Throughout the world, people still need access to clean, safe water in their homes. From rural Ethiopia to rural Oklahoma, some communities lack clean water in their homes. On a typical day, members of a household devote 30 minutes to hours to traveling to a safe water source to fill bladders, totes, or other containers, so their families will have drinking water and hygienic water.
The Situation in the U.S.
On average, an American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water per day, according to Plumbing Manufacturers International. More than 90% of U.S. households obtain their water from public water systems, but 2.2 million American households lack running water or basic plumbing. About 47% of those homes sit inside the country’s 50 largest metropolitan areas, while the rest lie in its rural locales.
The Situation Overseas
Globally, feces contaminated the drinking water sources of about 1.7 billion people in 2022, reports the World Health Organization (WHO). The biggest threat to safe drinking water – microbial contamination – stems from fecal matter in water. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of the world’s population accesses a safely managed drinking water service. That means they have contamination-free water located on their property, available when they need it. The other 27% of people remain at risk for diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid, and polio from using microbiologically contaminated water.
Making Headway
Since 2000, 2.5 billion individuals obtained access to safely managed sanitation services, according to UNICEF. Non-profits like Oxfam and The Water Project, and quasi-governmental organizations like WHO work to bring clean water in the form of wells and repairs to damaged water treatment plants to communities throughout the world. The United Nations General Assembly in 2010 “recognized the human right to water and sanitation.” The UN set Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.1, which aims to provide “universal and equitable access” to affordable and safe drinking water.
Keeping Drinking Water From Wells Safe
Households that rely on well water must conduct their own water quality checks. According to Penn State Extension, test a well’s water quality each year. Test the well’s PH level and total dissolved solids at three-year intervals. Add appropriate balancing agents to rectify anomalies in the water quality.
Which balancing agent to use depends on the water quality issue. Treat total coliform bacteria and E. Coli bacteria with chlorination. For low PH, use an acid neutralizer. Treat turbidity or the presence of iron, sulfate, or manganese by installing an oxidation filtration system or adding a water softener.
The Biggest Issues of Water Inequality
Lacking running water amounts to much more than a problem of aesthetics or convenience. When a household anywhere lacks running water, they must obtain water from available sources. In some developing countries, the mother and female children haul water, taking the children away from their schooling. Because education provides one of the key elements to breaking the poverty cycle, this hampers the ability of these young women to attain an education.
Lack of access to water also hurts the performance of those who attend and teach school. In many areas, consumption of tainted water leads to diarrhea and stomach pain, which distracts students from their studies. When teachers in developing countries become ill, the schools cancel classes, putting all students behind.
People in areas of scarce water often grow their own food. Without proper irrigation or access to clean water, crops wither and die. This leaves the family without food. A community well that services multiple households with running water can provide the key to homegrown food, better health, and the freedom to pursue education.
Summing It All Up
A lack of access to clean, running water in homes occurs globally. Lack of clean water for drinking, hygiene, and crop growth happens in homes in cities and rural areas. Without clean water, people cannot thrive. Those with access to safe drinking water enjoy better health and the time to pursue an education or to work, helping to break the cycle of poverty.