Billions of people around the world do not have access to one of the basic elements of life: clean water.

Although the government and aid organizations have helped many people living in water-scarce areas get a living in recent years, the problem is expected to become more serious due to the adverse effects of global warming and population growth.

Access to clean water and sanitation is a human right recognized by the United Nations.

Although there has been progressing in recent years, contaminated water and waterborne diseases remain major threats to public health — not only in low-income countries but also in wealthier nations such as the United States.

According to the UN:

“Lack of access to safe, sufficient, and affordable water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities has a devastating effect on the health, dignity, and prosperity of billions of people and has significant consequences for the realization of other human rights.”

Trusted Sources of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that there are 1.7 billion diarrhea cases and 446,000 deaths from this disease every year among children under 5 years of age worldwide.

In Sub-Sharan Africa, it is estimated that 184 million people use boreholes with handpumps to access water and 112 million people use rural piped supplies.

Scientists warn that drinking water supplies in parts of rural West Africa are being contaminated by lead-containing materials used in small community water systems, such as boreholes with hand pumps and public taps.

Population growth, climate change, and health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa, voices about their impact on the already unstable drinking water supply are increasing.

On the occasion of World Water Week, Afrik 21 outlined the main challenges of obtaining drinking water on the African continent. Population growth has exacerbated the challenges related to drinking water supply.