- Water is so valuable that countries have fought each other over water rights throughout
history. Water shortages and water pollution have become so serious across the world,
that some organizations call our water status a “water crisis.” The crisis is blamed on
overpopulation, overuse of water, pollution, and global warming. - Undeveloped countries are rarely able to afford water treatment and purification facil-
ities, unless other countries and international organizations help.
Review Questions
- If most of the Earth is covered with water, how can there be water shortages?
- Why are waterborne diseases more common in less developed countries than developed
countries? - Why does the United Nations describe the current water status today as a crisis?
- How do droughts affect water supplies?
- Why do water disputes happen?
- Give two reasons why water shortages are happening around the world today?
Vocabulary
aquifer Regions of soil or rock that are saturated with water.
arid Regions without enough water for things to grow.
drought A long period of lower than normal rainfall for a particular region.
pathogen Disease causing organisms.
Points to Consider
- What can we do to help the one fifth of the people on Earth who do not have access
to safe drinking water? - How can we reduce water shortages due to overuse, overpopulation, and drought?
- Water is so valuable that wars have been fought over it throughout history. Could
conserving freshwater now help avoid future wars?