Without Clean Water Without Clean Water KatieKatie

NeisNeis

Exploring water shortages and Exploring water shortages and contamination in African communities, as contamination in African communities, as well as in United States Indigenous well as in United States Indigenous peoples. In an effort to draw parallel, peoples. In an effort to draw parallel, explore the causes, and solutions for explore the causes, and solutions for change change

Facts about water usage and Facts about water usage and contamination contamination

The average The average American uses American uses 100 to 175 100 to 175 gallons of water gallons of water at home each at home each day…day…

A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of water per day to survivewater per day to survive

while the average while the average African FAMILY uses African FAMILY uses about 5 gallons about 5 gallons

1.2 billion — Number of people worldwide who 1.2 billion — Number of people worldwide who do not have access to clean water.do not have access to clean water.

6.8 billion — Gallons of water Americans flush 6.8 billion — Gallons of water Americans flush down their toilets every day down their toilets every day

Water systems fail at a Water systems fail at a rate of 50% or higher rate of 50% or higher

88% of all diseases are 88% of all diseases are caused by unsafe caused by unsafe drinking water, drinking water, inadequate inadequate sanitations and poor sanitations and poor hygiene. hygiene.

1.8 million Children die each year from 1.8 million Children die each year from diarrhea – that’s 4,900 deaths each day. diarrhea – that’s 4,900 deaths each day. This college campus has about 19,000 This college campus has about 19,000 students, that’s a quarter of WSU’s students, that’s a quarter of WSU’s students dying each and every day…students dying each and every day…

Millions of women and children spend several Millions of women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources.polluted sources.

People have to travel further and further to reach People have to travel further and further to reach water everyday. In Africa, this burden is placed water everyday. In Africa, this burden is placed primarily on women and children primarily on women and children

At any given time, half of At any given time, half of the world’s hospital the world’s hospital beds are occupied by beds are occupied by patients suffering from patients suffering from a water-related a water-related disease. The water and disease. The water and sanitation crisis claims sanitation crisis claims more lives through more lives through disease than any war disease than any war claims through guns… claims through guns…

Geographically the United Geographically the United States and Africa are States and Africa are vastly different, yet there vastly different, yet there are many similar are many similar problems surrounding problems surrounding water in both countries. water in both countries.

These numerous problems, These numerous problems, and projects, in Africa and projects, in Africa and the United States and the United States increase water shortages increase water shortages and contamination and contamination

The Four Dams project, stemming the flow of the The Four Dams project, stemming the flow of the Orange River which runs between South Africa Orange River which runs between South Africa and Namibia, has since then dried the land, and Namibia, has since then dried the land, covered much of South Africa’s farmland, and covered much of South Africa’s farmland, and cost the state 75% of its yearly budget to buy cost the state 75% of its yearly budget to buy back the water. back the water.

The Grand Coulee Dam, in Washington State, was built in 1933, and lies directly below the Colville Indian Reservation affecting their landscape, water quality, and salmon runs which tie directly into their health.

They have fragmented and transformed the world's rivers, 40-80 million people have been displaced by reservoirs created from dams.

Supporters point to the social and economic development demands, such as irrigation, electricity, flood control and water supply, but what about the displacement of people, debt burdens on the host country, destruction of ecosystems, and the unequal sharing of costs and benefits?

Dams, especially Dams, especially large scale large scale ones, have led ones, have led to loss of forests to loss of forests and wildlife and wildlife habitat, the loss habitat, the loss of aquatic of aquatic biodiversity, biodiversity, and have and have definitely definitely negatively negatively impacted on impacted on water quality. water quality.

This poor water quality is unfairly burdened This poor water quality is unfairly burdened on Indigenous peoples and people in third on Indigenous peoples and people in third world countries who do not have the world countries who do not have the means, whether socially or economically, means, whether socially or economically, to fight off the destruction of their to fight off the destruction of their ecosystems…ecosystems…

Many of the displaced are not recognized, Many of the displaced are not recognized, and therefore are not resettled or and therefore are not resettled or compensated. Readjustment programs are compensated. Readjustment programs are poorly constructed for the people left poorly constructed for the people left behind, there is little left after their behind, there is little left after their livelihoods, and land, have been livelihoods, and land, have been destroyed.destroyed.

Water contamination Water contamination and shortages, in and shortages, in the next 25 years, the next 25 years, will decrease will decrease Africa’s crop Africa’s crop production about production about 23%. 23%.

Consider that 200 Consider that 200 million people million people already lack already lack access to clean access to clean water. water.

