resources. They do not
necessarily care about how the water is treated and there is a higher chance of contamination
when governments are not managing the water source. “For the typical household, privately-
owned utility service costs 59% more than a public water service-about $185 each year” (Food
and Water Watch, 2015, p. 1). Citizens have no choice, but to abide by the privatization
restrictions. Change from the people arises through their right to vote and the need for change. If
water becomes privatized, citizens have no voice because no politician can interfere with
privatization. Privatization also increases costs. Taxes can be raised by maintenance and
operation costs. Community water resources can also be managed through public partnerships.
Food and Water Watch says, “Intermunicipal cooperation, interlocal agreements, and bulk-
purchasing consortiums can improve public services and reduce costs while allowing
communities to retain local control” (2015, p. 1). There are no subsequent factors surrounding
privatization. Control of water needs to be in the hands of governments, not companies.
Governments are able to regulate the water as well as give their citizens the right to vote on what
happens to their water.
Citizens should care about this issue. The people who ignore the water crisis are at risk.
With factors like climate change, the world is at risk of droughts and water shortages more so
than ever in history. These impacts of climate change will continue to worsen. Problems that
arise from climate change impact food, energy, disease, and the economy. Individuals who
believe the water crisis will never affect them are wrong; even if it clean water continues to come
out of their tap, food will become more expensive as it is more difficult to grow and cultivate.
Hydroinfinty.com predicts that within the next few years and increase between 25-40 percent
will occur on fruits and vegetables such as avocados and lettuce in California because of
droughts. Droughts also affect energy because a lot of energy is now generated through
hydroelectric dams. When there is a lack of water, these dams work slower and less efficiently.
A majority of North America’s economy is generated through tourism especially in summer
months. Water shortages hurt activities such as boating, rafting or fishing can lead to a collapse
of a business within a few months.
The lack of clean, safe water will soon be affecting everyone’s life no matter how clean
the water is they drink. Factors such as food becoming more expensive within recent years to
come or the lack of control one has over their own water source due to privatization, should be
motivating to inspire change. Governments need to start pushing citizens to use eco-friendly,
water-saving methods in their everyday lives. If everyone showered for half as long or turned the
water off when they brushed their teeth, the water crisis can improve within a reasonable time
frame.
International Organizations
In December of 2016, the United Nations General Assembly decided to take action with a
global water management plan called the Water Action Decade. The timeframe of this project is
from 2018 to 2028. The plan emphasizes the importance of clean water and aspires to create a
clean water supply globally within ten years. “The new Decade will focus on the sustainable
development and integrated management of water resources for the achievement of social,
economic and environmental objectives and on the implementation and promotion of related
programmes and projects, as well as on the furtherance of cooperation and partnership” (United
Nations, 2018). The project commenced on March 22, 2018, as this day is also known as World
Water Day. The three focal points of the Water Action Decade are to advance sustainable
development, energize existing programmes and projects, and inspire action (United Nations,
n.d., p. 1). The United Nations also has another plan called the Sustainable Development Goals;
water falls under their sixth goal. Within this plan, there are six main targets to create a clean
water supply globally:
6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water
for all.
6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and
end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those
in vulnerable situations.
6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and
minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of
untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure
sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and
substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
6.5 By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including
through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests,
wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes. (United Nations, n.d., p. 1).
With these six objectives and its Water Action Decade, The United Nations is taking progressive
and bold steps forward to help better the earth’s future.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was created
after World War II in December of 1946 in New York. The original idea was to bring food and
healthcare to children in other countries that were devastated by World War II. Today, UNICEF
is currently working in 190 countries to improve children’s lives all across the globe (UNICEF,
2019). One of their biggest campaigns is called WASH, which is the collective term for Water,
Sanitation, and Hygiene. “UNICEF’s WASH programme supports governments to prepare for
and adapt to climate change and using innovative solutions, such as solar power water pumps
and rainwater harvesting” (UNICEF, 2016, p. 1). UNICEF is moving forward preparing to adapt
to the negative effects of climate change. Climate change impacts the water cycle greatly. Too
much water, polluted water, and too little water are all results of climate change. Flooding is a
direct result of climate change: over 530 million children live in high-flood zones (see Appendix
A). When a region floods, the water contaminates other water sources. In many developing
countries, there is often a lack of technology, money, and support to clean water sources that
have been contaminated, and there may not be enough clean water for citizens to survive.
UNICEF’s rainwater harvesting consists of increasing the storage of rainwater for when floods
happen. Polluted water can arise from factories dumping waste into water sources such as
streams, rivers, lakes, or oceans. Laziness or convenience is usually why dumping happens.
Companies and corporations do not care enough to properly dispose of waste-if there is a river
outside their factory, why not dump thousands of toxic material into it? Droughts are becoming
more frequent as a result of climate change (see Appendix B). California is suffering from severe
droughts that have caused sickness and death. Food scarcity can happen when a nation is
subjected to severe droughting. Climate change will only continue to worsen over the next few
decades. Water will become a harder resource to come by because of the prevalence of global
warming.
Another strategy UNICEF is working on is sending workers at a low cost to drill holes
and wells in developing countries to make it easier to transport clean water. They also focus on
integrating more sanitary toilets into poor countries because better-constructed toilets decrease
the risk of water contamination. UNICEF is one of the biggest NGOs helping conquer the water
crisis today.
The UN should be doing more to accomplish safe water for all. With Global Goal Six,
they should be educating governments to raise more awareness among citizens. The UN is in
charge of the planet with every major decision regarding humanity in their hands. They need to
start pushing the awareness of the water crisis in order to create a passion for change. Change
arises from the people who believe they are supporting a cause that is morally correct. UNICEF
should continue to strive for clean water for all with technological advances and other solutions
regarding climate change. Sending help into countries who are in dire need of aid should be
continued as the support grows stronger. Together, organizations can continue to save millions of
lives around the world with the help of individuals.
Case Studies
Flint, Michigan
The tragedy of the Flint Water Crisis started in 2014. Michigan is a midwestern state in
the United States of America. The state contains more than eleven thousand inland lakes across
upper and lower peninsulas. As of 2016, the population of Flint was 98,918 residents with 41.9
percent of the residents below the poverty line (Data USA, n.d., p. 1). The Flint River is a 78.3-
mile-long river that runs along the entire county of Genesee running into downtown Flint. The
Flint River has been an unofficial waste dumpsite for factories such as car plants, meatpacking
plants, and lumber and paper mills for decades. The river has also received waste from sewage
plants including many different toxins. The NRDC claims that the Flint River has caught fire
twice not surprisingly. 45 percent of Flint’s population is below the poverty line and the majority
of their population is African-American. In 2011, the city fell under state control because the
government had a twenty-five million dollar deficit. They had to cut costs wherever possible,
which resulted in temporarily pumping water from the Flint River and cutting the pipeline from
Lake Huron. The officials never treated the river water, causing it to leak into the water supply of
thousands of homes.
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has set the maximum contaminant level goal
for lead in drinking water at zero because lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human
health even at low exposure levels (CDC, 2019, p. 1). Lead can be harmful to the human body
through any form of contamination, whether that be through skin contact or ingestion. Water
samples collected from 252 homes indicated citywide lead levels had spiked, with nearly
seventeen percent of samples registering above the federal level of fifteen parts per billion (ppb),
the level at which action must be taken. More than 40 percent measured above 5 ppb of lead,
which the researchers considered an indication of a very serious problem (NRDC, 2018, p. 1).
The children of Flint were most affected by the high levels of lead. The Centers for Diseases
Control and Prevention stated in 2012 that there is no safe blood lead level for children; exposure
in any form can be harmful, permanent and irreversible. Lead contamination in children can
lower IQ, reduce the ability to pay attention and negatively affect academic achievement.
Children have weaker immune systems than adults and are more prone to sickness such as
pneumonia when their blood lead levels are more than zero. Adults are also severely affected by
lead. Belly pain, constipation, a decline in thinking, and high blood pressure can all result after
exposure. Reproductive problems can also arise. Low and abnormal sperm can appear in men,
while women can pass down lead to their child during birth. However, lead was not the only
issue with the water. Legionnaires’ disease, a severe case of pneumonia, caused the death of
twelve and sickened at least 87 people in Flint between June 2014 and October 2015 (NRDC,
2018, p. 1). Chlorine levels dropped and fecal coliform bacteria was found in the water. Officials
tried to stop the bacteria from spreading by dumping high amounts of chlorine into the water.
Ironically, this caused an extremely high level of chlorine contaminating the river and resulting
in elevated levels of total trihalomethanes, which can cause cancer.
In 2015, the people of Flint launched a petition showing high levels of lead and disease
rates in children. The NRDC also signed this petition and helped the people of Flint grab the
attention of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct an immediate emergency
federal response to the catastrophe. In 2016, the city and state officials were sued and forced to
test and treat the water for lead and replace all of the city’s pipelines. In March 2017, door-to-
door water bottle services were invented for homes that did not have proper water treatment. The
Governor of Michigan announced in April 2018 that the city would stop providing water bottle
services because the water was now clean. There is a severe improvement and from July 2016 to
June 2018 the levels of lead remained below the federal action level. Even though the water has
been below the federal action level for months, the EPA’s policy states that absolutely no level
of lead is good for humans and the concern remains.
The Flint Water Crisis of 2014 reflects the importance of having clean drinking water.
Washing hands, brushing teeth, cooking and cleaning are all physical tasks that are severely
affected by lack of clean water. Other issues that can arise include high blood-lead levels, other
diseases such as pneumonia or Legionnaires’ disease, weaker immune system and overall
increase of health problems can be a direct result of ingesting dirty water. Creating access to
clean water in developed countries can benefit the entire world. When fortunate people are aware
of the dangers and horrifying problems that dirty water can generate, it educates them and
inspires them to create positive change.
India
India is the second most populated country in the world after China, with over one billion
citizens. India’s land size is about one-third of the size of the United States, but it has more than
three times the population. India is subject to severe overpopulation where the county cannot
provide enough resources, land, living quality and medicine to its citizens. More than 52 percent
of both rural and urban dwellers live in poverty in India (The Water Project, 2019, p. 1). The
rural areas are more impoverished than urban communities. Rural areas are typically disregarded
when solving problems like lack of clean water and sanitation because the poor are regarded as
less in need than others. The middle to upper-class issues are highlighted in their society more so
than the less privileged. It is estimated that 21 percent of contagious diseases in India are linked
to unsafe water and lack of hygiene. More than 500 children under the age of five die each day
from diarrhea in India (Water.org, 2019, p. 1). Water.org also states that 522 million citizens,
roughly half of India’s total population, practice open defecation. With so many citizens
defecating in the open, this makes others more susceptible to diseases because they become
airborne and frequent contamination occurs. Washing hands with soap can reduce diarrhoeal
diseases by over 40 percent and reduce respiratory infections by 30 percent which are the
number one causes of child death in India (UNICEF, n.d., p. 1). Children who are weakened by
these diseases are more vulnerable to malnutrition, other illnesses, and infections. 48 percent of
children in India are suffering from some degree of malnutrition (UNICEF, n.d., p. 1). This
affects their schooling - these diseases reduce focus and impact learning abilities, and some
children cannot attend at all.

