Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Carlee Feinstein
Global Perspectives
Table of Contents
Preface - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
Definition - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6
Significance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -8
Background - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
Expert - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15
Role of Control - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19
Case Studies
Kenya - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -30
Solutions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 49
Conclusion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 52
References - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 55
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 3
Preface
Water is a necessity to life on Earth. However, developing countries are unable to pot
safe, clean water as a result of limited access. A water molecule is composed of one oxygen atom
and two hydrogen atoms. Freshwater and saltwater are made up of the same elements but what
differs between the two is the amount of salt contained in the water. Freshwater is categorized as
containing less than 1000 milligrams of salt and is able to host specific organisms that are
adapted to freshwater whereas salt water has a higher salinity and density than freshwater (New
World Encyclopedia, 2013). Living organisms should only consume and use freshwater that is
available to them.
In western society, water is taken for granted on a daily basis. Water flows throughout the
country and having access is as simple as turning on a tap. It is for this reason that Canadian
citizens consume approximately 329 liters of water per day, per person (How Much Do We
Use n.d.). At the end of each month a household of generally four people could spend up to $84
on water. Water is used not only for ones personal health but also as recreation, cooking, hydro
dams, and agriculture. Without water, businesses would not be able to operate, food resources
would be cut off as the producers would not be able to support their livestock or crops and
electricity would be limited. Water is a representation of all life forms and is an essential
resource to living.
However, in developing nations any form of water is appreciated, as every drop may be
the last. Women and young girls will travel by foot many miles to fetch as much water as they
can carry. Subsequently, the water source is from a shallow well, stream, lake and/or pond. This
type of water source is recognized as surface water. This water is more susceptible to carry
bacteria and disease as it is open to air pollution and is shared with animals. Animals will bathe,
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 4
excrete natural waste and be recreational in the water. Also, more than 80% of the countries
sewage is discharged untreated, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas (11 Facts About Water
n.d.). And this is the water humans of developing nations will drink and use for everyday living.
With no form of filtration system, citizens will ingest all the bacteria that are living in the water.
But even this is better than no water at all, as many mothers, fathers and children go without
For citizens in impoverished countries, the lack of freshwater is a reality that they live
with everyday. They continue to live their lives as if not having clean water is a normal
occurrence in the rest of the world. Young girls are forced to drop out of school in order to walk
the necessary distance to find a water source and the lack of sanitation leads them to miss school
once they start menstruating (Lusk-Stover, 2016). According to UNICEF, one in ten girls miss
school due to their menstrual cycle and will miss 20% of school days because of this natural
process (Lusk-Stover, Rop, Tinsley, Rabie, 2016). The lack of sanitation can also lead to disease
as a result of unsanitary environments which all leads back to the lack of clean water.
A large proportion of the populations in developing nations live on under $2 per day
(Standard of Living in the Developing World n.d.). Developing nations can be measured by
their lack of health care and education system, transportation, communication and technology as
well as the amount of freshwater available to them. A country with an insufficient amount of
freshwater available to them will struggle to survive as a community and country. With a limited
amount of water citizens will not have proper health and will be unable to produce crops, keep
The human body requires a minimum of 2.4 liters of water per day specifically to cleanse
the body of toxins, to help transport nutrients and balance bodily fluids (Mayo Clinic, 2014).
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 5
This includes the water directly ingested and the water found in foods. However, countries in
Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa do not have enough water and resources to fulfill the necessary 2.4
liters of water. This report will focus largely on the accessibility to freshwater in developing
countries. Specific case studies from countries with the least amount of access to water will also
be examined; Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Malawi. This examination will occur through
research focusing on defining the issue, the significance of freshwater as well as providing
background information. An interview between an expert in the field is performed and recorded,
consider the role of control: who has control of freshwater, who needs control and why humans
should care about this topic and the logic of evil and the role of politics. As mentioned above,
three case studies are reviewed, international organizations and the Canadian connection will be
examined. Through this paper possible solutions to help increase the amount of freshwater access
to developing nations will be discussed. Also, this report will investigate the effect of water
accessibility and the ripple effect that it creates for the persons health, community and the rest
of the world.
This report includes information of freshwater access in developing nations. The research
conducted for this issue-based report has been collected from various media sources, such as
university journals and news articles. University journals are especially effective because they
are edited and co-written with a professor who has obtained their PhD.
This report includes both qualitative and quantitative evidence, from well-known sources
as well as legitimate recounts from citizens of developing nations who speak from their personal
experiences. Interviews with experts who directly work with providing solutions to this issue
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 6
have been directed who have provided further insight and have also been sourced. All
information collected has been confirmed using two sources to ensure accuracy. All secondary
sources involved in the research of this report are reliable and scholarly sources, and/or
information that have been published by organization such as UNICEF, United Nation, Water for
Definition
When NASA is searching for new life forms in our Solar System, firstly, the astronauts
search for any source of water on the planet. The astronauts predict that without any water, there
will be no form of life on the planet as water is the foundation for life on planet Earth (deGrasse
Tyson, 2015). However, even on Earth clean, safe potable water is scarce in todays society.
Even places in developed nations are threatened by the lack and dwindling supply of freshwater.
Water scarcity can be defined as lack of sufficient water, or not having access to safe water
supplies (Dailey Paulson, 2015). Different countries struggle with various types of freshwater
scarcity. People living in developing nations are seeing the effects of water scarcity more
Physical water scarcity arises when there is not enough water to meet the demand of
human needs (Dailey Paulson, 2015). There is simply not enough water. As of 2015, 20% of the
worlds population lives in areas of physical water scarcity and these areas withdrawals of water
exceeds 75% of the river flow (Dailey Paulson, 2015). However, 500 million citizens reside in
parts of the world that are approaching water scarcity (Dailey Paulson, 2015). That only accounts
for approximately less than one percent of the worlds population. The lack of freshwater due to
physicalitys is because of weather effects such as droughts, floods and harsh weather and
distribution of water also causes physical scarcity (What is Water Scarcity? 2017). Some water
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 7
sources are over used and over managed that lead to very serious water scarcity. The Colorado
River is an example of a water source that is over used and its ability to be a resource is
becoming less and less (Dailey Paulson, 2015). If citizens pollute and mistreat the earths natural
Water is a resource that humans truly could not function without. Citizens have created a
world where water is needed not only for human consumption but also for the processing of
food, the creation of energy and the power industry. Without water, people in developed nations
would not be able to flush a toilet. Not being able to perform these operations is known as
economic water scarcity. Economic water scarcity refers to the impacts of the lack of freshwater
on the economy and the lack of infrastructure in place to satisfy the human demand for water in
areas where the population is unable to afford a clean, safe source of water (Dailey Paulson,
2015). Without water, neither small businesses nor major global industries can function; neither
can family farms, energy production faculties or manufacturers of steel. Poor water quality or
limited access to water results in the businesses having to increase the price of their products,
which leads to a decrease in business. The communities are unable to create jobs and put a halt to
any economic growth (Economic Implications, 2017). Therefore, if the government and
citizens do not properly manage the water, water scarcity can lead to the collapse of an economy.
In developing nations, the lack of proper water constricts economic growth where growth is
needed the most. If water were not as scarce in developing nations, more children would be able
to attend school as they spend most of their days searching for clean water (Access To Clean
Water Improves, 2017). With more of the population having attended school, more jobs
Access to safe freshwater is a human right that many people are denied of. In developing
nations the scarcity of water is not only because of the physicality of the country but also
because of the economy. For them, a child walking miles and miles to search for water is a part
of their daily life and missing school to do so is not seen as an issue. Searching for water
compromises their opportunities in life, their health and safety and their personal wellbeing. The
lack of water is an issue that causes a chain reaction for health, economic and political problems.
