Humans consume, discard, poison, and waste water without considering the long-term consequences. Supplying enough water in the right quantity, at the right time and in the right place has always been a concern. All life depends on water. Water is as important to life as air, food and sunlight. For this reason water has always played an important role in civilizations throughout history. People can live for days without food but will not survive for very long without water.
According to the World Bank, only 2.53 per cent of Earth’s water is fresh, the rest is salt. Desert areas have a short supply of water, the climate is very dry with frequent long periods of drought. In some areas of Africa, very few water sources are available. Africa is home to 6.4% of the world's population, but it contains only 1.3% of the world's renewable fresh water. Polluted water and water shortages, along with poor water management are causing serious health epidemics in Africa. Water related diseases such as cholera, schistosomiasis, malaria, and dysentery infect and kill millions of people each year. Many people in Africa are not able to live with any means of sanitation and are forced to drink water that has been contaminated by farmers, animals, and or other types of waste. Since no medical treatment is available for these diseases, the only answer is a safe water supply. Some of these diseases in hot climates are not only caused by bad sanitation, but by the presence of water. Insects and parasites breed in standing water, so water that is transported from one place to another may be spreading disease. In these underdeveloped countries there is a lack of money to install safe water supplies to the people. In areas where water is not readily available the women and children carry water long distances to their homes. As the population in Africa increases, so does the demand for water.
One of the most important solutions to the water crisis involves conservation. The...