In 1971, the government of India started to improve rural water supply and in the 1980s,
the lack of water was declared a national priority. By 2011, 95 percent of India’s rural residents
had access to some form of clean water through wells or pumps (The World Bank, 2016, p. 1).
However, many systems are no longer functional because of the lack of maintenance and
ownership. Citizens have to look after their own water facilities that were originally provided by
the government. The government demanded that this happen to keep the costs low. With India’s
population growing rapidly, this meant the demand for clean water grew while water sources
were shrinking and drying up. Many people had to walk extremely long distances to get to a
water source. This made the men late for work, the children would usually miss school, and
everyone in the family could get sick more easily or have body fatigue. “27 families depended on
just one public tap for water. And in summer, this was available only at night” states resident of
the Palakkad district in Kerala, Ambika Vijaykumar (The World Bank, 2016, p. 1). Most people
in India if they are fortunate enough to have access to clean water have to walk multiple
kilometers a day to access and obtain water from a clean source. Pregnant women have to walk
kilometers while their husbands are working all day. This can result in sickness, fatigue,
dehydration and even in severe cases, developmental problems with the children. Many stomach
related ailments can arise. Cholera, diarrhea, and malaria are the most common diseases in India
from drinking unsafe water. Of these diseases, cholera is the most dangerous because it causes
severe watery diarrhea that can lead to extreme dehydration and even death within a couple of
hours. Vibrio cholerae is a bacteria that can be ingested through food or water that is
contaminated. Diarrhea is an infection also spread through food and water. An attack can last up
to two weeks and can cause severe dehydration. Malaria is a fever that is spread through the
plasmodium parasite mosquito that breeds in waters such as lakes, paddy fish and stagnant water
(Singh Chabba, 2013, p. 1). This disease can easily kill a child that is not immune to the fever.
High concentrations of fluoride, iron, salinity, and arsenic are prominent in over 600 of India’s
districts (Singh Chabba, 2013, p. 1). Roughly 70 million people in India are suffering from high
amounts of fluoride and arsenic in their bloodstream. The water in India is rated very poorly on a
global scale, as the UN has ranked India 120th out of 122 countries in terms of the quality of
water available to residents.
The lack of sanitation and clean, safe water in India has been an issue for decades.
Recently the government has made strides to improve the situation, but these benefits tended to
be directed to the urban middle class at the expense of rural Indians living in poverty. Families
fortunate enough to have a water pump can access three hours of water a day. However, this is
the case for very few families. The rural residents of India still struggle with walking extremely
long distances to retrieve only a few buckets of water. Citizens are also contracting severe
diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and malariawhich are the leading causes of death among
children in India (UNICEF, n.d., p. 1). These diseases are extremely contagious, can result in
long term health problems or fatalities. The India water crisis must be solved in the next few
decades as innocent people die every day under a violation of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
Sub-Saharan Africa
46 out of Africa’s 54 countries are considered sub-Saharan which means they are located
south of the Sahara. Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, and Tunisia are
the eight African countries that are not sub-Saharan. The other 46 countries struggle from water
stress more than any other region in the world. Water stress is defined as the state where the
demand for water exceeds the available amount because of uncertainty of cleanliness or natural
conditions such as drought or flooding. This causes dry rivers, overexploitation of water and
most importantly, water scarcity. Corruption in government, mismanagement of resources, poor-
long term investment, and more importantly insufficient infrastructure worsen Africa’s issue.
Water improvements, particularly in infrastructure, need to be incorporated economically to end
severe problems caused by water stress. Sanitation facilities are often old and poorly maintained
including dams that are not sufficiently robust. “Currently, access to safe water in sub-Saharan
Africa is worse than any other area on the continent, with only 22 percent to 34 percent of
populations in at least eight sub-Saharan countries having access to safe water.”, states a UN
Environment Program (UNEP) official (Tatlock, 2006, p. 1). The UNEP projects that by 2025,
twenty-five African countries are expected to suffer from increased water stress and scarcity.
More than two-thirds of Africa’s population leave their homes every day to fetch water.
The amount of time spent obtaining water affects household income and child-care. Time
walking to a water source puts a strain on a child’s growth and development for any child under
the age of five. Children can also not attend school if they are fetching water. Education is
severely at risk when a new generation of children are not attending school regularly. Girls are
typically the household member who collects the water daily. Girls will be more uneducated than
boys in adulthood because of their role of obtaining water for their families. Girls in developing
countries tend to marry and have children who then cannot work and support because of their
lack of education. This continues the poverty cycle. The cycle of uneducated citizens will never
benefit a developing country. Children are also more susceptible to disease and illness when they
are acquiring water all day. Little research is known about the benefits of reducing the time it
takes to obtain water. However, a study done through National Center for Biotechnology
Information resulted in a decrease of fifteen minutes in one-way walk time to water source
reduced the chance of diarrhea in children by 41 percent, improved children’s health, and led to
an eleven percent reduction in child mortality rates in children under five (Pickering and Davis,
2012). These results suggest that reducing the time spent collecting water should be the main
priority. Finding solutions to water retrieval is the most useful method of improving children’s
health while keeping them educated. Experts from the Council on Foreign Relations suggest that
improving water facilities will economically project Africa forward (Tatlock, 2006, p. 1).
Statistics clearly show that the innocent deaths of children and the poverty cycle in sub-Saharan
Africa will continue because of the time spent acquiring water. Instead of increasing and
rebuilding poor infrastructure that multiple organizations have suggested, the new target should
be to remedy the detrimental problem of water retrieval.
Cape Town, located in South Africa, is the richest country in the sub-Saharan region.
Cape Town is home to 3.81 million residents as of 2018 and is approximately 400 square
kilometers in area (World Population Review, 2019, p. 1). It is one of the most multicultural
cities in the world and is a major immigrant and tourist destination. At the end of 2017, Cape
Town faced a serious water shortage. Significant numbers of agricultural jobs have been lost due
to the lack of water. Crops and agriculture are facing a major impact during the drought. An
attempt to stop the city from running dry lead to city-wide rationing of water. Residents were
allowed 50 litres per person per day and if households exceeded their limit, their water supply
was cut off and they could even face hefty fines (Mahr, 2018, p. 1). Citizens are reflecting on
how this planned response can turn into a grim reality due to climate change. Water scarcity
induced the city to explore other options to cope with this growing crisis. Cape Town is still
searching for long-term solutions to future shortages. The rations were finally relaxed on January