The amount of people in developing nations that have little to no access to clean water is
astronomically higher than those living in developed nations. Therefore, this report will focus on
the lives of citizens of developing nations and the impacts of the limited amount of freshwater
Significance
To put it simply, access to fresh, clean water is a human right, yet many people are
deprived of a source that provides this right. If a child is born in a region where there is an
inadequate source of water, they are already put at a disadvantage for their entire life if they even
make it past the age of five. Immediately as a child, their health and safety are put into jeopardy,
as they must walk miles to find a source of water. The time that is taken to find water is taken out
of their school day and this causes children to miss hours of school, and therefore their education
is compromised. Water influences every action and decision a citizen of a developing nation
makes.
As the lack of freshwater has killed more people over the past century than war,
malnutrition and natural disasters, the question is asked to why? do people have to suffer if it is
a human right (Isaac, 2011). There are many reasons as to why citizens of developing nations do
not have clean, fresh water. These reasons include: location, poverty, lack of resources and
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 9
natural disasters. Developing nations with little to no water are noticed as, The unfortunate
problem with these countries is that they feel the greatest symptoms of the water security issues
yet have the least funding and lowest priority to do anything about the causal factors (Water
Security 1). In some cases, children are abandoned by their family due to the fact the parents are
unable to provide the basic needs such as clean water and shelter (Stand4Kids, 2010). As a
result the parents are responsible for one less person and can spend the little money they have on
themselves. In most cases, daughters are abandoned as sons once they reach a certain age, can
Living). This amount of money is used to purchase food, clothes, growing crops and the
necessities of living. In some African regions, the government will pay to have a water source
(wells and water meters) brought into a community, however, they expect the citizens to pay for
access. The government grants each household 6000L of water per month for no charge and if
the people exceed the 6000L they have to pay (Hannemann, 2011). The citizens protest, as they
do not believe they should have to pay for water as it is a human right and 6000L of water is
insufficient because many African households have extended family all living together. As a
result, people steal water from their neighbors and this leads to verbal and physical fights. In
developed nations, on average a family of four can spend approximately $84 on water monthly.
However, if the bills are not paid the water supply will not be cut off, as it is a law to have access
to freshwater.
Not only is the lack of access to freshwater unimaginable in the eyes of developed
countries with higher qualities of life, it also contradicts the United Nations recognition of the
human right to freshwater. The United Nations stated in 2010, to provide financial resources,
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 10
countries, to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all
The effects of not having access to freshwater alter someones life drastically and can
impact an entire culture. The lack of water impacts the sanitation of hospitals, health treatments,
education and economics as well as the safety of citizens. Over 70% of hospital beds in
developing nations occupy people suffering from water related illnesses and majority of hospitals
have an insufficient supply of water to treat every patient (Drinking Water Contamination
Effects, 2015). Water creates energy for your body, yet the weight of carrying water exerts an
amount of energy that the women and young children do not have. This leads to greater back
problems and malnutrition. In developing nations, birth contraceptives are not used frequently
and HIV/AIDS are easily transmitted. When the women contract HIV/AIDS they are weakened
immensely and are unable to walk the long distances to fetch water and the sores and eye
infections caused by HIV/AIDS require safe water to cleanse them. Each year, 443 million
school days are lost due to water-related diseases and days missed to travel to find water (Facts
About Water, 2016). As more and more children miss school and become uneducated the
economy will collapse, as there will be nobody to fill the role of specific jobs. Many developing
countries have experienced war or are experiencing war currently. This makes the distance
travelled for water a dangerous journey. With man lingering around many women and girls are
sexual harassed and assaulted. All that is valuable in human society depends upon the
There is a misconception that every developing country does not have access to clean
water. In fact, 8 out of 10 people without access to clean water live in rural areas (Water,
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 11
Sanitation and Hygiene, 2016). Therefore, there is an inequality gap between those living in
developing nations in urban and rural areas. The most deprived still use untreated surface water
and many of the most deprived people live in communities that are remote and secluded areas.
Bringing water to rural areas is still a challenge for those in developed countries that try to help.
Subsequently, 783 million people do not have access to freshwater; 319 million citizens
in Sub-Saharan Africa live without improved reliable drinking sources (Isaac, 2011). 42% of
healthcare facilities lack an upgraded water system (Facts About Water, 2016). From the 319
million Sub-Saharan Africans, 102 million fetch their water from surface water. Surface water
contains fecal matter; disease and bacteria that can cause illness that will eventually lead to
death. Approximately, 4000 children under the age of five die each day from contaminated water
(Isaac, 2011). Globally, 1.8 billion people drink water that has been contaminated by fecal matter
(Sustainable Development Goalsn.d.). The human body is unable to combat the bacteria the
fecal matter carries so as a result many consumers become ill. Drinking surface water creates a
larger chance of disease to the consumer. With the population rising, access to freshwater will
become scarcer as more and more people will need access to fresh, drinkable water.
Approximately 71% of the Earths surface is water-covered and of that 71% only 3% is
considered freshwater (The USGS Water Science School, 2016). Over 68% of the freshwater
is found in ice forms such as icebergs and glaciers, and just around 30% is found in the ground.
Groundwater is found in cracks and spaces in the soil, sand and rocks (The USGS Water
Science School 2016). Lakes, rivers and swamps combine to 0.3% of the total amount of
Despite water being a human right, many people still go without access to freshwater and
approximately six to eight million people die each year from water related diseases (Facts and
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 12
Figures, 2013). The United Nations has set goals to bring this number down and bring
Background
The lack of freshwater has not recently become a problem, as it has been an issue for
thousands of years. And this issue is not confined to impoverish, developing nations. In the early
19th century Western countries such as the United States and Canada were still experiencing dirty
water that led to many illnesses and deaths. During this time, taking a drink of water was a risk
people took to quench their thirst and dire need but in many cases the water was contaminated
with typhoid and cholera. By 1910, many municipalities in North America and Europe started
chlorinating their water and discovering disinfectant techniques (Fogden n.d.). After these new
techniques were being used, death caused by typhoid decreased a significant amount and by
1918 more than 1000 American cities were chlorinating massive amounts of water per day
(Fogden n.d.). By 1923 the typhoid death rate decreased by approximately 90% in a decade
(Fogden n.d.).
However, developing nations struggle with filtering and cleaning the water they have
access to as millions of people still go without clean water today. There is a lack of fresh water
because of four main causes: sanitation, industrial pollution, distribution and climate change. As
1.2 billion people continue to defecate in public, more and more water sources are contaminated
with fecal matter and disrupt poorly built wells and aquifers (Curry, 2010). For water to be
considered fresh, all bacteria and toxins must be removed and filter. Today, many people still
receive their water from surface sources that contain fecal matter and are unable to be filtered
because of the lack of technology. Industrial pollution also affects the sanitation and access to
astounding amount of pollutants in water sources each year. The Northwestern Journal of
International Human Rights makes a point of this by stating, In China alone, over twenty-five
billion tons of unfiltered pollutants were dumped into the waterways in a single year (Curry,
2010 p.1). Commonly, developing countries do not have the funding or education to implement
regulations that would be able to control wastewater and pollution (Curry, 2010). Also, some
citizens of developing countries make their living off of agriculture. As this is their only source
of income it is essential to protect their crops at all times. However, citizens are adding too many
pesticides to protect the crops that it seeps into the soil and into waterbeds, further contaminating
it (Curry, 2010). The natural distribution of rain also contributes to the scarcity. If the rain were
able to fall evenly across the globe there would be enough water to meet the demands of the
entire world population. It would increase the freshwater pool by eighty centimeters (Curry,
2010). There are many countries that receive little rainfall and as a result droughts worsen
conditions in water scarce countries. It had been discussed to import water from country to
country. However, the cost to execute the plan is astronomical and is unable to be a possibility.
