The Effect Of Water Privatization

Water is one of the most precious resources, which support the life of almost everything in the world. Indeed, the world is covered by 75% water, but most of this water is not suitable for human consumption or use. On the same note, the world has been increasing its consumption of water due to the increasing population, leading to increased demands. The increased water consumption, which has been a result of high population, is worrying because the matter may lead to massive water shortages in the future.

The world’s supply of water is in steep decline as more and more is being used each year by more and more people around the globe. Currently, 800 million people do not have access to a drinking source. At the current rate, 1.8 billion people could be living in areas of absolute water scarcity by 2025.

There is a water crisis which faces many parts of the world and it is a threat to survival of human beings since humans are primarily dependent on water. Shortage in drinking water is beginning to show its effects in first world countries, but is a current major problem facing lesser developed countries which have not taken drastic steps to harvest water and purify it to make it safe for human consumption. In developed countries the population growth has strained available water resources and stretched the ability of governments and private firms to provide safe drinking water to the vast majority of the population. Seventy one percent of

Water, like food, is a necessity for human life that is used for many purposes such as agricultural, industrial, and domestic systems. While water is a common element around the world not all of it is clean and able to be consumed or used by humans. With only a percentage of the world’s water being clean and the use of water increasing, the availability of water around the world has become a common issue in the developing and even the developed world. This may be a smaller problem in areas close to clean water sources compared to areas far from a clean water source but, the availability of water is not strictly based on location, it also depends on the specific political and social needs and issues of the area as well. These all become issues that must be accounted for when deciphering whether water is a basic human right or a commodity and what action must be taken to aid the developing water systems in community’s that lack them.

The world revolves around water. Without it, organisms would cease to exist. With that being said, humans depend on it on a daily basis. In the documentary “Thirst”, it covers the controversy of water privatization in Bolivia, India, and Stockton. All of these regions are opposed to water privatization by the powerful corporations that operate in the area. The people living in these places believe that water privatization negatively affects their control of their water, because it a human right. On the other hand, the multinational corporations believe that water is an economic resource that should be bought and sold, for profit. I believe that water should not have the ability to be privatized.

Water is a fundamental resource necessary for all life on Earth. Humanity would be extinct without it. People think there is an unlimited supply of water, however there is not. The overuse of water is a problem that needs to be stopped. Society needs to learn to live in a more sustainable way. If humanity continues to overuse Earth’s natural resources the way it does today, the Earth will run dry. To prevent the depletion of water, people need to be aware of their impact on the environment and live sustainably. By controlling the population, limiting fossil fuel usage, and stopping greed, the depletion of water can be prevented.

Water is an important component to sustaining life. Water is used for many things. Along with sustaining homeostasis in living organisms, it is used for agriculture and hygiene practices. Without clean and fresh water, ecosystems and human life are threatened. Many people across the globe are either fighting for clean water or are using it in their everyday life. This lack of equal obtainment of water, is the number one thing effecting the world.

Across the globe there are approximately six hundred and sixty three million people who lack access to clean, safe drinking water. Water is essential to life and a basic human right that everyone, regardless of status or location, should have. Water scarcity has begun to increase with the growth of population and agricultural industry. This scarcity is affecting humans across the globe, even in wealthy industrialized countries. The overuse of water in homes, on farms, and in the workplace has put a burden on the natural environmental systems that keep civilizations going, forcing people to take action. Water scarcity continues to be a modern tragedy worldwide; however, global efforts provide hope for many through their continued outreach programs to bring water to people in need and fix the broken system that has been adopted.

One of the most controversial issues today relates drinking water. It could be defined as drinkable water or potable water which is safe enough for drinking and food preparation (Charitywater.org, 2016). Many people argue that some countries are meeting rising problems of not having enough drinking water. For example in Africa, a lot of people suffer and die daily from various diseases because they have unclear, dirty, contaminated water. This essay partly agrees with this statement and will illustrate this issue in term of how important the water is, the causes of getting less clear drinking water, two technological solutions which is waters desalination and groundwater wells and how to apply these solutions to Chad in Africa.

As water becomes a more scarce resource across the globe due to climate change, there are debates on whether water is a human right versus a commodity. A commodity, meaning a good, or service that needs to be bought in the capitalist economic system. Privatization is one way of attempting to solve the water crisis, which the U.N. has been dealing with since the 1990s. It is estimated that “40 % of the world’s citizens do not have dependable access to potable water supplies.” By opening the market for privatization of water allows companies to bring their technology and resources into areas that lack quality drinking water. Although there are many critiques of the corporations and the World Bank’s argument favoring privatization of water, which will be addressed later on.

All across the world no living creature exist without water and to the naked eye it appears infinite. Vast oceans currently cover around 70% of the earth and rest of the water fills up lakes, streams, and rivers or falls from the sky. However, only around three percent of the water on earth is fresh water, and only one percent of the earth’s fresh water is accessible to humans and usable. Due to this, more than one billion people cannot obtain enough drinking water to keep them healthy and around five million die yearly for this reason. Sadly water scarcity isn’t due to a “shortage” of water, but rather politics, economics, and infrastructure. This begs the question of whether

Fresh drinking water makes up a small portion of the total water that is on Earth. Only 2.5 percent of all the water on Earth can be classified as fresh drinking water, while the rest of the water on Earth is saline. On top of only being a very small amount of fresh drinking water available on Earth, less than half of this water is accessible. Because of human’s inefficient use of water coupled with our exploding population the amount of water available to humans has continued to decrease. Water needs to be conserved, managed, and distributed effectively and water privatization is not the solution.

The privatization of water has its pros and cons, like the quality going down to save money, and like the poor not being able to get access to clean water. Massive layoffs could happen so the company could save money, this makes them under staffed. Rate increase can also occur in the company to increase profits. Water privatization in my opinion, has the cons out weighing the pros in the argument on whether it is good for the public, and the company itself.

Profits. This concept guides most people today, shapes their personality, and influences them in adopting certain attitudes in regard to particular matters. For most people water is a simple natural element that does not have to be provided with special attention and that needs to be used in accordance with the profits associated with industries focused on exploiting this particular element. The strategy that humanity has taken on across the centuries regarding water demonstrates that people are irresponsible and unwilling to consider the long-term effects of their actions.

Today, water is a critical natural resource that challenges us at local, national and global level. We are facing water shortage and drought to floods and declining of water quality. More than 1 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water (Lawrence & Weber, 2011, p. 43). Especially in the developing countries, with poor water management it contributes to increasing malnutrition and disease, a losing of biodiversity and agricultural production, rising food prices, reducing economic growth and social stability, that leading to conflicts over water resources. The major source for of the Coca-Cola Company’s (TCCC) products is water. Even the company’s CEO admits “that unless the communities where the