Water, Water, Water, Water, Water… ∞

            Water is an essential part of everyday life. In class we illustrated the importance and widespread uses of water by writing associated words on the board.

We see the extensive applications and importance of water (monsoon, infant mortality, hydroelectric power, etc.) and notice the important policy implications of water (economic valuations, flood management, unequal distribution, etc.). Additionally, many readings have discussed the major uses of water: drinking, industry and irrigation (Oelkers et al.). To generalize: water is everywhere – water affects everything we do – everything we do affects water. How does one blog on such a broad and important topic? To be realistic, the blog will only cover a narrow area of an essential resource. I will choose to focus on social inequalities related to water.

Distribution Inequalities

“Uneven distribution” is one of the phrases we listed on the board relating to water. This can relate to the physical sense – spatially and temporally. Chapter 18 of our reading focuses on the discrepancies of availability of water throughout India. While the physical distribution of water is important, so is the social distribution of water.

A wide inequality exists between water access of urban and rural populations. In 2008, 96% of the urban population had access to improved drinking water sources, compared to 84% in rural areas (2011 State of the World’s Children). Additionally, 54% of the urban population had access to improved sanitation facilities, compared to only 21% of the rural population (2011 State of the World’s Children).

This disparity in clean water accessibility will lead to gender gap implications. Agarwal discusses many of the issues concerning natural resources and social (socioeconomic and gender) inequalities. Agarwal discusses that while rural populations are dependent on communal resources, they are adversely affected by natural resource degradation, statization and privatization – especially of water. Richer households are more able to tap groundwater, thus, leading to a greater quantity and quality of drinking water. The author determines that poverty stricken women are most vulnerable to the limited access of natural resources. Agarwal lists the six critical aspects of gender inequality: time, income, nutrition, health, social support networks and knowledge systems.

Limited quality and quantity of drinking water will also impact infant mortality. As we saw in our flow chart of infant mortality variables, access to clean drinking water is directly related to infant health. Unfortunately, this will lead to greater gender discrimination against baby girls. It has been found that families are less likely to boil water for girls (Pandey). Improving overall sanitation and drinking-water quality, therefore, would improve health outcome for infant females. 

Urbanization and Solutions

The pressures on water demands of urban areas will be continually increased in the future. Chapter 18 of our reading focuses on the heavy water demands that urban areas are currently experiencing. Examining the Demographic Indicators of the 2011 State of the World’s Children Report shows that this demand should continue to rise. As of 2009, 30% of India’s total population lived in urban areas. The rate of urbanization in India has been 3.5% (1970-1990), 2.7% (1990-2000) and 2.4% (2000-2009) over the last thirty years (2011 State of the World’s Children). Given the world urbanization rate of 50%, the population of urban areas should continue increasing in the future.

Many water management projects, particularly those involving damming and flood plains, have adverse effects on local residents. Ironically, is it individuals that live farther away from the project that will reap the project’s benefits. It is difficult (if not impossible) to analyze the usefulness of a project of this magnitude using cost-benefit analysis. It’s important that remember that costs and benefits associated with water management projects will extend far into the future and have implications well beyond our best estimations. Cost-benefit analysis also fails to capture the moral issues involving the displacements and livelihoods of nearby residents.

With so many problems and so limited solutions – the outlook appears grim. I don’t claim to have all the answers (if I did, I wouldn’t be sitting around my dorm room at Furman…), but I believe simple solutions are the place to begin. Many of our readings suggested relatively cheap and simple solutions (Oelkers, Hering, Zhu).  Maximizing surface water storage capacity, bringing attention to water issues, and beginning any form of water restriction/enforcement are all great places to begin. As a greater percentage of the population becomes involved and capital investment increases, long term planning of water management projects will need to be made. Emphasis should be primarily given to equity and sustainability. Sustainable water management can save lives, improve rural economies/ecologies and preserve rural culture (Sarkar). 

Sources

Agarwal, B. (1996) Gender, Environment, and Poverty Interlinks: Regional Variations and Temporal Shifts in Rural India, 1971-91. World Development, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 23 – 52.

Hering, J., Oeklers, E., Zhu, C. (June 2011) Water: Is There a Global Crisis? Elements, Vol. 7, pp 157-162. doi: 10.2113/gselements.7.3.157

Pandey, A. (2009). Gender differences in earl childhood feeding practices. In M.Pal, P. Bharati, B Ghosh & T.S. Vasulu (Eds.), Gender and discrimination: Health, nutritional status and Role of Women in India (pp. 188-201). New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Sarkar, A. (2006). Sustainable Solutions to Arsenic Contaminations of Groundwater. Water, Agriculture, and Sustainable Well-Being, pp 72 – 92.