The last main cause is climate change. As mentioned previously, rain does not fall evenly across
the globe. Climate change increases the amount of rainfall in already wet areas and even less rain
falls in the countries that need it the most. It is estimated that climate change will increase water
scarcity across the globe by 20% (Curry, 2010). Also, water levels may rise which will result in a
higher concentration of pollution. As the population of the world continues to grow, the demand
During the 1970s, over a course of many weeks an international environment conference
took place and discussed was the topic of access to basic resources and the human right to water.
More specifically, in 1977 the United Nations agreed that every person no matter where they are
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 14
from have the right to access the basic amount of water needed to live. In 1986, the Declaration
on the Right to Development was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. This means
all States in the UN ensure equality of opportunity for all humans in their access to basic
resources. This specific Declaration states water as a necessity resource and millions of people
are denied food, water, clothing, housing and medicine due to persistent conditions of
underdevelopment.
During September of 2000, over 100 leaders flew across the world to meet at the
headquarters of the United Nations (UN) to work together to formulate eight international goals,
which elicit a significant amount of development. These goals are recognized as Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). One of the MDG was to reduce the amount of the population
without access to freshwater by half. The target was to reach this goal by 2015, however it was
reached by 2010. After the fifteen-year timeframe, ninety one percent of the population was
using an improved drinking water source (UNICEF, 2015). An improved drinking source means
that it is protected from any outside pollutants or contamination. As a result, forty-two percent of
the population gained access to improved water sources, however that percentage excludes the
citizens from the countries suffering the most (UNICEF, 2015). An example is Sub-Saharan
Africa. It is notable that the quality of water in the least developed nations did improve by
eighteen percent (fifty-one percent to sixty-nine percent) (UNICEF, 2015). Most of the under
developed countries use wells as their source of water as the amount of people accessing their
The first step of improving the access of freshwater is acknowledging it as a human right.
This raises awareness for countries unable to have safe potable water.
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 15
Expert
There has always been inadequate access to fresh, clean water in developing countries.
Developed continents such as North America and Europe are trying to bring resources into these
countries as well as support. There are many non-governmental organizations that focus on
bringing safe water in developing countries. Water for People is one of these organizations that
have made a tremendous difference in communities affected by the lack of access to freshwater.
Don Hoekstra is the president of Water for People and works with the Ontario Clean Water
Agency. Mr. Hoekstra graduated from Governors State University. At the Ontario Clean Water
Agency, Hoekstra is the director of innovation, technology and alternative delivery of water.
This has been Hoekstras role since 2014 and previously was the business development manager
for approximately one year. Don Hoekstra has been part of Water for People for the last twelve
Hoekstra was also a Member Association in the Water Environment Federation. The
association consisted of 45 North American members and 30 international members (cite). Their
programs include high quality technical conferences, operator training and certification
programs, local and regional legislative and regulatory activities, educational programs and
affiliations with other professional organizations (cite). Hoekstra is a very intelligent man who
has had many experiences with the world of freshwater. An interview was conducted with Mr.
Hoekstra via email. Mr. Hoekstra shared insight on his personal experience and opinions on the
topic of freshwater and his work with the Ontario Clean Water Agency. The following is a
condensed version of an email interview with Mr. Hoekstra, regarding his expertise surrounding
freshwater in developing countries and in Canada. Also, Mr. Hoekstra referred to the FAQ
1. What are the educational requirements to work at the Ontario Clean Water Agency as a
project manager?
There are over 800 people who work at the Ontario Clean Water Agency, and most of
them are in our operations group, several of the community colleges have environmental
programs that would be a good foundation for an operations job. We also have process
specialists and engineers in our support services as well as compliance specialists. For
the more mechanically inclined, we have maintenance operators. It is very important to
understand the chemistry and biology of water and wastewater treatment, but the license
issued by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change(MOECC) is more important
than a specific degree.
2. What are your thoughts/opinions on bringing water to developing countries?
Water is essential to every human life and has been designated as a basic human right.
Often there is an immediate need for emperor water supplies and systems after a
catastrophic event. I that regard, we (OCWA) support the work of GlobalMedic. Find
more information at www.globalmedic.ca The other type of work is development work.
This work provides a sustainable supply of clean safe drinking water, sanitation services,
and hygiene education. For this long term development work we support Water For
People www.waterforpeople.org you will learn everything that you need to know on
those websites.
3. What do you think the challenges are trying to bring safe water to every community in
the world?
Providing safe drinking water can be as easy as finding a fresh water source. The
equipment has to be operated and maintained by a trained professional. Sanitation
services must be in place to avoid contamination of the new water source. Local
governments and the end users must be involved.both personally and financially
4. What type of screening/testing is performed to ensure the water is safe and, who preforms
the test?
Each plant is required to perform specific analysis at a prescribed frequency. His is all
set up and monitored by MOECC. The critical analysis is performed at a certified third
party lab. Process control testing is accomplished at the treatment plant
5. Does the agency help developing countries gain access to clean water?
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 17
Yes..by raising awareness and thru fundraising within the agency. Our legal mandate
requires that we work within the Province of Ontario, since we are owned by the
province.
6. Why are there still many First Nations communities without access to clean water? Is
your agency helping to solve this problem?
First Nation drinking water is a complicated issue, but you are correct to ask about it.
The first nation communities are sovereign nations, so often they do not participate in
Provincial initiatives. We do operate several facilities for Ontario First Nations and are
committed to helping to provide safe drinking water to the rest. It turns out to be a lot like
the work of Water For People in the developing world.
7. How does Water for People decide what communities to help?
Water For People performs a special data collection and analysis survey of any new
areas that it considers working in. This data collection process ensures that all factors
are considered in working in a new area. At this time, there are no new countries being
considered.
When new countries are considered, the first factor is a clear need for improved water
supply and/or sanitation. A variety of factors are considered in choosing a country and
region in which to work: community motivation, costs, the availability of a trustworthy
NGO partner, the support of local government, and a safe environment. To ensure system
sustainability, Water For People requires a commitment from the beneficiary community.
Water For Peoples country coordinators carefully target specific regions (county-sized)
within their countries where work will be focused. The goal is to bring 100% coverage in
water and sanitation within each region, and then replicate this model in new regions.
8. I found in the website that Water For People works towards full coverage what does
this entail?
Every family, school and clinic will have access to safe water and sanitation
During the interview, one of questions was how Water for People monitored their work
in the community. Mr. Hoekstra sent a link and this information was gathered:
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 18
Water for People has made significant changes to the monitoring system, indicators and scoring
of the water. These changes are important because it has greatly improved the quality of the
water and access for humans across the globe.
Data collected at each household is reported and assessed by this point system:
Level of Service Points Possible
Households use drinking water from improved source 1
Water is available from improved system on the day of the visit 1
There are no seasonal water shortages or periods of irregular or unplanned 1
rationing
The water point/system was not broken or out of service for more than one 1
day per month in the last year
Water tariff meets affordability criteria 1
Distance to water point/system meets government standards 1
Households satisfied with water service 1
Total Points 7
SCORING:
Role of Control
Currently, 3.3 billion people (half of the worlds population) live in urban areas. This
number is expected to multiple 1.5 times by approximately 2030 (Ruben-Salama, 2008). Most
urban areas are in developed countries have invested a significant amount of money into water
countries have not been able to develop infrastructures for clean water at the same pace as
developed countries.