16, 2019, after they had been extended several times through 2018 (Mahr, 2018, pg. 1). This
situation should be a warning for the rest of the world that climate change is a real problem and
if people do not do something to cut back on water consumption, fresh water shortages will
likely become more frequent in the future.
Africa is an underdeveloped country that is subjected to a plethora of different issues.
Implementing solutions such as water sources closer to the home and combating climate change
can help improve the countries crisis. New technology and infrastructure can be donated and/or
built by charities or organizations to improve the care of water. Sanitation can also be remedied
with new water plants and facilities that need to be incorporated into communities in Africa.
With the help of other nations, Africa can strive for clean and safe water for all.
Canadian Connections
Canada has the fourth most freshwater in the world. It holds twenty percent of the
world’s freshwater and supplies drinking water for eight million people (WorldAtlas, 2018, p. 1).
The fundamental right to water is something most Canadians have, but in First Nations
communities, it is rare to find clean water. There are more than 100 water advisories across the
First Nations communities in Canada. Many Indigenous people in Canada can not brush their
teeth without catching flu-like symptoms, cannot have a bath without obtaining a rash, or even
cook with the slightest amount of water. They have to boil their water every single day, and even
then, the water might not be safe. 40 communities in Northern Ontario alone have been
struggling with water advisories for a decade or longer (EcoJustice, 2018, p. 1).
Shoal Lake 40 is a community on the Ontario/Manitoba border that has had a water
advisory since 1997. Shoal Lake does not have a water treatment plant. As a result, citizens
spend approximately 100,000 dollars on bottled water annually. An aqueduct that was built a
century ago to carry water into Winnipeg, cut off Shoal Lake’s access to the mainland. Shoal
Lake is completely surrounded by water so access to the mainland is limited. Many people have
died in the winter by falling through the ice when attempting to commute to the mainland.
Freedom Road, a connection from the Trans-Canada Highway to Shoal Lake is being built to
make the island accessible from the mainland. With Freedom Road being constructed, Shoal
Lake citizens are hoping water situations will improve within the next few years. The number of
individuals lost from hypothermia from falling into the lake will decrease after Freedom Road is
completed. The reduce in bottle water needs will be beneficial to citizens, households will have
more money to spend on their own government to keep Freedom Road and any other water
facilities implemented in good shape. Shoal Lake is a reality many Indigenous Canadians have to
face.
The federal Canadian government is attempting to remedy the crisis by funding their
request for a road into the mainland. Canada has recognized the right to clean water on an
international stage, but the Charter of Rights and Freedoms still does not recognize it as a basic
human right. “The quality of a person’s environment should not be determined by their skin
colour, ancestry, or how much money they make” (Mitchell, 2018, p. 1). The lack of clean water
in Indigenous communities promotes prejudice. The reconciliation between the First Nations
people and non-Indigenous people in Canada started in 2008 when the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission of Canada was introduced. The reconciliation was created to educate non-
Indigenous people about the history of Indigenous people in Canada and start to form respectful
relationships between the two governments. Canada needs to reform its laws in order to end the
crisis of clean water in Indigenous communities. How can Canada start forming respectful
relationships with First Nations people when they deny them a basic human right? If Canadians
are selfish and ignorant progressing forward, clean water will soon be a priority that only some
will obtain. The privileged in Canada take for granted the access to clean water while almost all
the First Nations communities countrywide have been on water advisories at least once.
Another horrifying incident in Canada’s history is the Walkerton Tragedy of 2000.
Walkerton is a small, rural town in North-Western Ontario with a population of fewer than 5,000
people. In 2000, Walkerton suffered the worst E.coli outbreak in Canadian history where 2,300
fell ill and seven died (CBC, 2010, p. 1). Citizens had to rely on bottled water for more than six
months and six months after the water had been deemed rid of E.coli, Walkerton remained under
a boiled water advisory. On May 12, 2000, a heavy rainstorm hit Walkerton and flushed cattle
waste into the town well flooding it with E.coli. On May 17, the Walkerton Public Utilities
Commission (PCU) did not notify public-health officials of signs of sickness; they declared the
water was clean and the cause of illness must be something else. After two weeks of many
residents falling ill, a medical officer issued a water test on May 21 revealing two days later that
there was E.coli contamination. Between May 17 and 21, over 40 patients reported bloody
diarrhea to the hospital and doctors. By May 25, five people had died and over a hundred were
sick (Peel Region, 2001, p. 1). A regional health officer notified the public that the PUC knew
there was a problem before the public was alerted that there was an issue with the water. This
sparked a criminal investigation against the PUC. The CEO of a water testing company said a
few days later that he had records of a sample that was taken in January that revealed evidence of
coliform bacteria. Five days after five residents of Walkerton had passed, the sixth victim fell: an
elderly patient who was being taken care of at a local hospital. One day after, a 56-year-old
woman died bringing the final death count to seven. In February of the following year,
Walkerton residents received 2,000 dollars and households that fell seriously ill or had family
members died received even more in a compensation deal with the Ontario government. A report
by the government released that the economic impact of the Walkerton disaster will cost 155
million dollars. This included spending of bottled water, disinfection equipment including the
cost to fix the water, and lost business revenues (CBC, 2010, p. 1). In a press conference in 2002,
it was released that this disaster could have been prevented if the PUC had properly managed
chlorine levels and the government had not cut funding. The CEO’s of the PUC were each
charged with public nuisance, uttering a forgery and breach of public duty. They pleaded guilty
and one served a one-year jail sentence and the other a nine-month house arrest.
Ontario is at risk of water contamination with Doug Ford in power. Ford proposed cuts in
every industry such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. These cuts have the potential to
become detrimental to the access to clean drinking water. As funding is cut toward almost
everything in Ontario, water facilities are at high risk. Minimal investment in water facilities can
lead to poorly managed infrastructure. Privatization also becomes more of a threat. Conservative
ideologies promote privatization and discourage government control. A company’s main goal is
to make money; they do not care about pleasing the people. With Ford in power for four years,
Ontario could be subjected to water-related disasters.
The Walkerton tragedy showcases the fact that clean water is a problem for non-
Indigenous Canadians as well. The Walkerton tragedy should open more Canadians eyes to the
reality of unsafe water. Small changes can occur that kill dozens of people. Doug Ford can also
be silenced by public protests. The Conservative government can be held off for four years if
civilians continue to protest rights and freedoms. Canadians need to step up to get clean water
recognized as a right on the Canadian Charter. Most citizens in Canada do not have a voice on
the clean water crisis because they believe they will never have to worry about having unsafe
