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Safe Drinking Water Essay

Decent Essays

Water is one of the necessities of life for people all around the world. It seems like a basic need that is readily available, as 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. However, many people lack a source of clean drinking water. Unfortunately, this number, as well as the number of people who die due to not having clean water, is rising. According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, “Less than two-tenths of 1 percent of the planet’s water is drinkable, and 90 percent of that goes to uses in buildings, including flushing toilets.” Therefore, only a minuscule fraction of the water of the water on Earth is available for drinking. In addition, the average American uses 2,220 gallons of water per day, a number out of proportion with the 844 million people who lack access to safe drinking water. While these statistics sound dire, there are ways to solve this problem. The problem isn’t that we don’t have enough water, but how we use the water we have. If we utilize water and the other resources we have access to in an effective way, we can supply the human race as well as other species with sufficient water to survive. There are many reasons and water is unsafe to drink, due to both natural and man-made conditions. According to Kenneth M. Vigil, “The geology of an area determines, in large part, the mineral makeup of its waters.” In addition, the climate of a water source will influence water quality because the biological, chemical, and physical characteristics

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