To implement pipes, pumps, water purification and wastewater treatment plants, come at
a very expensive costs and in most cases, the money earned from tap water sales are unable to
cover the expenses (Ruben-Salama, 2008). Developing countries are required to make smart
decisions on how to invest their money for proper infrastructure to create stability and economic
progress. However, the governments in developing nations have been unable to finance these
costly investments and therefore are unable to provide a reliable, clean source of water for their
The privatization of water started to gain popularity after the World Bank attempted to fix
the water supply in Manila in 1987. The World Bank tried to execute this plan by focusing on the
waters infrastructure. However, the outcome was disastrous as there was a significant amount of
water loss, the company gained a large profit (Curry, 2010). The World Bank is an international
organization that lends money to developing countries for capital programs, such as privatization
(About the World Bank, 2017). The World Bank stated, Private entities are better equipped
than government run bureaucracies to deliver clean water and sanitation services to the public
(About the World Bank, 2017). This statement has intrigued many other private companies to
Two French corporations, ONDEO and Vivendi, manage Seventy percent of the water
industry. However, both of these companies have similar goals in trying to improve the
efficiency of water to the public, expanding coverage area and exceeding the World Health
The difference between private and public water projects is the profitable motives. This
contradicts the idea of equally distributing water to every human. Privatizing water can either be
successful or be disastrous. When the results are successful it improves both service coverage
and reliability. Nonetheless, privatization corrupts and deteriorates the price of water and there is
The idea of privatizing the water system is increasingly attractive from a governments
perspective. As the worlds population continues to grow, the supply of water will become more
crucial. Privatized companies have the capabilities to improve, develop and expand infrastructure
The monopolistic nature of the water industry does not determine the price based on
supply and demand, but rather, governments set tariffs. Additionally, demand is price
inelastic in the traditional sense as services provided are basic necessities. This does not
necessarily mean that demand does not affect the price. Some evidence suggests that demand
decreases somewhat with dramatic price increases. However, low tariffs on water make this
Role of Religion
In many developing nations religion plays a major role in their day-to-day lives. In 2009,
it was surveyed that the most religious countries are relatively poor, with a per-capita GDP
below $5,000. This represents the strong relationship between a socioeconomic status and the
religiosity of its citizens. Citizens of poor countries typically have an income of less than $1000
per year and 95% of those people say religion is important in their daily lives (Religiosity
Highest in Worlds Poorest Nations). Countries such as Bangladesh, Niger, Yemen and Malawi
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 21
99% of their residents state religion is an important part of their life (Religiosity Highest in
Water is a connection to every aspect of the world. No matter your role in society, colour
or religion, water is a necessity. However, everyone sees water and appreciates water differently.
In many religions water plays a central role around their belief system. Water is seen as a source
of life and rebirth. Water is the only substance that can purify and clean your body of toxins and
because of this water has a sacred status to religious individuals and has such a prominent place
in many religious traditions. Water is used in religious ceremonies and rituals, therefore affecting
the design of water systems and the need of water. Religion promotes clean water as the
foundation of proper hygiene and sanitation much like Western societies do. Cleansing with
water is a universal metaphor for spiritual cleansing. In different religions, the cleansing of water
is done differently as well as the utilization of water. For example, within the Hindu society
people must defecate beyond the distance of an arrow shot from their home, and never in a
temple enclosure, at the borders of a river, pond or spring, or in a public place. During the act,
Muslims cannot face towards Mecca and Hindus must not face celestial bodies, a temple, priest
or holy tree. (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). In the practice of Judaism people are required
Globally, approximately sixty four percent of all schools are faith-related (Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene) and it is critical for these schools to have access to freshwater so they
properly carry out their religious practice. It is important for schools to facilitate childrens right
to water, sanitation and hygiene as well as their right to education. However, there is an
overwhelming amount of students that miss school due to diarrhea, intestinal worms and other
illnesses caused by the lack of sanitation and freshwater. This directly influences the learning
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 22
and development of a child. Girls and female teachers are affected the most due to the
Religious institutions can promote freshwater, sanitation and hygiene to all of the citizens
that practice the certain religion. Specifically, highlight the importance of water in faith
traditions, particularly as it relates to worship and rituals such as cleansing, purifying and
baptizing. Religious leaders can utilize these opportunities to reinforce the need for clean water
and good sanitation around the world. Churches, synagogues, cathedrals and shrines can all
provide clean water and well-maintained hand washing and sanitation facilities in places of
worship, religious schools and other facilities to model good practice for the community. If the
institutes have freshwater, these may be used as centers for water storage and can distribute it to
people in need.
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 23
It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the
river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others
(Ezekiel 47:9)
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 24
Logic of Evil
Developing nations do not have the access to freshwater resources and it is the
governments job and citizens of the world who do have access to provide and share the water
they have. Big corporations of Western societies exploit the water industry, depleting and
wasting the resource for their own personal gain. However, in developing nations the
government system does not monitor or support the citizens access to freshwater.
water management policies or meeting commitments they have made vary from country to
country. According to officials, forty African countries are not constrained by the lack of money
but the lack of policies set in place. Only eighteen African countries stated money was the reason
In Western societies such as Canada, large industries are corrupting the right to water by
over producing and not distributing. One bottling company, Nestle Canada, has over 6000
permits across Canada to extract millions of liters of water per day to filter, package and
but it degrades the natural resource and puts people into situations where they are left with no
water. Recently, in Aberfoyle, Ontario, Nestle continued extracting water from a local well even
in the midst of a severe drought. Provincial officials did not step in and provide support for the
citizens. Everyday in Ontario alone, Nestle drills 1.4 trillion liters of water per day (Leslie,
2016). That is enough water for every citizen to have approximately two hundred liters of water
per day.
If every country with natural resources of freshwater supplied water to the developing
nations there would be no citizen being deprived of the human right of fresh, potable water.
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 25
Today, Bangladesh is one of the worlds most densely populated countries, with a
population of 160 million people living within 57,000 square miles (Bangladeshs Water
Crisis). This is a crowded, low-lying land where yearly monsoon floods contaminate the
dwindling water sources (Milon n.d.). Bangladesh is considered a developing nation, however
the governmental system is working to improve their status with the help of developed nations
and organizations. The government consists of a President and a Prime Minister, as well as an
Executive and Judicial branches and a National Legislature (Bangladesh Intelligence Unit,
2014). More importantly, in 2010 Bangladeshs government invested 259.30 million dollars on
water-related infrastructure and programs (UN Water Bangladesh, 2011). This money accounts
for 5.1% of the governments budget with 25.1% of the money put towards water-related needs
Even with this money set aside to help water resources, 60% of the population endures
unsafe drinking water (Hendrick n.d.). This percent is greatly influenced by the different seasons
Bangladesh encounters throughout the year. For about five months of the year Bangladesh
experiences monsoon season that destroys most of their land (Climate of the World).
Monsoons bring heavy rainfall and cause the rivers and lakes to rise in water levels and flood the
nearby cities or towns (Life Underwater). At the end of monsoon season almost one third of
the country is completely underwater and Bangladeshs homes, livestock and farms are
completely washed away (Life Underwater). Each year Bangladesh receives approximately
4000mm of rainfall, 80% of the rainfall occurs during monsoon season (Climate of the World).
The infrastructure that the government implements are unable to withstand tough monsoon
conditions and are no longer effective once monsoon season is over (Hendrick n.d.). Since the
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 27
infrastructure is destroyed it cannot collect the water to preserve for drought season (Hendrick
n.d.). Drought season occurs shortly after monsoon season, starting around the month of
December and lasting approximately four months (Climate, 2014). The droughts evaporate all
the ground and surface water resulting in Bengalis being left with no water and no food
(Climate, 2014).
Bangladesh is a country in the Ganges River delta on the Bay of Bengal. The country
shares boarders with India in the north, east and west and also shares a southern boarder with
Myanmar (Political Map of Bangladesh). The Ganges River as well as the Brahmaputra River
originate in the Tibetan China area of the Himalayan mountains (McEwen, 2008). After the
Ganges river flows into Bangladesh, it joins with the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers to flow
into the Bay of Bengal. The total area of all three rivers is approximately 1.7 million km2
distributed between five countries: India, China, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan (Ganges-
Brahmaptura-Meghna Basin, 2011). Only seven percent of the water these rivers provide is
majority of the rivers originate in China and India, Bangladesh has very little control in accessing
and utilizing the rivers (Hendrick n.d.). All the countries that the rivers flow through are
developing nations where majority of the population is below the poverty line (McEwen, 2008).