water. The issue of contamination is more prevalent than ever before with climate change
continuing to threaten clean water sources. Citizens need to start having a voice in the issue of
clean water.
Logic of Evil
The line between good and evil is unclear, many people tend to believe they are on the
pure side and evil is always the opposing force. Philip Zimbardo, an American psychologist,
demonstrates the line between good and evil can fluctuate: good people can easily fall evil, and
evil can be redeemed. Zimbardo defines evil as exercising the power to intentionally harm
someone psychologically, abuse them physically, and destroy or commit crimes against
humanity (TED, 2014, p. 1). The Lucifer Effect is Zimbardo’s response to his famous Stanford
Prison Experiment. The Lucifer Effect consists of a process that explains how ordinary people
can become evil and how they can commit unspeakable acts. There are seven processes one must
go through in order to become ‘evil’: mindlessly taking the first small step, dehumanizing others,
de-individualize self (anonymity), diffusion of personal responsibility, blind obedience of
authority, uncritical conformity to group norms, passive tolerance of evil through indifference.
Zimbardo has created this formula that any single person can follow, no matter who they are.
The Logic of Evil can be a path individuals, companies, governments or others follow.
Becoming evil does not necessarily mean becoming an unkind person, but it means that your
actions are morally incorrect. Evil is a reality everywhere in the world today. Water restriction or
privatization is considered an evil act because these people are stripping individuals from a
human right. Nestle, one of the world’s biggest corporations, has been accused of child labour,
pollution and mislabeling. The pollution of water is another evil action performed by people,
companies, or factories. Damaging clean water out of laziness and convenience should be a
crime. The passiveness of not helping to achieve clean water for all is also evil. Being a
bystander to a serious reality is just as harmful as enforcing atrocity.
Nestle is a multinational food and beverage corporation that controls a lot of different
brands including Maybelline, Ralph Lauren, and KitKat. This giant company is seen in grocery
stores, convenience stores and almost anywhere in the world. According to ZME Science, Nestle
has 447 factories across 194 countries that employ around 333,000 people. Even though Nestle is
the world’s biggest producer of water, it does not have a positive reputation. Nestle’s
exploitation of Canada groundwater is a prevalent issue today. Every year, Nestle continues to
pump millions of litres of water from rural Southern Ontario and British Columbia. These parts
of Canada have faced severe droughts in recent years and Nestle has not reduced extraction.
Groundwater in Canada is not a rare occurrence; because they are so rich with groundwater, the
government does not have a lot of restrictions and regulations making a big corporation like
Nestle to take as much water as they please. Nestle has extracted clean water from British
Columbia for years, specifically in Hope, a small commuter town near the Fraser Canyon. A big
problem for the citizens of Hope arises when, “drought hits and the residents of Hope are forced
to restrict water use, while Nestle is allowed to continue the same pace of production”
(Subramaniam, 2016, p. 1). Only in 2016, did the B.C. provincial government required Nestle to
start paying to extract water. Companies now pay two dollars and twenty-five cents per million
litres which the people of Hope deemed too low whereas other provinces like Ontario pay fifteen
dollars per million litres. The B.C. government does not want to price the water higher because
the question of who owns the water arises. They also claim that Nestle is not affected by the
small fee of water, and instead the pricing will hurt smaller companies more. Clean groundwater
is also up for bids in B.C., making it easier for Nestle to extract as much water as they please.
This is not the only incident where Nestle’s greed has exploited people regarding water. Another
incident that took place in the 90s happened in Africa. Nestle produced an advertisement for
baby formula claiming it was better for a baby than any other food or drink to exist. The formula
had to be mixed with water, but since most of the people the ad was targeting were in Africa, the
lack of clean water was an issue. Many mothers were not aware of this, so they mixed the
formula with the dirty water. This resulted in hundreds of children’s lives at risk. Most mothers
disregarded breastfeeding because this formula was advertised as ‘magic’. “UNICEF estimates
that a formula-fed child living in disease-ridden and unhygienic conditions is between six and 25
times more likely to die of diarrhea and four times more likely to die of pneumonia than a
breastfed child” (Andrei, 2017, p. 1). Even if the formula was boiled and served correctly, it
lacked nutrients and vitamins that breast milk provides. It has been reported by the International
Baby Food Action Network, Nestle also took their formula into maternity wards at hospitals
claiming the mothers needed it. Nestle denies these claims. The crimes that Nestle has committed
worldwide portray the evil action that an individual is capable of committing. The UN and other
influences need to stop Nestle from being destructive and harmful.
The lack of access to clean water has been an issue humanity has faced since the
Industrial Revolution (refer to section, Background). Countries, governments, and people should
be doing more to officially end the lack of clean water. Different countries have varying factors
that influence their access to clean water. First world countries, such as Russia, the United States,
and Brazil, have high access to clean water as they possess the most amount of freshwater
(Misachi, 2018, p. 1). These countries usually turn a blind eye to the issue the rest of the world
faces regarding clean water as they do not have to worry about it on a first hand account. First
world countries are lucky to rarely worry about dirty water coming out of their sinks. They
usually do not attend to this pressing issue because it is not prevalent in their society. They have
other problems within their lives to worry about instead of thinking about other nations in need.
These countries need to raise awareness, supplies, and money for developing countries who are
not fortunate enough to have clean water. Bigger countries who have influence need to
encourage their citizens to volunteer, raise money and/or awareness, or even promote shorter
showers. There is not enough pressure put on nations by the UN about this pressing issue.
Governments also need to start taking a stand. Different governments and parties support
different ideas and policies, but it is not a question that every government and party should
support clean water for all. Right-wing politicians might not support access to clean water for all,
but they should. They need to realize that the biggest issue in the world today is the need for
clean water. The lack of support for this issue raises the question of morality in politicians.
Government control of water instead of privatization would also improve the water crisis.
Governments are also responsible for their own equipment and water regulation. Poor
management of water can lead to contamination that even wealthy, progressive countries are
susceptible to. Governments also need to start pressuring their citizens to take this issue into
account. Most people in developed countries have clean water. Brushing teeth with tap water is
second nature to most citizens of a first-world country. They believe the issue is not the threat to
them, therefore making it irrelevant. However, the world has seen in places like Flint, Michigan
and Walkerton, Ontario, fall victim to unsafe water. Even though the issue might not be nearly as
ordinary in developed nations that it is in developing nations, individuals should take into
account how important this issue is. Millions of people die per year because of inaction. Turning
off the tap when brushing teeth and taking shorter showers are two simple ways anyone can help
the water crisis.

