By — Bella Isaacs-Thomas Bella Isaacs-Thomas Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/water-insecurity-affects-billions-of-people-here-are-steps-you-can-take-to-conserve-this-finite-resource Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The steps you can take to use less water Science Updated on Mar 24, 2023 10:55 AM EDT — Published on Mar 23, 2023 5:32 PM EDT A quarter of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water, and nearly half doesn’t have safe sanitation, according to the United Nations. By 2050, the number of people experiencing water scarcity in urban areas could double, up to 2.4 billion people. March 22 marked World Water Day, an initiative from the United Nations that has been highlighting the global challenges of safe drinking water and sanitation access for 30 years. This year, the date also kicked off the first UN Water Conference in nearly five decades. READ MORE: A quarter of the world does not have access to safe drinking water, new UN report says “It is easy for some to think that water simply comes from the tap, but this limited perspective fails to acknowledge the vital ecosystems from which our water comes,” Ibrahim Thiaw, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification executive secretary, said in a statement. “When rivers run dry or become polluted, when groundwater is over-exploited, and when ecosystems are degraded, it is only then that we begin to understand the true value of water.” When it comes to treating water like the precious, finite resource it is, everyone has a role to play in their daily lives, the UN emphasizes. While most water in the United States is used for industries like agriculture, individuals can make simple contributions, like not letting faucets run except when necessary, reducing your shower time and fixing leaks. Meanwhile, more than a million people in the U.S. lack the plumbing necessary for flushing toilets, and more than 2 million don’t have clean drinking water in their homes, according to a statement released by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The UN says that international cooperation and financial support — in addition to meaningful actions to combat climate change — are crucial steps toward better managing and conserving water. On this year’s World Water Day, the Biden administration announced that it would commit $49 billion to support water and sanitation infrastructure domestically and abroad. Graphics by Megan McGrew We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Bella Isaacs-Thomas Bella Isaacs-Thomas Bella Isaacs-Thomas is a digital reporter on the PBS NewsHour's science desk. @bella_is_
A quarter of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water, and nearly half doesn’t have safe sanitation, according to the United Nations. By 2050, the number of people experiencing water scarcity in urban areas could double, up to 2.4 billion people. March 22 marked World Water Day, an initiative from the United Nations that has been highlighting the global challenges of safe drinking water and sanitation access for 30 years. This year, the date also kicked off the first UN Water Conference in nearly five decades. READ MORE: A quarter of the world does not have access to safe drinking water, new UN report says “It is easy for some to think that water simply comes from the tap, but this limited perspective fails to acknowledge the vital ecosystems from which our water comes,” Ibrahim Thiaw, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification executive secretary, said in a statement. “When rivers run dry or become polluted, when groundwater is over-exploited, and when ecosystems are degraded, it is only then that we begin to understand the true value of water.” When it comes to treating water like the precious, finite resource it is, everyone has a role to play in their daily lives, the UN emphasizes. While most water in the United States is used for industries like agriculture, individuals can make simple contributions, like not letting faucets run except when necessary, reducing your shower time and fixing leaks. Meanwhile, more than a million people in the U.S. lack the plumbing necessary for flushing toilets, and more than 2 million don’t have clean drinking water in their homes, according to a statement released by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The UN says that international cooperation and financial support — in addition to meaningful actions to combat climate change — are crucial steps toward better managing and conserving water. On this year’s World Water Day, the Biden administration announced that it would commit $49 billion to support water and sanitation infrastructure domestically and abroad. Graphics by Megan McGrew We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now