Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Africa water, Sanitation Mar- Apr 2015 Vol.10 No.2 | Page 19

Clean Water
predominantly starch-based to meat and dairy, which require
more water. Producing 1 kilo rice, for example, requires about
3,500 litres of water, while 1 kilo of beef some 15,000 litres. This
shift in diet is the greatest to impact on water consumption over
the past 30 years, and is likely to continue well into the middle of
the twenty-first century.
The current growth rates of agricultural demands on the world’s
freshwater resources are unsustainable. Inefficient use of water
for crop production depletes aquifers, reduces river flows,
degrades wildlife habitats, and has caused salinization of 20%
of the global irrigated land area. To increase efficiency in the
use of water, agriculture can reduce water losses and, most
importantly, increase crop productivity with respect to water.
With increased intensive agriculture, water pollution may
worsen. Experience from high income countries shows that a
combination of incentives, including more stringent regulation,
enforcement and well-targeted subsidies, can help reduce water
pollution.

Water is equality

Every day women spend 200
million hours carrying water.

Figures & Facts
85% of the world population lives in the driest half of the
planet.
783 million people do not have access to clean water and
almost 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation.
6 to 8 million
people die
annually from the
consequences
of disasters and
water-related
diseases.
Various estimates
indicate that,
based on
business as usual,
~3.5 planets
Earth would be needed to sustain a global population
achieving the current lifestyle of the average European or
North American.
Global population growth projections of 2–3 billion people
over the next 40 years, combined with changing diets, result
in a predicted increase in food demand of 70% by 2050.
Over half of the world population lives in urban areas, and
the number of urban dwellers grows each day. Urban areas,
although better served than rural areas, are struggling to
keep up with population growth (WHO/UNICEF, 2010).

In developing nations the responsibility for collecting water every
day falls disproportionately on women and girls. On average
women in these regions spend 25 percent of their day collecting
water for their families. This is time not spent working at an
income-generating job, caring for family or attending school.
Investments in water and sanitation show substantial economic
gains. Every dollar invested shows a return between US$5 and
US$28.
Climate change negatively impacts fresh water sources. Current
projections show that freshwater-related risks rise significantly
with increasing greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating
competition for water among all uses and users, affecting
regional water, energy and food securities. Combined with
increased demands for water, this will create huge challenges for
water resources management.
Natural hazards are inevitable but much can be done to reduce
the high number of death and destruction tolls. Ill-advised
human activity can both create and accelerate the impact
of water-related disasters. These water threats have been
increasing with climate change and human activities, in the
North and South of our planet, from East to West. But, with
preparedness and planning, fatalities and destruction can be
decreased. The global community has committed