Water contamination. An issue that is huge on our planet but not one a lot of people talk about. So, what is water contamination and who does it affect. According to Harvard University “Water pollution is the contamination of water sources by substances which make the water unusable for drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Pollutants include chemicals, trash, bacteria, and parasites.” 

Globally more than two billion people are exposed to drinking water which is contaminated. Contaminated water can transmit many diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, polio and typhoid. Around one million people are estimated to die each year due to diarrhoea due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water. Diarrhoea can be prevented as well as treated and around three hundred thousand children under four could survive if there are better resources and healthcare in the struggling countries.

Rates of progression need to be around double for the world to completely have the basic access to clean drinking services by 2030 according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Global efforts to tackle the dangerous issue of water contamination include restoring as well as protecting water-related ecosystems, ensuring people can access affordable and safe drinking water and improving how water resources are managed as well as their qualities in communities specifically for women and girls. Water contamination is a huge issue in the world with around a quarter of the world suffering with this devastating and unfortunate issue. There are many charities which fundraise for causes as such and there may be global missions however, they should be implemented and action must be taking. We cannot wait any longer as it simply is putting billions of people’s lives at risk.