Around 1 billion people around the world are having difficulties getting drinking water by walking in the desert or other dry areas. Furthermore, there are more people who die from unsafe water than from wars or riots. In Korea, however, most people can get clean water whenever they turn on the faucet, which makes it difficult for them to understand how many people around the world are ?suffering from water.? 

Have you noticed that careless use of water can exacerbate the suffering of our neighbors and those countries facing water shortages? Let?s look at the relationship between them to find out how water use can jeopardize the lives of others. 

 

Dam, intake station, receiving well, grit chamber, chemical tank, mixing basin, flocculation basin, sedimentation basin, filtration basin, chlorine contact basin, stilling basin, water pipes, home.

The process of water flow from river or dam to a tap is not that simple. It takes 5 to 8 steps of water purification, including filtering, sedimenting and chlorinating to arrive at our taps through water pipes. Even before we have time to enjoy the clean water, it is disposed of quickly and goes back to nature again through several purification processes.

All the processes require electricity. Moreover, it takes a lot more electricity for the treatment process of used water.

In other words, it requires a great amount of energy for us to use water conveniently, which entails fossil fuel consumption. This results in emissions of a lot of greenhouse gas and exacerbated climate change. Moreover, there have been various environmental problems and social conflicts over the construction of new power plants, transmission towers and lines for more electricity.

2. How is climate change related to water shortages?  

[Water sectors influenced by climate change]

Not only people, but also innocent animals, are in danger. Numerous aquatic plants and fish would lose their habitats and land animals would lose drinking water.

As global citizens, what can we do to help our neighbors suffering from water? First and foremost, the easiest and most effective action we can take is ?saving water!? 

If you save water, less water goes through the purification process and less greenhouse gases are emitted, so climate change threatening our neighbors will be reduced.

So, will you promise not to think little of water and save it instead?

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