Politics
The role of politics in the international crisis of clean water is vital. The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights is in violation when humans do not have access to clean water. The
control and privatization of water also impact access to clean water. The issues that the
Indigenous people face daily could be resolved if the Canadian government stepped in and took
control of the crisis. Politics play a huge role in achieving clean water globally because the
government ultimately decides what happens with water resources. Depending on government
views, the right to water can change every few years when someone new is elected at the
municipal, provincial, or federal level. Justin Trudeau promised in his campaign to eliminate
water issues in First Nations communities by 2021 (Canadians.org, 2019, p. 1). Very little
improvement has been seen throughout his parliamentary years. A Conservative government in
Canada could reverse the little progress Trudeau had achieved because of a conflict of priorities.
A Green/NDP government could provoke a faster and more progressive change in Canada if they
had a majority government. The same situation could arise in other countries besides Canada.
The privatization of water is a negative influence on obtaining access to clean water.
Privatization means little to no government control and no public input on what happens with the
water. Companies and shareholders are the most influential people when water is privatized.
Companies want to please the shareholders by making money so the shareholders keep investing
in them. Even though the shareholders control the company, the public has to endure the effects
of the company and have no say over what happens to the water. Public voting is a way the
consumer can be in charge of what they want to be done with the water. A company can have the
rights to distribute water for years, instead of the government official changing with every term.
The public will never have to say over what happens with the water. Residents can also visit
elected officials and speak or write to them directly hoping for change when water is
government-run. Restriction of information can also arise with private companies. Since they are
controlling the water, they can illegally restrict public access to knowledge and information,
whereas the public sector is typically more open. Privatization can cost up to 59 percent more
than a public water service (Food and Water Watch, 2015, p. 1). Sewer and water bills can also
increase significantly. A survey conducted by Food and Water Watch.org, experts examined
eleven years of private control compared to public control. The results were shocking,
“[R]esidential water rates had nearly tripled on average, increasing a typical household’s annual
bill by more than $300” (Food and Water Watch, 2015, p. 1). Sewer rates increased by seven
percent in West Virginia and 154 percent in Texas found in another study conducted by Food
and Water Watch.org. High operating costs and service problems can also arise. Quality of water
can worsen easily if companies want to cut costs by using poorly constructed materials, delay
needed maintenance, or downsize their workforce which hurts customer service. Water
controlled by the government involves the citizens in a positive way through voting as well as
lessens the chance at poor water quality and maintains a reasonable cost.
Article seven of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “All are equal before
the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled
to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any
incitement to such discrimination” (United Nations, 1948, p. 2). The First Nations issues in
Canada violate this article. The Aboriginal people are subjected to discrimination when left
without access to clean water. If the government of the First Nations communities cannot step in
and help out their citizens, it should be Canadians’ jobs to step in and help struggling individuals.
The Indigenous people are protected under the UDHR even if they have their own government
and do not abide by the Canadian government. In 1985, the Canadian government passed Bill C-
31, a replacement of the Indian Act that was outdated and restricted the rights of Indigenous
people. Bill C-31 addressed gender discrimination the Indian Act created, to restore Aboriginal
status, and give them more rights and opportunities to self-govern (Indigenous Foundations,
2009, p. 1). Indigenous communities have the right to a “self-government”: as they do have
control over their land, people and resources, they still have to make agreements with the
provincial and federal governments. This means the Canadian federal government is in charge of
First Nations affairs. The Canadian government has not protected Indigenous communities
throughout this struggle. Many communities do not have enough money to maintain proper water
systems. If the Canadian government could build and fund these water systems, Indigenous
people could see a decrease in sickness related to water and fewer boil advisories throughout the
nation.
The role of politics, governments, and companies all influence the water crisis heavily.
Politics come into play when the rights and freedoms of people are being violated under the
terms of the UDHR. Discrimination of the Indigenous people in Canada causes innocent deaths
every year. The privatization of water has many negative factors. The voice of people being
completely disregarded, water is being not respected to the extent recognized on a national stage,
the expenses and the loss of lives are not comparable for companies to make thousands of
dollars. Governments and organizations such as the UN need to increase their continued
awareness and support of achieving clean water for all. With the help of these governments,
global access to clean water is achievable.
Solutions
Solutions for stopping the water crisis are not that far out of reach. There are reasonable
solutions that even one individual can do to help the water crisis. Solving the water crisis is one
step humanity can take towards having a better world. Solutions arrive when people are willing
to make a change for the better. Educating the population can provoke change in lifestyle habits,
whereas developed governments and countries can finance third-world countries. Education is a
good starting point in tackling the lack of access to safe water. People become motivated when
shown the truths and facts of an issue. Consumption is a major factor in how an individual can
help improve the water crisis. Changing eating habits can reduce the problem, 1kg of potatoes
requires only 100 litres of water, whereas 1 kg of beef requires 13 000 litres (World Water
Council, n.d., pg. 1). Reducing animal products can make a big change. In a study done through
IOPscience, researchers found that cutting back on animal products results in a significantly
lower amount of water resources used which offers the potential to feed 1.8 billion people
(Jalava et al., 2014, p. 1). Consumption plays a large role in obtaining clean water, but there are
many other factors that contribute to the solution of achieving safe water for all.
Agricultural and environmental factors also play a major role in reducing the
consumption of water. Studies reveal that agriculture uses the most water, accounting for about
90% of total fresh water consumption globally (Jalava et al., 2014, p. 1). With more water being
needed every day to produce food, solid resources are becoming more scarce. Recycling is
another way of improving access to clean water globally. Pollution levels are decreased when
recycling is prominent. Recycling also means less plastic products are being manufactured which
results in less air pollution that can seep into water sources. The use of recovered material also
prevents waste. Rain barrels are also an easy way to help save water. A rain barrel is a system
that collects rainwater from a roof of eavestrough that would usually pollute rivers or streams
with acid rain. The barrel stores water for when a person will need it most. Perhaps during times
of drought to boil or to water crops in the summer. Lawn and garden watering make up nearly
40%-50% of water use during spring and summer months (Everything Connects, 2013, p. 1). If
rain barrels can reduce water consumption during certain seasons up to 50 percent, every person
should install a rain barrel to help conquer the water crisis. Properly recycling e-waste can help
dramatically. Lead and mercury, toxic chemicals that are found within e-waste, pollute the earth
heavily when not disposed of correctly. These toxins can seep into the water supply making the
water unsafe for consumption. Battery disposals are the correct way to safely throw away. These
environmental factors play a big role in achieving safe water for all.
Technology also plays a major factor in achieving this goal. With the help of technology,
humankind can benefit greatly. In the past and present, mistakes have been and continue to be
made regarding wasting water. Technology can help by reducing past mistakes that have harmed
mankind. Water-saving toilets are being manufactured that uses three to seven times less water
than a regular toilet. 4.8 billion gallons of water are wasted by the flushing of toilets per day in
the United States alone (Hydrofinity, 2018, p. 1). Dual-flush toilets have been implemented
within recent years, one flush cycle for liquid waste and one for solid. This helps reduce the
unnecessary gallons of water being flushed every day. Water-saving faucets are another solution
to the crisis. 700 gallons of water can be saved per year with WaterSense faucets which is the
equivalent of 40 showers (Hydrofinity, 2018, p. 1). Low-flow showers use only two gallons of
water per minute which can save 2,700 gallons of water a household per year (EPA, 2018, p. 1).
Leaks account from trillions of water displaced every year in the U.S. alone. Water sensors
detect leaks and lost water. Some sensors immediately shut off the water system in the home,
whereas other detection devices constantly track the water system for cracks and leaks. Global
Goal 6, proposed by the UN, was designed to deliver water and toilets to everyone by 2030. At
the pace the world is going, the goal will not be reached until 2066 (Wainwright, 2018, p. 1).
New technologies are invented every day within society to help overcome the water crisis.
Citizens need to start investing their time and money into achieving global access to clean water.
These solutions must be put in place in order to put an end to the water crisis forever.
With numerous solutions presented, there is no explanation for the lack of clean water among
humanity. Education is the solution. Information about this crisis provides hope for humanity
along with the technology that will improve the issue.