Every country wants more and more access to the biggest water supply in their areas and as a
result, in 1975 India built the Farakka Barrage (Lovelle, 2016). The goal of this barrage is to
divert water from the Ganges River to the Bhagirathi-Hoogly river system in India (Lovelle,
2016) to help irrigate Indian soils (Henrick n.d.). This has resulted in an increase of water
salinity, loss of agricultural and industrial production, fishing and navigation as well as humans
health is being impacted (Kawser & Samad, 2016). Bangladeshs population is composed of 60
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 28
percent of farmers and they rely heavily on the water supply from the rivers for their industry
(Lovelle, 2016). After the barrage was implemented, many fish died from the increase of salinity
and Bengalis were left hungry as their diet is composed of 80 percent fish (Lovelle, 2016).
These waterways are an essential resource for Bangladeshs water and food source (Lovelle,
2016).
During the 1980s and 1990s Bangladesh made a significant amount of progress towards
safe and accessible water for their residents (Towards An Arsenic Safe Environment). The
government invested money into shallow tube wells with hand pumps that would allow access to
ground water as 90% of the population accesses their water via the ground (Hendrick n.d.). In the
late 1990s arsenic contamination was discovered in the tube wells (Towards An Arsenic Safe
Environment). The amount of arsenic in the water exceeded the Bangladesh drinking water
standard of fifty microgram per liter by almost 100 micrograms (Towards An Arsenic Safe
estimated 30-35 million people in Bangladesh (Hendrick n.d.). A survey was done by the
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and found that 12.6% of drinking water samples collected from
13,423 households in different regions of the country do not meet the water standard for arsenic
in Bangladesh. This is equal to 20 million people being exposed to the deadly chemical
Typically, shallow tube wells are dug between ten and seventy meters deep (Flanagan,
Johnston & Zheng, 2012). This increases the chance of arsenic contamination. Contracting
arsenic can lead to many serious health problems and can even lead to death. The best-known
skin lesions are not deadly but not every case of arsenicosis will result in skin lesions making it
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 29
will experience more internal damage than external; lung and cardiovascular disease and cancer
are major consequences to exposure as well as kidney and liver failure and many internal cancers
(Towards An Arsenic Safe Environment). The Gross Domestic Product output lost due to
people being unable to work due to arsenic contamination is approximately $23 billion where as
the cost of treating arsenic related diseases is estimated to be $0.6 billion (Towards An Arsenic
Safe Environment). This means that the costs to Bangladeshs health care system will be quite
significant, the economy will suffer much more greatly (Towards An Arsenic Safe
Environment).
Bangladeshs government has received support from the World Bank to develop safer
water availability for the citizens (Safe Water for Rural Populations of Bangladesh). The
World Bank has contributed $42.2 million to construct deep tube wells in rural areas because
shallow wells are highly contaminated by arsenic (Safe Water for Rural Populations of
Bangladesh). The wells are also being equipped with pond sand filters, Arsenic Iron Removal
Plants and Rain Water Harvesting units (Safe Water for Rural Populations of Bangladesh).
Also, the government and World Bank have alerted citizens of the contaminated wells by
painting them red and painting the safe wells green (Safe Water for Rural Populations of
Bangladesh). With the help from the World Bank many citizens have hope for an arsenic free
future.
According to the United Nations, citizens of Kenya are part of the most struggling
population in the world (Snyder n.d.). The countrys poverty index has continued to steadily rise,
as the annual population growth is approximately 2.6% (Snyder n.d.). As of 2017, the population
of rural Kenya reached an all time high of 34, 251, 000 people out of the total population of forty
seven million (worldometer). Citizens experience many droughts, as the countrys land is
predominantly arid, meaning Kenya receives little rain and is too barren to support vegetation
(Snyder n.d.). As a result, Kenyas few water sources are evaporating quickly and are overpriced
Kenya does not have a suitable government in place to bring support for the need of
freshwater across the entire country. There is a big divide with the accessibility of freshwater
between rural and urban citizens (Snyder n.d.). Eighty five percent of citizens living in urban
centers have access to freshwater but only 49% of people have access that are living in rural
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 31
areas of Kenya (Kenya Profile). The governments budget for developing freshwater sources is
distributed in a way that is not equal and does not reflect the need across the country (Its Our
Water Too!). The allotted amount of money for rural areas is approximately 55% short of what
is required to achieve accessibility for every citizen (Its Our Water Too!). However, in the
urban areas of Kenya the planned investment exceeds what is required by 10-19% (Its Our
Water Too!). As a result, the people will less accessibility and living in poorer areas are having
to pay up to thirty times the amount of a wealthier man in urban centers (Its Our Water Too!).
Many countries have proclaimed that piped systems are the best way to grant freshwater
access to citizens of their country. However, Kenyas government has failed to implement this
system to the rural of Kenya and has not been able to maintain the systems because of finances,
leaks and illegal connections (Akumu, 2004). As a result, the government turned to privatization
to bring water to the citizens. The lower income groups feel that with the privatization of water
their needs are ignored and unserved (Akumu, 2004). Since privatization, citizens have noticed
the water sector has not significantly changed for the better. Some districts such as Eldoret,
Kericho and Nyeri have formed private companies to take control of the water supply (Akumu,
2004).
The amount of households with piped water coverage is between forty-two and fifty nine
percent, this results in millions of citizens without easily accessible water (Its Our Water Too!).
An estimated, the number of people without easy access to water in Kenya are sixteen million
(Its Our Water Too!). These sixteen million people rely on open water sources, rain
catchment, water kiosks and protected wells (Its Our Water Too!). Government officials to
help provide water install water kiosks. These kiosks are placed in areas not suitable for the
citizens (Its Our Water Too!). It is usual for a household to retrieve water four to six times a
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 32
day from the kiosks (Its Our Water Too!). In Kisumu, Kenya, forty five percent of the
population rely on water kiosks as their main water supply and will walk up to 112 minutes a day
to collect water (Its Our Water Too!). In times of scarcity it will be an upward time of 200
minutes to collect water (Its Our Water Too!). Kisumu is not the only city that lives this
everyday struggle. Other cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa also spend a significant portion of
In Kenya, it is considered a womens duty to provide water for the household (Barton
n.d.). This task is not safe or healthy for women to be responsible for as men can carry heavier
jugs of water and will not be targeted by other men (Barton n.d.). Many women will be attacked
or raped when walking to retrieve water or use a pit latrine to excrete bodily waste (Barton n.d.).
Their health is also put in jeopardy. Cholera is a frequent waterborne disease contracted by
women in impoverished areas of Kenya (Barton n.d.) as well as parasitic worms (Snyder n.d.).
The water kiosks or wells are contaminated with these diseases, however the jugs that are
collecting the water are also shown to contribute to health problems (Snyder n.d.). This is
because most of the containers are second-hand objects found on the ground. The containers are
often previously used for fertilizer, waste or oil (Snyder n.d.). Also, hospitals still do not have
piped systems to retrieve water, so doctors and nurses are also collecting water from
contaminated wells or kiosks and giving unclean water to already sick patients (Barton n.d.).
