Water Equity Issues (HL) (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)) : Revision Note

Water Equity Issues

Inequitable access to water and sanitation

• Water equity refers to the fair distribution of water resources, ensuring everyone has access to:

  • Safe, clean drinking water

  • Sanitation

• Inequitable access occurs when certain groups of people are denied this basic human right, which is essential for health and well-being

  • Lack of access to clean water can lead to severe health issues, including the spread of waterborne diseases

• Inequitable access to water disproportionately impacts marginalised groups such as:

  • Indigenous peoples

  • Low-income communities

  • Women

Human health impacts of inequitable water access

• Unsafe drinking water leads to widespread health issues, including waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid

  • Diarrhoea, often caused by contaminated water, is responsible for nearly 485,000 deaths annually

  • In children under five, unsafe water contributes significantly to malnutrition and stunted growth, affecting their development

• Poor sanitation leads to the spread of infectious diseases

  • Especially in overcrowded and impoverished areas

Negative impacts on sustainable development

• Inadequate water access undermines sustainable development goals, as clean water is essential for health, education, and economic growth

  • Access to clean water and sanitation is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6)

  • This goal aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all people by 2030

• Communities without safe water and sanitation face difficulties in education, economic development, and quality of life

• Areas that lack clean water cannot develop industries, grow crops efficiently, or maintain healthy populations, making it difficult to lift people out of poverty

Indigenous communities

• Limited access to safe water and sanitation:

  • Many Indigenous communities, especially in rural or remote areas, have limited or no access to clean water

    • In Canada, for example, Indigenous reserves face ongoing 'boil water advisories'

    • This means residents must boil their water before using it

    • Some of these advisories have lasted for decades

  • In Australia, Indigenous communities in rural areas often have less reliable access to safe drinking water than urban populations, affecting their health and quality of life

Low-income groups

• Water affordability:

  • For many low-income families, even if clean water is available, they may not be able to afford it

    • In the United States, rising water prices in cities like Detroit have caused water shut-offs, where families unable to pay water bills have had their water supply cut off

  • In developing countries, low-income communities may rely on unsafe water sources like rivers or shallow wells

    • This increases their exposure to diseases

• Sanitation challenges:

  • In urban slums, many people live without proper sanitation facilities, such as toilets or sewage systems

    • In Kenya, it is estimated that 60% of residents in informal settlements, such as Kibera in Nairobi, have no access to clean toilets, leading to open defecation and severe public health issues

  • Poor sanitation not only spreads disease but also increases the risk of water contamination, worsening the situation for those who are already vulnerable

Women

• Women and girls may be disproportionately affected by water inequity

  • Some may spend hours walking long distances to collect water

  • This can prevent them from attending school or engaging in paid work

  • This can significantly limit their educational and economic opportunities

  • Lack of access to sanitation may also affect school attendance for girls, who may miss school due to the lack of proper facilities during menstruation