Conclusion
Global access to clean water is an achievable goal. The lack of safe water is a direct
violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Stripping humans of their right to live
through depriving them of water is inhumane. Through governmental support, raising awareness
and systemic political change, overcoming the water crisis will be accomplished. Technology
can combat factors that negatively impact the crisis such as climate change with rain barrels. If
one family was to become vegetarian, emissions that animal products produce can significantly
reduce the worsening effects of climate change. Developing countries struggle immensely
regarding the lack of access to clean water. These countries require assistance from developed
nations as they do not have the materials or money to cease the issue themselves. First-world
countries ignore the issues as it does not affect them. Ignorant citizens can also be subjected to
this crisis through several factors such as random contamination or pipe malfunction. The
education of citizens worldwide is the key to combating the water crisis. Education through
awareness is the most powerful method one can use to inspire forward thinking. Change arises
when information is presented that creates a passion within individuals. This passion can
transform into action. Information is the most powerful weapon as humans desire answers.
Prejudice, injustictice, and discrimination can be halted if education is prevalent. Achieving
clean water worldwide can allow millions of people to have a basic necessity one cannot live
without as well as restoring a human right.
Humanity as a whole must take a stand on behalf of the suffering to end the water crisis forever.
Appendix
Appendix A:
Appendix B:
Bibliography
Andrei, M. (2017, May 19). Why Nestle is one of the most hated companies in the world.
Retrieved May 8, 2019, from https://www.zmescience.com/science/nestle-company-
pollution-children/
A Case in Point Walkerton’s Tragedy - Water Contamination. (2001, October 29).