This results in pregnant women to pass their waterborne diseases onto their offspring and then
It can be assumed that without a piped water system households will not have a toilet. So
in loose terms it can be said that pit latrines are a solution to not having a toilet. However, this is
far from a solution (Marshall, 2011). This is due to the fact that pit latrines are typically placed
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 33
too close to the wells or water kiosks (Marshall, 2011). As a result microorganisms from urine
and feces travel in the ground from the pit latrines and seep into the wells or kiosks. To help
prevent cross contamination, wells or kiosks should be built in elevated areas and a minimum
fifteen meters from pit latrines (Marshall, 2011). Most rural areas continue to place their latrines
To be specific, Kenya lies across the equator in Eastern Africa with a 400-kilometer
eastern border with the Indian Ocean and a western boarder of Lake Victoria (Carruthers, 1973).
It may be assumed that Kenya would have plenty of water from these sources. Yet, as mentioned
above Kenya is an arid country that receives an average annual rainfall of 630 millimeters
(Marshall, 2011). In the mountainous areas, 2,030 millimeters of rainfall could be reached
(Carruthers, 1973). This suggests that the rainfall is distributed poorly across the entire country.
Interestingly, Kenyas economy is greatly based around agriculture, seventy five percent of
people work in the agriculture industry. (Marshall, 2011). It is known that without water all
plants, animals and human life will die. So the question is asked as to how Kenyas economy
relies on agriculture for income since there is such little rainfall. When droughts occur many
Kenyans are left to starve and without work (Marshall, 2011). Malnutrition rates are improving,
however it is estimated that from 2010-2030, Kenya will have to pay approximately $38.3 billion
in GDP due to losses in workforce productivity because of malnutrition (Feed The Future).
Though contamination and sources of water such as wells and water kiosks can be
solved, droughts and lack of rainfall cannot. The number of droughts are due to climate change
and will likely increase in the future (Marshall, 2011). It is critical for the Kenyan government to
increase and distribute the budget properly to help bring cleaner, accessible water to its citizens.
Costa Rica is known for being a tropical, warm tourist destination with an average
temperature of twenty-five degrees Celsius (Costa Rica Weather). Located in Central America,
Costa Rica is composed of coastal plains that are separated by mountains and over 100 volcanic
cones, several being extremely active today (The World Factbook). The country is bordering
the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean and is located in between Nicaragua and Panama
(The World Factbook). With a population of approximately 4.8 million, roughly half of the
citizens reside in urban areas and the capital, San Jose, is a home to one fifth of the population
Costa Rica is recorded as one of the worlds wettest countries with an average rainfall of
3810 millimeters per year (Water Shortages in Costa Rica). The countrys municipalities
collect most of their water from rain collectors in the mountains, so with a lack of rainfall there is
a significant decline in the amount of accessible water (Water Shortages in Costa Rica). Less
rain also results in less evaporation of humidity due to heat and this leads to even less rain
(Water Shortages in Costa Rica). Costa Rica is heavily dependent on lots of rain every year.
Costa Ricas tourism is a large part of their economy and in 2015 Costa Rica set a new
record for the number of tourists at 2.66 million (Dyer, 2016). The United States of America is a
large asset to this success and continuous growth totalling forty percent of all the tourists in 2015
(Dyer, 2016). According to the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the average American visitor
would spend an average $1,340. The Tourism Minister, Mauricio Ventura called tourism as the
motor for development (Dyer, 2016). This statement seems accurate when the tourism sector
swelled by nine percent in 2015. The tourism sector has contributed more than $2.8 billion in
revenue and employs approximately 600,000 citizens through direct and indirect employment
(Dyer, 2016). This results in a $246 million increase since the year of 2014 (Dyer, 2016).
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 35
However, even with this success from tourists, hotels have to pay an upward amount of
$120,000 per month for clean water (Water Crisis Continues in Tourism Paradise, 2016). The
lack of water resources is greatly affecting the province of Guanacaste, especially in tourists
areas such as Playa Panama and Playa Hermosa (Water Crisis Continues in Tourism Paradise,
2016). Sadly, there is no solution or program put in place to help the countrys main source of
income. It has been said by Manuel Salas, an authority figure at Institute of Aqueducts and
Sewers (AyA), that It is unlikely that the problem will be resolved this year. At the moment,
they are serving communities and hotels with tankers and bringing back a weak pulse to this
emergency (Water Crisis Continues in Tourism Paradise, 2016 pg. 1). It has also been said
that there have been meetings to discuss the problem but AyA has lost the capacity to supply
As a result of the water shortage, the government has decided to ration water for the
people living in the San Jose metro area (Lopez, 2016). This means that households will only
have access to water for up to twelve hours per day (Lopez, 2016). In other areas such as Tibas,
Goicoechea and Coronado will receive a maximum of six hours of water access throughout the
day (Lopez, 2016). In total, approximately 500,000 citizens will have their water rationed
(Lopez, 2016). The idea of rationing was brought to light when aquifer levels reached an all time
low and the excessive amount of consumption (Lopez, 2016). AyA and the Costa Rican
Electricity Institute (ICE) are working together to find additional water sources for the suffering
Guanacaste province (Lopez, 2016). This will involve the drilling of thirteen wells in hopes of
finding a new groundwater source to supply the province (Lopez, 2016). Guanacaste has been
severely damaged by El Nio, which is a three year long drought causing water shortages
throughout the province (Lopez, 2016). ICE is responsible for providing equipment and expertise
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 36
whereas AyA is in charge of the execution and testing of the wells (Lopez, 2016). The president
of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis, pledged $50 million to solve the water crisis and provide
infrastructure as well as drought relief to the province (Lopez, 2016). The countrys water
production is equal to the amount of current demand and is starting to result in this rationing
In 2012 it was noted that approximately ninety nine percent of the urban population was
connected to water supply systems and ninety two percent in rural areas (Black, 2012). This is
due to the amount of support and many peoples impact in the government. The main agency
responsible for oversight of the water section is the Ministry of Health and the Regulatory
Authority for Public Service is responsible for economic regulation as well as pricing and
monitoring the quality of service (Black, 2012). The Ministry of Environment, Energy and
Thus, there are many different efforts to develop and maintain a better, more consistent
supply of water and to conserve water in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has an abundance of water that
International Organizations
International organizations are a key role in addressing global and social issues. Through
reading this paper it is important to understand the difference between international organizations
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as the two titles cannot be used interchangeably.
An international organization is said to, to achieve objectives that [governments] cannot achieve
on their own. (Bhning, 1999). International organizations are funded and supported through
the government whereas NGOs are separate from the government. As the name suggests, NGOs
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 37
have no attachment to the government and are often founded by independent people. This section
of the paper will analyze two government funded organizations as well as two non-government
funded organizations. The Who Health Organization (WHO) will be discussed and their
organization where as Water for People and United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) are all
publically funded.
UNICEF
UNICEF was originally founded to bring relief to children after World War II in 1946
(UNICEFs Role). Since then it has expanded into developing countries to help children whose
lives are at risk (UNICEFs Role). Among other things, UNICEF brings relief to children who
are experiencing epidemics, poverty and war in 157 countries and territories around the world
(UNICEFs Role). UNICEF has more than 7,000 people volunteering and working one on one
with children, local and national governments and doing desk work (UNICEFs Role).
UNICEFs work is structured around the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the
United Nations in the year 2000, and objective their work to meet these goals (UNICEFs
Role). In summary, UNICEF was created to relieve suffering during emergencies, and where
children are threatened. UNICEF believes no child should be exposed to violence, abuse or
exploitation.