As recently as the 26 of August 2007, As recently as the 26 of August 2007, 80,000 thousand people on the Navajo 80,000 thousand people on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona had Reservation in Arizona had NONO running running water. Navajo representatives stated that water. Navajo representatives stated that there would be a there would be a water warwater war if nothing was if nothing was done. done.

There is a 270 mile There is a 270 mile pipeline named pipeline named the Navajo-the Navajo-Gallup Water Gallup Water Supply Project, Supply Project, being fought by being fought by agricultural agricultural groups, to relieve groups, to relieve the nearly 80,000 the nearly 80,000 Navajo people Navajo people without running without running water. water.

Water all over the world has been turned into Water all over the world has been turned into a commodity, an economic opportunity as a commodity, an economic opportunity as some would say, Africa’s people and the some would say, Africa’s people and the Indigenous people of the Untied States are Indigenous people of the Untied States are only a few of the hardest hit by water being only a few of the hardest hit by water being turned into a commodity. turned into a commodity.

Suez affiliate Johannesburg Water provides privatized water for South Africa, at the urging of the World Bank.

Johannesburg Water’s Johannesburg Water’s pricing strategies fail to pricing strategies fail to incorporate eco-social incorporate eco-social factors, including public factors, including public health, gender equity, health, gender equity, the environment or the environment or economic benefits such economic benefits such as employment as employment generation or generation or stimulation of small-stimulation of small-scale enterprises scale enterprises

““The shallow sewer system is also attractive to the The shallow sewer system is also attractive to the company... The most extraordinary feature is company... The most extraordinary feature is that pipes are regularly blocked with excrement, that pipes are regularly blocked with excrement, not by accident but as a matter of deliberate not by accident but as a matter of deliberate cost-savingscost-savings.”.”

There are recommendations for the people to There are recommendations for the people to unclog their own sewer systemsunclog their own sewer systems as “Maintenance as “Maintenance procedures”.procedures”.

Peabody Coal Company, which drains more Peabody Coal Company, which drains more than a billion gallons of water from an than a billion gallons of water from an underground aquifer in Arizona each year underground aquifer in Arizona each year to transport coal…to transport coal…

That’s three million gallons a day. That’s three million gallons a day.

One government study One government study shows shows contamination of the contamination of the aquifer may already aquifer may already taking place, as taking place, as changes in the changes in the water pressure and water pressure and amount allow amount allow contaminated water contaminated water from another aquifer from another aquifer to seep in.to seep in.

A slowly changing landscape…A slowly changing landscape…

The Rural Community The Rural Community Assistance Corporation is Assistance Corporation is currently doing studies currently doing studies on waste generation and on waste generation and recycling, contamination recycling, contamination testing, well sampling, testing, well sampling, water operations water operations certification classes, etc. certification classes, etc. for Indigenous peoples for Indigenous peoples across the United States, across the United States, trying to get them their trying to get them their rights to basic human rights to basic human rights rights

A settlement has been reached in regards to A settlement has been reached in regards to the $710 million dollar Navajo-Gallup the $710 million dollar Navajo-Gallup Pipeline, aiding in protecting Native Pipeline, aiding in protecting Native American’s cultures and way of life American’s cultures and way of life

As of December 13, 2007 construction on As of December 13, 2007 construction on the Navajo-Gallup pipeline has begun. 20 the Navajo-Gallup pipeline has begun. 20 years after completion, the tribe may be years after completion, the tribe may be able to sell the water to the surrounding able to sell the water to the surrounding cities.cities.

Much needed drinking water will be provided Much needed drinking water will be provided for future generations, and the tribes will for future generations, and the tribes will gain the ability to pursue economic gain the ability to pursue economic development.development.

Much needed drinking Much needed drinking water will be provided water will be provided for current and future for current and future generations, and the generations, and the tribes will gain the tribes will gain the ability to pursue ability to pursue economic economic development.development.

The WTO, World Bank, or IMF may all be called The WTO, World Bank, or IMF may all be called on, to an even greater degree that currently, to on, to an even greater degree that currently, to step in to try and ’solve’ these problems, even step in to try and ’solve’ these problems, even though they have consistently promoted though they have consistently promoted privatization of water resourcesprivatization of water resources

Africa’s push to reduce water contamination Africa’s push to reduce water contamination and scarcity for its most impoverished and scarcity for its most impoverished citizens, may need to come from civil citizens, may need to come from civil society, in an organized effort to force society, in an organized effort to force policymakers to amend existing water laws policymakers to amend existing water laws and give control of the water back to the and give control of the water back to the people people

But don’t think that the water war is over… it But don’t think that the water war is over… it has only begun. has only begun.

Works CitedWorks CitedIn order of appearance

through slides for CES 440 educational purposes…

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c=916image: www.fafco.com,

www.theperfectworld.us www.unicef.org

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