Retrieved March 28, 2019, from https://www.peelregion.ca/pw/waterstory/pdf/walkerton-
tragedy.pdf
Barrera, J. (2018, January 30). Next phase of Shoal Lake 40's 'Freedom Road'
construction set to begin, CBC News. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/shoal-lake-manitoba-freedom-road-construction-
1.4510786
Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water. (2019, March 28). Retrieved March 28,
2019, from https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-
about-lead-drinking-water#health
Bill C-31. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2019, from

https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/bill_c-31/
Borgen, C. (2018, January 13). The Water Crisis and the Top 10 Clean Water Solutions.
Retrieved May 8, 2019, from https://borgenproject.org/top-10-clean-water-solutions/
Cape Town Population 2019. (2018, October 22). Retrieved April 2, 2019, from
http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/cape-town-population/
Clifford, C. (2018, March 23). Matt Damon: A million people a year die 'completely
needlessly' from lack of clean water. Retrieved May 9, 2019, from
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/22/matt-damon-on-solving-the-worlds-clean-water-
crisis.html
Davies, J. (2018, May 20). OPINION: Lack of clean drinking water in our own province
is an issue Winnipeggers can't ignore, CBC News. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/opinion-jo-davies-winnipeg-water-shoal-lake-
1.4660583
Denchak, M. (2018, November 16). Flint Water Crisis: Everything You Need to Know.
Retrieved March 28, 2019, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-
everything-you-need-know
Drinking-water. (2018, February 7). Retrieved March 6, 2019, from