WASH
WASH is a program created by UNICEF to focus on water, sanitation and hygiene for
children living in developing nations. UNICEF stated that though e water, sanitation and hygiene
are separate fields of work, each is dependent on the presence of the other (Water, Sanitation
and Hygiene, 2016). To break it down, without toilets, water sources became contaminated;
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 38
without clean water, basic hygiene practices become more difficult. For the purpose of this paper
Many organizations have a common problem. Its not the lack of funding but rather the
upkeep and maintenance of their implementations once their workers are gone. WASH is no
different. In fact, thirty to fifty percent of all WASH projects fail two to five years after being
installed (Tropp, Jacobson, Cortobius, Hubendick & Scharp, 2015). Though this percentage will
differ for each country the percentage of functional water points is around thirty percent. These
percentages are not due to the lack of financing and fundraising, it is the complete opposite. In
the last twenty years, UNICEF has donated approximately 1.3 billion dollars to implementing
water sources and infrastructure in developing nations (Tropp, Jacobson, Cortobius, Hubendick
One reason for all these failures is the fact that there is no one easy answer to solve this
water crisis. Every country has different institutional structures, governance systems and
what will work best for one particular country. WASH does not install the same solutions for
every country so it has became a trial and error type approach (Tropp, Jacobson, Cortobius,
cooperation and teamwork from the countrys government and the public as well as other
organizations (Tropp, Jacobson, Cortobius, Hubendick & Scharp, 2015). If everyone involved
works together it may result in efficient use of resources, responsive use of power and effective
and sustainable service provision (Tropp, Jacobson, Cortobius, Hubendick & Scharp, 2015). It
has been said that, Accountability in the WASH sector is the democratic principle whereby
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 39
elected officials and those in charge of providing access to water supply and sanitation services
account for their actions and answer to those they serve. (Tropp, Jacobson, Cortobius,
With all this information, it is not to be ignored all the positive contributions WASH has
made to developing nations and the difference they have made. WASH has contributed
significantly to countries reaching MDGs of halving the population without access to fresh water
(Tropp, Jacobson, Cortobius, Hubendick & Scharp, 2015). UNICEF is also a big part of allowing
WASH not only deals with implementing/improving water sources but consoling and
nurturing young children who are unable to attend school and/or without a family due to a
UNICEF is purely based on donations and fundraising to help 157 countries in the world.
They have been an organization for 71 years and plan to continue to bring relief for many years
Another NGO is Water for People. Water for People has one simple vision; a world
where every person has access to reliable and safe water (Water for People). They exist to
promote the development of high quality drinking water, accessible to all and to be sustained by
communities, businesses and governments. Water for People was established in 1991 and to
this day still have the same values (Water for People). These values include:
To date, Water for People are working in nine different countries to implement and create
jobs (Water for People). Similar to UNICEF, Water for People has different approaches and
plans for each country. However, unlike UNICEF, Water for People continues to stay in the
country to monitor their work. For example, Water for People started work in Malawi in 2000
and are still working there today (Water for People). In 2006, it was necessary for the plan to
be changed from working on small projects in a wide range of places to concentrating their
efforts in three regions: peri-urban Blantyre and the rural districts of Chikwawa and Rumphi.
Since its start, Water for People have made these regions become a leader in the water sector in
the whole country of Malawi (Water for People). This represents the successfulness Water for
Water for People is unique in the fact that they also focus on the repercussions the lack of
water has on women and girls. Water for People raises money not only to build water sources but
also to help take women and girls from walking to fetch way to sitting in a classroom. They also
feature real life stories on their website of the impacts they make on women and girls in
communities. In Honduras, Water for People influenced Dna Luisa to start a water committee
board in her town, El Negrito (Water for People). She has installed water meters to establish a
system where households only pay for the water they use, a model that now helps the community
fix and maintain their way systems (Water for People). Water for People believes they are
different from many NGOs due to the fact that Water for People empower local governments,
community members and service provides to invest in long-term solutions and systems that are
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 41
right to specifically their country. Water for People listen to what the local citizens desire and
build a trusting relationship with them to allow access of freshwater to every community,
household, school and clinic. Water for People calls this method Everyone Forever.
organization. In fact, some of the money comes from voluntary contributions however the
majority of the funds are the dues each country pays in order to be a member of the organization
(Assessed Contributions). The amount of money each country contributes is based off the
To provide a brief history, diplomats met to form the United Nations in 1945 and one of
the topics of discussion was creating a global health organization. On April 7, 1948 WHOs
Constitution came into force and this day is celebrated as World Health Day (History of
WHO).
The World Health Organization directs and coordinates authority on international health
within the United Nations system. The WHO executes this by providing leadership on matters
critical to health, directing the research agenda, setting the norms and standards for other
organizations and monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends (What We Do).
The World Health Organizations main focus is bringing universal health coverage and support
to countries around the world (What We Do). In many developing countries, peoples life
expectancy is significantly lower than those living in developed countries. This is due to the lack
of health care throughout prevalent in their lives. Therefore, WHO is promoting health through
the entire course of life. This means taking into account environment risks, social determinants
The World Health Organization is extremely influential in the guidelines and strategies
for freshwater access across the globe. As the globe leader to prevent transmission of waterborne
disease and advising governments on the development of health based targets and regulations,
WHO produces a series of water quality guidelines for the rest of the world to follow (What We
Do). Beginning in 2014 WHO began executing household water treated products to ensure there
are no pathogens that may lead to diarrhea disease and to strengthen policy (What We Do). In
2015, WHO introduced the Sanitation Safety Plans to support implementation of wastewater
guidelines (What We Do). This promotes risk assessment of water among individuals,
It is important to note that these organizations that are mentioned were chosen to be
analyzed in this paper, however, there are still many other organizations that are involved and
influential in bringing developing nations freshwater access. Other NGOs include water.org,
The Water Project and Waterboys. Water.org has a main goal of breaking the cycle of poverty
with a specialization of the lack of water that coincides with poverty. The Water Projects
objective is to build new wells, rebuild broken wells, catchment systems and protection to
schools, medical clinics and villages. Chris Long who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles in the
National Football League (NFL) founded the water foundation, Waterboys. Chris Long has used
his status to bring a significant amount of money to East Africa building seventeen wells. Long
creates a competition between every NFL team to raise more money and has set a goal to build
thirty-two wells to represent each NFL team. It seems as though there is a common goal for
every NGO and government funded organizations. Though the goal may be slightly different for
each organization, there is the goal of providing the human right of clean, accessible water to
Canadian Connection
definitely much more prevalent in developing countries than it is in Canada, and this can be
attributed to our developed infrastructure and progressive approach to human rights. In some
regions of the world, the lack of clean, accessible freshwater is all they know and are denied this
basic human right every single day of their lives. The government system of these developing
countries are either working towards a better future or have no plan to provide clean water. The
leaders that provide no future change for their country lack the critical thinking skills necessary
to piece together as to why it so detrimental to the safety and health of their citizens to have
clean water every single day. In Canada, the government supplies majority of their citizens with
fresh, accessible water, however, Canada struggles to provide this right to the First Nations
People.
The First Nations People do not have water because there is not enough for everyone. In
fact, Canada has substantial water resources but Canada has many management challenges
(Freshwater Country Profile: Canada, 2003). Within the federal government each department
is responsible for developing its own three-year sustainable development strategy (Freshwater
Country Profile: Canada, 2003). As a result, in 2003 a Federal Water Management Framework
was developed by the Minister of the Environment (Freshwater Country Profile: Canada,
2003). Every level of government is involved in water management and accessibility. The
provincial governments are in direct control of all the water within the provinces borders and
the delivery of drinking water and sanitation services is delegated by provinces to municipalities
(Freshwater Country Profile: Canada, 2003). The municipalities still receive provincial
funding and oversight for these tasks (Freshwater Country Profile: Canada, 2003). The federal
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 44
government is responsible for all water sources on federal and/or Aboriginal lands (Freshwater
Country Profile: Canada, 2003). To be more specific, the federal government is in charge of
navigation and shipping, seacoasts and inland fisheries, canals, harbors, rivers and lake
Profile: Canada, 2003). The provincial government is more specifically responsible for local
works and undertakings, exclusive jurisdiction over the development, conservation and
Since the provincial government oversees, or is responsible for almost all the freshwater
activity in Canada, it is important that policies and procedures are set in order to coincide with
not only the federal government, but international policies as well. As a result, the recent
Rooted in sustainable development: they provide a solid context for the water policies to
expand beyond drinking water and human health and include ecosystem needs and
sustainability;
Protection of human health is a key outcome: given that many policies are rooted in
policy;
removals;
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 45
Hazards and environmental prediction: only half of Canadian provinces identify potential
In terms of this, a key feature is its inclusive approach, meaning it emphasizes the
building of capacity among users and non-governmental organizations, which differs from
creates a sense of unity and teamwork between everyone involved. Involved are Science for
Sustainable Development, Business and Industry, Workers and Trade Unions, Farmers, Children
and Youth, Women and Public Involvement (Freshwater Country Profile: Canada, 2003). This
creates a sense of nationalism and brings desire to improve Canadian freshwater access and
sustainability.
