The global perspective
Safe drinking water is judged according to guidelines and standards. In Australia, rigorous monitoring and controls are in place to protect drinking water supplies. Unfortunately this is not always the case globally.
The map below from worldwater.org shows areas of the world where safe drinking water is not always available. The lack of safe drinking water has a significant impact on people in these regions.
Map Reference: http://worldwater.org/drinkwat.gif
Use the following links to investigate global water quality issues:
WaterAid - www.wateraid.org
WaterAid is an international charity that focuses on improving the availability of safe drinking water.
"Improvements in water and sanitation reduce illness and deaths and free up time spent collecting water or incapacitated through sickness for education and other economic and social development" (WaterAid, 21 May 2007).
Consider potential contaminants and associated health risks. What water treatment options are used in different parts of the world? Assess the effectiveness of the WaterAid programs to provide safe drinking water.
World Health Organisation - www.who.org
The World Health Organisation (WHO) works on aspects of water, sanitation and hygiene where the health burden is high, where interventions could make a major difference, and where the present state of knowledge is poor.
"The safety of drinking and recreational water in developed countries will continue to be a concern, with WHO noting that 'despite advances in diagnostic technology water related disease of unknown etiology remains a significant percentage of the total outbreaks of disease'. Published statistics from the USA show that between 1991 and 2000, the etiological agent (precise cause) of around 40 percent of drinking water associated (disease) outbreaks was not identified” (WHO, 2003 Emerging Issues in Water and Infectious Diseases, p13).
Consider this statement in relation to the Sydney Catchment Authority’s work in catchment science (see Pathogen research).
Research task
A research task on safe drinking water from a global perspective is provided to improve your understanding.