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water
Drought & Deluge in 2018. (2018, May 23). Retrieved March 7, 2019, from
https://www.climatecentral.org/gallery/maps/drought-deluge-in-2018
Editors, H. (2009, November 06). Water and Air Pollution. Retrieved March 7, 2019,
from https://www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/water-and-air-
pollution
Flint, MI. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2019, from https://datausa.io/profile/geo/flint-mi/
Flint Water Crisis Fast Facts. (2018, December 6). Retrieved March 5, 2019, from
https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/04/us/flint-water-crisis-fast-facts/index.html
Gillaspy, R. (n.d.). The Industrial Revolution: Impacts on the Environment. Retrieved

March 7, 2019, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-industrial-revolution-impacts-
on-the-environment.html
Global WASH Fast Facts, Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Healthy Water, CDC.
(2011, April 11). Retrieved February 10, 2019, from
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/wash_statistics.html
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2019, from https://www.un.org/en/
Home page. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2019, from https://www.unicef.org/
Home. (2017, November 16). Retrieved March 6, 2019, from

http://www.wateractiondecade.org/
Hydrofinity. (2018, September 24). Water-Saving Technology You Should Care About.
Retrieved May 8, 2019, from https://www.hydrofinity.com/blog/water-saving-technology
India: Bringing Clean Drinking Water to India's Villages. (2016, May 24). Retrieved
April 2, 2019, from http://projects-beta.worldbank.org/en/results/2016/05/24/bringing-
clean-water-india-villages
Inside Walkerton: Canada's worst-ever E. coli contamination, CBC News. (2010, May
17). Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/inside-walkerton-
canada-s-worst-ever-e-coli-contamination-1.887200
Jalava, M., Kummu, M., Porkka, M., Siebert, S., & Varis, O. (2014). Diet change—a
solution to reduce water use? Environmental Research Letters, 9(7), 074016.
doi:10.1088/1748-9326/9/7/074016
Mahr, K. (2018, May 04). How Cape Town was saved from running out of water.
Retrieved April 2, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/04/back-
from-the-brink-how-cape-town-cracked-its-water-crisis
Misachi, J. (2018, March 15). Which Country Has the Most Fresh Water? Retrieved
March 3, 2019, from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-with-the-most-
freshwater-resources.html
Mitchell, K. World Water Day: The state of drinking water in Indigenous communities.
(2018, March 27). Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.ecojustice.ca/world-
water-day-the-state-of-drinking-water-in-indigenous-communities/
Philip Zimbardo: The psychology of evil. (2014, November 16). Retrieved May 8, 2019,
from https://tedsummaries.com/2014/11/24/philip-zimbardo-the-psychology-of-evil/
Pickering, A. J., & Davis, J. (2012). Freshwater Availability and Water Fetching Distance
Affect Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa. Environmental Science & Technology, 46(4),
2391-2397. doi:10.1021/es203177v
Reduce Water Pollution. (2013, November 20). Retrieved May 8, 2019, from
http://www.everythingconnects.org/reduce-water-pollution.html
Singh Chabba, A. (2013, May 31). Water-Borne Diseases in India, Health. Retrieved
April 2, 2019, from https://en.reset.org/blog/water-borne-diseases-india
Statistics and Facts. (2018, November 07). Retrieved May 8, 2019, from
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts
Subramaniam, V. (2016, September 30). A Look into Nestle's Controversial Water

Bottling Business in Canada. Retrieved May 8, 2019, from
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/zn85qw/a-look-into-nestles-controversial-water-
bottling-business-in-canada
Tatlock, C. W. (2006, August 03). Water Stress in Sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved April 2,
2019, from https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/water-stress-sub-saharan-africa
The Council of Canadians. (2019, March 07). Retrieved March 7, 2019, from
https://canadians.org/
THE HISTORY OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2019,

from https://www.freedrinkingwater.com/resource-history-of-clean-drinking-water.htm
The Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources. (2019, February 7). Retrieved March
3, 2019, from https://www.watercalculator.org/water-use/climate-change-water-
resources/
The Water Crisis: The Importance of Clean Water to Health. (n.d.). Retrieved March 7,
2019, from https://thewaterproject.org/why-water/health
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1948, December 8). Retrieved April 2, 2019,
from https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
Water Action Decade - United Nations Sustainable Development. (n.d.). Retrieved March
1, 2019, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-action-decade/
Water Charity For Safe Water & Sanitation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 5, 2019, from
https://water.org/
Water Crisis. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2019, from

http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/en/water-crisis
Water, Environment and Sanitation, UNICEF. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2019, from
http://unicef.in/story/1125/water--environment-and-sanitation
Water Privatization: Facts and Figures. (2016, July 5). Retrieved March 6, 2019, from
https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/insight/water-privatization-facts-and-figures
Why You Should Care About the Water Crisis - World. (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2019,
from https://reliefweb.int/report/world/why-you-should-care-about-water-crisis

Isu 7-10

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Isu 7-10

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER 1

The Lack of Access to Clean Water Worldwide is a Devastating Crisis:

Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………...Pg. 02-04

Summary of Research Method……………………….………………………………..Pg. 05

Role of Control…………………………………………………………………………Pg. 14-16

International Organizations…………………………………………………………….Pg. 16-19

Case Studies…………………………………………………………………………...Pg. 19-28

Canadian Connection………………………………………………………………….Pg. 28-32

Logic of Evil…………………………………………………………………………..Pg. 32-35

Summary of Research Method

a diverse sense of information.

quotes. Reliable sources were used to ensure an informative, accurate paper.

regarding the lack of access to clean water.

implies that it is justiciable and enforceable”

can interfere with the body at any level of exposure.

treatment or medicine to combat severe water-related diseases.

likely to happen year-round.

bathing. This further increases the risk of spreading disease.

lives as steps are not taken.

implementing change if people want an optimistic future.

Maude Barlow is a Toronto-born activist and author. She is a highly accomplished

have significantly influenced and improved the water crisis.

Matt Damon, the co-founder of the non-profit organization, Water.org, is an actor,

development, and charitable donations (Water.org, 2019, p. 1).

Damon is a firm believer in helping underdeveloped nations worldwide because of his

first step to solving it.

crisis through campaigns, advertisements or any other means.

privatization. Control of water needs to be in the hands of governments, not companies.

happens to their water.

A majority of North America’s economy is generated through tourism especially in summer

of a business within a few months.

water supply globally:

minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of

sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and

substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.

through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.

wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes. (United Nations, n.d., p. 1).

and bold steps forward to help better the earth’s future.

lives around the world with the help of individuals.

in elevated levels of total trihalomethanes, which can cause cancer.

attention of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct an immediate emergency

of lead is good for humans and the concern remains.

inspires them to create positive change.

children cannot attend at all.

water available to residents.

most importantly, water scarcity. Corruption in government, mismanagement of resources, poor-

Water improvements, particularly in infrastructure, need to be incorporated economically to end

be to remedy the detrimental problem of water retrieval.

likely become more frequent in the future.

Africa is an underdeveloped country that is subjected to a plethora of different issues.

Another horrifying incident in Canada’s history is the Walkerton Tragedy of 2000.

Ontario could be subjected to water-related disasters.

de-individualize self (anonymity), diffusion of personal responsibility, blind obedience of

bystander to a serious reality is just as harmful as enforcing atrocity.

influences need to stop Nestle from being destructive and harmful.

the water crisis.

The privatization of water is a negative influence on obtaining access to clean water.

global access to clean water is achievable.

along with the technology that will improve the issue.

Prejudice, injustictice, and discrimination can be halted if education is prevalent. Achieving

without as well as restoring a human right.

A Case in Point Walkerton’s Tragedy - Water Contamination. (2001, October 29).

Bill C-31. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2019, from