When you think about things you take for granted, water might be one of them. It’s one of the most important things in the world, and yet we often leave sinks on and take extra long showers just for the heck of it. Have you ever stopped and thought about all the people out there who don’t have the same access as you?
Water isn’t just important to humans — plants and animals also need it to survive. And since a pretty hefty amount of our food comes from plants and animals, you can see why bad water situations can put people in dire need. Around 60% of your body weight is water. It seems like a lot, but when you remember that water helps your entire body function, it makes more sense.
It’s also vital in waste removal. Without the right amount of water, humans wouldn’t be allowed to properly excrete waste. And we typically also use water in the receptacles that we use to flush it away.
So, even if you’re a person who doesn’t like the taste of water, you can still appreciate it for all it does for the world. Water crises are absolutely horrifying.
Yet, they still happen all over the place. Here are a few of the biggest water scandals you should know about.
1. Flint, Michigan
By now, you’ve probably heard about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
Unfortunately, it’s an ongoing problem. The crisis actually began in 2014, when their water supply was changed due to financial reasons. They once used Detroit’s system, but instead, switched to the Flint River. It sounded like a bad idea, but it snowballed into something much worse.
Flint, Michigan has been without clean water for 1854 days. #Flint
— Flint Water Bot (@FlintMIBot) May 19, 2019
The Flint River wasn’t adequately treated or tested, and a lot of people got sick. You’d assume action would have been taken to fix this problem, but instead, the government chose to ignore it.
I wish our Government would ignore my bodily choices like they do with the water crisis in Flint Michigan.#FlintWaterCrisis
— De_Anna 🏳️🌈 (@_max_penguin) May 16, 2019
The problems that residents faced were severe. Not only is the water unsafe for drinking, but it’s reportedly been causing skin rashes and hair loss. No matter how many times residents tried bringing the issue up, they were shut down and told that the water was safe. But according to the NRDC, the water was plagued with cancer-causing chemicals, lead, and fecal bacteria.
2. Water Scarcity in Africa
The World Health Organization states that 115 deaths happen in the African Region every hour. Yes, every hour. Not only is water necessary for hydration, but it also helps with hygiene, cooking, and overall cleanliness — it’s basically essential for our survival. As they’ve been without, many people in Africa have gotten fatally ill.
3. Sudan
The Water Project reports that 80% of the people who live in Sudan work in the agricultural field.
Without water, plants have trouble growing and thriving. Since most of the water goes to the crops, that means that women and children often have to go out and find water that’s suitable to drink. The water they do have often isn’t regulated, meaning that people have died from it. “We have all been attacked walking to the bore holes,” a Sudanese woman told The Independent in an article published in April 2019. “Water is scarce and the dry seasons are getting longer. This year we expect the number of deaths and attacks to be even higher.”
4. Dayton, Ohio
Back in 2017, Dayton shut down a few production wells.
In 2018, polyfluoroalkyl substances were discovered in the drinking water. These are man-made chemicals that can cause harm to the human body, according to the EPA. Since this water went through a treatment process, it was surprising when these chemicals were detected. Sadly, this news has been brushed off. Officials say it’s safe, but the fact that these chemicals seem to be increasing have residents worried. It looks like the problem is under control — for now. Even though the water may be safe to drink, it’s still fair for Dayton residents to worry about what might be in store for the future.
5. The Wells in China
Avoid the well water at all costs.
China has an issue with polluted well water, and people think it’s at the level of being dangerous. In 2016, Global Citizen reported that the country was pretty busy focusing on air pollution and smog when the issue was right in front of them. Up to 80% of well water has been deemed unsafe to drink or bathe in.
6. Water Scarcity In India
India is also suffering in terms of water scarcity.
Last year, CNN reported that India’s lack is the biggest shortage the country has seen in history. This is especially bad since the population in India has been increasing. Reports have shown that as-is, 200,000 Indians are dying every year from problems regarding lack of water, or tainted water.
7. Droughts In California
Between 2011 and 2015, California was the driest it’s been since the 1800s.
Droughts are a risk that California will always need to face. When a drought strikes, residents usually have to be very careful with how and when they use their water supplies (though, we should all be cautious and mindful, always). Even today, there are conservation rules in practice to be on the safe side.
8. Brazil
Watch out for leakage.
Even though Brazil is a beautiful country, they have an issue with chemical pollutants in some of their water sources. According to Water In Brazil, leaking landfills and sewage are to blame. While the government had used the 2016 Olympics as a reason to clean up their water, it was obviously a big undertaking.
9. Mexico’s Tap Water
Have you ever heard the line “don’t drink the water” before?
It’s because Mexico’s tap water isn’t very trustworthy, and is likely to be contaminated. If you travel, you’ll always want to make sure to buy bottled water. To be even safer, you should double-check and make sure it’s sealed. Otherwise, you can get very sick. Mexican News Daily states that, according to the National Water Commission, 9 million people in Mexico can’t access safe water. 10.2 million even lack basic sanitation processes in their homes.
10. Arsenic In Canned And Bottled Water
Speaking of bottled water, that’s not always necessarily safe, either.
It’s scary to admit, but arsenic was once found in a particular brand. Keurig Dr Pepper had to stop making their Peñafiel water after an unsafe level of arsenic was discovered in the product. As of May 3rd, 2019, the FDA still hasn’t called for a recall of the product, meaning plenty of people probably still have it in their fridge. Even worse, Consumer Reports writes that the FDA has known about this happening since 2013.
11. El Salvador
El Salvador has its own water crisis that it’s currently dealing with.
In 2018, National Geographic wrote that most people who live there don’t have any access to running water. Some people have even resorted to making their own makeshift plumbing systems in order to handle their small supply more easily. It’s reported that their water supply hasn’t been regulated in many years.
12. Lead In School Water
Schools across the nation have been plagued with their own water crises, and you may have been unaware.
An NBC News write-up revealed that most schools don’t even bother testing their water for lead. After doing some research, scientists found that around 44 percent of schools had an amount of lead in their water that was higher than the amount acceptable. It’s a little strange that as a country, we seem to try hard to shelter children from lead exposure at home, but then drop the ball when it comes to schools.
13. Denmark’s Added Chemicals
If something is happening to your water supply, you should get a say — right? Well, that didn’t happen in Denmark.
Back in 2018, a town in Bamberg County changed up their water system, and residents were quick to sue. They believed the water, which had added chemicals in it, affected their health. The chemical is called Halosan, and even though it wasn’t federally approved, the Department of Health and Environmental Control reportedly stated it was safe. Still, it’s questionable and upsetting.
14. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has had a water crisis since Hurricane Maria damaged their water system in 2017.
After the hurricane destroyed parts of the island, plenty of people got sick with illnesses that stemmed from unclean drinking water. USA Today reported that two people actually died from bacteria that was suspected in the water. As of August 2018, many people who live there still fear the quality of their running water.
15. Venezuela
Just this year, Venezuela was hit with large power failures that have made clean water hard to get.
Things got so bad that people were searching for water in drain pipes, even though they weren’t clean. Since it’s hard to survive without water, desperation hit and unsafe measures were taken to obtain this means of survival. According to Reuters, five days without water lead to a significant change in hygiene.
