Friday, June 15, 2018

Pillars Of Clean Water Supplies

By Frank Reynolds


Every year millions of people die from diseases caused by lack of access to clean water. Tens of millions of others suffer illnesses brought on by the same. The United Nations considers clean water supplies a basic human right. It is paramount to bodily functions and even affects other areas of human life like the economy. This one little thing can make or break a country. It can bring about immense benefits or it can lower a country to the gutters.

To determine whether the right is being properly accorded, four pillars are looked at. The first is quantity. There is a prescribed amount that every human should find sufficient in a day. Twenty to fifty liters are enough for drinking, food preparation, and personal hygiene. A large proportion of the global populace lives with much less than this. This simple fact is the subject of joint efforts to abolish the crisis.

Quality is a cornerstone of safe hydration. The WHO has outlined guidelines for determination of safety. There is a prescribed criterion of chemical and microbial characteristics. Anything less or more is hazardous to human life. It is considered a major negation of the basic human rights articles.

Reliability is paramount. Sure, it is good quality. Sure, it is available in the prescribed quantities. But, is the source reliable? Can the people count on the source not to dry up at inopportune moments? Will the people wake up one morning to dry taps? Shortage might be inevitable. The authorities can usually tell when a shortage or interruption in distribution is looming. During these times, the people should know. They should be made aware so that proper measures are taken to keep hydration going despite dry taps.

Some people pay to have the water delivered to their houses through state-managed piping. Others in less developed countries have to fetch the water from communal sources. These are both different types of costs related to proper hydration. Governments are tasked with the responsibility to ensure neither of these costs is so high such that the people have trouble meeting the price. This has not been completely achieved. However, progress is evident.

Once the resource has been acquired, there is need to store it well. To keep it safe so that there is something to tap into during emergencies. Food grade containers should be used in this respect. Plastic bottles can also be used for storage. Milk or juice bottles are not advisable to use, as they cannot be adequately cleaned to remove all bacteria.

The crisis has moved on to affect other facets of life. Lack of safe hydration is a crux of the health crisis. Every 90 seconds a child dies from a disease brought on by dirty water. The same has also contributed to other issues facing children and their education. The kids spend a lot of time helping parents fetch water and not enough being in school or playing.

Hundreds of billions are lost each year due to this crisis. If the problem were abolished, the world would save about $ 30 Billion that would have otherwise gone to medical attention for people who are afflicted with hydration related issues.




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