Contemporary Global Issue Water Example

Contemporary Global Issue Water Example Contemporary Global Issue : Water â€" Essay Example > Contemporary Global Issue: WaterWater is a public resource, which should not be commodified for commercial purposes. Industrial development depends on water; and the supply and redistribution of water are the two main paradigms of water management. It should be distributed to the needy people for their personal use. Historically, water engineering concentrated on this fundamental rule. At this juncture, it is important to recognize that water has become a scarce resource around the world. The pursuit of industrial development has imposed a heavy demand on water resources and their management. In addition, there are other concerns, like increased urbanization, heavy concentrations of population and increased agricultural activities, all of which draw heavily upon water resources(Finger Allouche, 2002. P. xiii). This essay details with the reasons for water being a scarce resource. In addition, it describes the disadvantages ensuing from the privatization of water, especially in the poorer countries of the world. Furthermore, the harm caused by the World Bank’s support to indiscriminate privatization of water resources is also discussed. As such, water that is essential for life, should belong to the people and its management should be the bounded duty of the governments. Water is vital for life on the earth. It had been abundant in the past, due to the presence of vast resources of water like lakes and rivers. In the past there had been sufficient rain to fulfill the water requirements of the people. However, this situation has changed dramatically, and at present, water has become a scarce resource on earth. The earth’s climate had undergone drastic changes due to the greenhouse effect and global warming. This climate change has modified the weather patterns, and this has drastically affected the natural rain cycles. The outcome has been inadequate rain fall. The vastly depleted forests are no longer in a position to promote rains. The rivers are becom ing dry and agricultural lands have been deprived of water. The water in the great lakes is being depleted, and the continuous discharge of pollutants into the lakes by industries has affected aquatic life. Most of the vast water resources on earth are either being depleted or rendered unfit for use(Bryce). A number of scientists have estimated that if the present situation continues, then there will be hydrological poverty by the year 2025. The world will have to suffer from the consequences of this water scarcity. It is portended that in the future, a number of wars will be fought over the sharing of water. Therefore, the comity of nations has to implement long term initiatives to avert water scarcity. Failure to respond to the situation, in a timely manner, would result in damage to the living planet that would be beyond repair. Humans will have to face dire consequences such as hunger, deprivation and disease(Bryce). Many nations in the West have already privatized their munic ipal water services. These private agencies are exploiting not only the water resources, but also their customers. Their main objective is to reap profits and rendering effective service to their customers is not on their agenda. These corporate profits have increased by nearly 700 percent. However, they have not taken any measure to preserve the quality of the water that they are supplying to their customers. These private corporations have caused irreparable damage to water resources by overusing them in order to make more money. Customers who cannot afford to pay the exorbitant amounts charged by these companies have to do without water. This creates an environment in which those who cannot pay for water will have to forfeit their life(Bryce).