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Unlock This CourseWater is absolutely essential for human survival and health. Beyond drinking, we need clean water for washing, cooking and maintaining proper hygiene. Poor water quality and lack of access to clean water can lead to serious diseases and health problems that affect millions of people worldwide.
Key Definitions:
Clean water prevents diseases like cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea. It's needed for drinking, cooking food safely, washing hands, bathing and cleaning wounds. Without it, communities face serious health risks and reduced quality of life.
Before water reaches our taps, it goes through several treatment stages to remove harmful bacteria, chemicals and particles. Understanding these processes helps us appreciate the complexity of providing safe water for human hygiene.
Water treatment typically involves multiple steps, each designed to remove different types of contamination and make water safe for human consumption and hygiene use.
Screening removes large debris like leaves and plastic. Sedimentation allows heavy particles to settle at the bottom of tanks.
Filtration through sand and gravel removes smaller particles. Biological treatment uses bacteria to break down organic matter.
Chemical disinfection with chlorine kills remaining bacteria and viruses. UV treatment provides additional sterilisation.
Poor water quality and inadequate hygiene facilities create serious health challenges. Understanding these problems helps explain why water management is so important for human wellbeing.
Cholera: Causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration. Spreads through contaminated water and poor sanitation.
Typhoid: Bacterial infection causing fever and stomach problems. Transmitted through contaminated food and water.
Hepatitis A: Liver infection spread through contaminated water and poor hygiene practices.
Water-related health problems don't affect everyone equally. Some groups face higher risks due to their circumstances, age, or living conditions.
Most vulnerable to water-borne diseases. Diarrhoea is a leading cause of death in children under 5. Poor hygiene affects school attendance and learning.
Often responsible for collecting water in developing countries. May walk long distances daily. Need privacy and safety for personal hygiene.
Limited access to piped water and sewage systems. May rely on wells, rivers, or rainwater collection. Higher risk of contamination.
Thames Water treats over 2.6 billion litres of water daily for 10 million customers. The process includes intake from rivers, reservoir storage, coagulation and flocculation to clump particles, sedimentation, rapid gravity filtration through sand and chlorination for disinfection. Advanced treatment includes ozone and granular activated carbon to remove pesticides and improve taste. The treated water meets strict EU standards and is monitored continuously. This sophisticated system ensures London residents have safe water for drinking, cooking, washing and all hygiene needs.
Around the world, billions of people still lack access to clean water and proper sanitation. This creates enormous challenges for public health and human development.
Water scarcity affects both water availability and water quality. Even where water exists, it may not be safe for human consumption or hygiene use without proper treatment.
Occurs in arid regions where there simply isn't enough water. Examples include parts of North Africa, Middle East and Australia. Climate change is making this worse in many areas.
Happens where water exists but people can't access it due to poverty, lack of infrastructure, or poor management. Common in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
In 2018, Cape Town nearly became the first major city to run out of water completely. A severe drought combined with growing population and climate change created "Day Zero" - when taps would run dry. The city implemented strict water restrictions, limiting residents to 50 litres per person per day. Public campaigns encouraged water-saving behaviours like shorter showers, greywater recycling and fixing leaks. Desalination plants and groundwater extraction provided emergency supplies. The crisis was averted through community cooperation and emergency measures, but highlighted how even developed cities can face water security challenges.
Governments and organisations use various strategies to ensure people have access to clean water for hygiene and health. These solutions range from large-scale infrastructure to community-based approaches.
Modern technology offers many ways to treat water and deliver it safely to communities. The choice of technology depends on local conditions, resources and needs.
Removes salt from seawater to create fresh water. Used in water-scarce coastal areas like Israel and Saudi Arabia. Energy-intensive but increasingly efficient.
Treats wastewater for reuse. Singapore's NEWater programme recycles sewage into ultra-clean water. Reduces demand on natural water sources.
Collects and stores rainwater for later use. Simple technology suitable for rural areas. Reduces pressure on groundwater and rivers.
Successful water management often involves local communities in planning, implementation and maintenance. This ensures solutions meet local needs and remain sustainable long-term.
Teaching proper handwashing, safe water storage and hygiene practices. Community health workers train families in disease prevention. Schools play a key role in educating children about water and hygiene.
The United Nations has set global targets for water and sanitation access. SDG 6 aims to ensure clean water and sanitation for all by 2030, recognising water as a human right.
Universal access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities, improved water quality, increased water efficiency and protection of water ecosystems.
Population growth, urbanisation, climate change and funding gaps threaten progress. Innovation and international cooperation are essential for meeting targets.
In rural Turkana County, Kenya, communities worked with NGOs to build sand dams and shallow wells. These simple technologies capture rainwater and provide year-round access to clean water. Local committees manage maintenance and collect small fees for sustainability. Women's groups received training in hygiene education and water treatment. The project reduced water collection time from 6 hours to 30 minutes daily, allowing children to attend school and women to engage in income-generating activities. Health improvements included reduced diarrhoea cases and better nutrition. This demonstrates how appropriate technology and community ownership can transform lives through better water access.