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The World of Child 6 Billion
WATERViewed from space, Earth's vast water supply appears limitless. But the amount of freshwater on the planet is finite, and many of the world's people live without adequate water. Less than 3 percent of the world's water is freshwater fit for human consumption, irrigation, and most industrial uses. Nearly 70 percent of this freshwater is locked in glaciers and permanent snow cover. People in 31 countries, making up about 8 percent of the world's population, face chronic shortages of freshwater that threaten their health and standard of living. Child 6 Billion has a one in 13 chance of being one of them. Changing the amount of water we demand is a surer path to water security than striving to meet higher demand. Some Persian Gulf countries desalinize salt water, but for most countries this process is too costly. Because agriculture is the largest user of water, increasing the efficiency of irrigation holds the most potential for water conservation. In Burkina Faso, Oxfam, an international development agency, built small water catchments�sloped areas that collect rainwater. The water supported the growth of trees for fuelwood in a very deforested area. Local farmers soon adapted the technique to grow trees that produced food and fodder. The project evolved as farmers began using the water for traditional runoff farming of grain crops. They placed long lines of stones along the contours of sloping ground to slow runoff and spread water evenly over large areas. The water seeps slowly through the stone banks, making farmers' water use more efficient. The technique quickly spread through northern Burkina Faso, into neighboring Mali, and has been introduced in Mauritania. This practice reduces the amount of water needed by using water more efficiently. | Q&A;: How could we reduce our household demand for freshwater? find answer |
Presentation GuideGraphs: - Access to Safe Water and Adequate Sanitation for Major Regions of the World
- Changes in Access to Safe Water
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Water Q and A
How could we reduce our household demand for freshwater?
Water Presentation Guide
Discussion questions, Talking points and Graphs: Access to Safe Water and Adequate Sanitation for Major Regions of the World and Changes in Access to Safe Water
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