For most Canadians, access to sufficient, affordable and safe drinking water is an easy
part of their day. Yet, even with all these policies set in place by the government, Canadian
Natives, Inuits and First Nations have a hard time accessing fresh water and the water they do
collect is typically contaminated and is not safe because of faulty treatment systems (Make It
Safe, 2016). Many First Nations people live on reserves that fall within the jurisdiction and
responsibility of the federal government (Klasing, Muscati, Walsh, Kotowski & Root). Most
First Nations experience poverty, poor health, insufficient housing and inadequate education.
Today, there is a water crisis on First Nations reserves, with 135 drinking water advisories in
Many First Nation communities rely on well water as their main source, which is often
contaminated (Klasing, 2016). Exposure to the contaminants can cause illnesses ranging from
gastrointestinal disorders to increased risk of cancer (Klasing, 2016). Because many people do
not trust their water they choose not to bathe in it, which results in skin infections, psoriasis and
It has been suggested by First Nations for the Federal government to collaborate and
formulate a plan for addressing water conditions that will allow for long-term solutions
beyond the five year budget of 600 million dollars. (Klasing, Muscati, Walsh, Kotowski
& Root).
The First Nations are requesting a timeframe commitment by the government to ensure
Work closely with First Nations to promulgate enforceable drinking water and sanitation
regulations:
international law;
o With sufficient funding and technical support for First Nations to meet these
standards; and
o Under an appropriate timeline for full enforcement that permits First Nations to
Engage First Nations on the cultural aspects of water in order to identify culturally
Identify lessons learned from past funding commitments for First Nations water and
located in Northern Ontario and is apart of the James Bay community. With a population of
approximately 1,200 many families do not have running tap water or easy accessible clean water
(NEWS: Water crisis). For the past three years the people of Attawapiskat have been unable to
utilize tap water, as the water is untreated and the people are required to obtain their water for
drinking and cooking from units within hospitals and schools (NEWS: Water crisis).
Originally, the community drew water from the Attawapiskat River by buckets and pails, and
then in 1976 the Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada identified a suitable, inland lake for the
people to draw their water (Dont Drink the Water). However, this lake contains many
organics, is coloured, has a depth of only two and a half meters and has no water flow during the
winter months. Once the lake freezes many of the organics, such as iron and manganese, are
excluded from the ice, which results in a much higher contamination. As a result, Health Canada
advises people to minimize their exposure to this water when it is not boiled as it can cause skin
irritation and rashes. After an assessment facilitated by the federal government concluded that
the government would need to budget $4.7 billion to build, upgrade and maintain water and
wastewater infrastructure in all First Nation communities (NEWS: Water crisis). By spending
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 48
this money the government will bring the communities water quality in line with the Aboriginal
However, there are still many communities within Canada that have suffered or continue
to suffer from the lack of freshwater that are not on reserves. In Walkerton, Ontario the town of
5000 people suffered from an E. Coli outbreak. During the month of May in the year 2000 the
town witnessed seven deaths and thousand of people fall ill due to the contamination. It began
after a heavy rainfall that washed cow manure into the town well and the manure resulted in the
E. Coli outbreak. Here is an accurate timeline of the events that unfolded in the town of
Walkerton:
May 15, 2000 Walkertons local public utilities commission (PUC) takes routine
May 17, 2000 PUC receives lab results confirming E. Coli contamination, however the
May 19, 2000 The regions Medical Health Office is notified about the several patients
with symptoms including vomiting, bloody diarrhea, cramps and fever. Stan Koebel,
May 23, 2000 MHO conducts their own water sample and confirm the E. Coli
May 15 May 27, 2000 Seven people die and thousands fall ill. Citizens were put on
(Inside Walkerton)
After four years of investigation Stan Koebel was sentenced to one year in jail after the
Ontario Superior Court stressed there was never any intent for Koebel to harm anyone, but he
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 49
was negligent in fulfilling his duties. As a result of this water tragedy the Ontario government
announced their new budget allowing $25 million to be spent on safe drinking water and
Canada has the resources and money to support their First Nations and bring them the
human right they deserve. Since Justin Trudeau has been elected as Prime Minister, he has
promised to support the First Nations and this is the first step to a better future.
Solutions
Accessibility to clean, adequate water is not a goal that is unachievable. Yes this goal will
come at a price but so does everything else in the world. It is matter of compromising and having
equality for this universal right: access to clean water. The initial cost would be large but the
economic return would be significant. Humans are capable of accomplishing great things when
companies and local citizens are put together the results could be life changing. Freshwater
access has to be top priority to people involved to truly make a difference. In this section of the
paper possible solutions to the lack of freshwater in developing nations will be addressed.
In many areas there is a significant amount of water in the ground. However, the water is
being pumped out of the ground quicker than it can be naturally replenished. Water conservation
will allow the supply of water to be used more efficiently and effectively. If people are able to
retrofit their faucets and showers, displace water in their toilet tank and fix water leaks, millions
In countries such as Canada and the United States of America water is an abundant
source that people take for granted every single day. This is a big contrast to developing
countries where water is scare and sources are unreliable. Due to the difference in accessibility,
conflict of water resource is a growing problem. As the demand for water increases and the
supply decreases there is a competition to gain access to these sources. Water treaties have been
created in order to create peace and provide a distribution process to suit everyones needs
create a new global export industry that would be able to ship water around the world (Clark,
2014). The ships would be able to carry 180,000 tons of water at times and load into suitable
harbors and terminals (Clark, 2014). It is still in the process of working out the logistics but this
Throughout this paper the country of Bangladesh was focused on and the struggle
Bengalis are presented with when accessing freshwater. It was mentioned that Bangladesh is a
country in the Ganges River delta and India built a barrage to divert water away from
Bangladesh and into India. The countries China, Nepal and Bhutan also are a part of the river
delta and these rivers are shared among the countries with much disagreement. Enhancing the
cooperation between these countries of South Asia is essential to improving water governance in
the region. With these five nations collaborating and sharing information on water and
environmental issues, routinely running and documenting hazard assessments and creating joint
managing infrastructure facilities the impacts could be tremendous (Nesa, 2015). This joint work
and collaboration in managing the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers would enable all five nations
to protect, finance and receive expertise that otherwise might not have been available with just
one nation. However, boundaries still need to be put in place to benefit the needs and interests of
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 51
the civilians living in each country. In 1996, India and Bangladesh signed the Ganges Water
Sharing Treaty (Nesa, 2015). Yet, each country has broken the rules of this treaty and as India
and Bangladesh continue to struggle, this treaty needs to be rewritten to pertain to current issues.
New water sharing treaties should be more integrative in scope than they have been in the past,
covering domains such as flood control and irrigation. Each country in South Asia should move
information sharing policies. This would limit the power to just a single nation and for the power
In developing nations religion is a big part of many citizens lives. Water is the one
symbol shared by all religions. As mentioned in the Religion section of this paper, water is used
in many religious rituals, traditions and is essential in faith related schools. It is important for the
preachers of these religions to inform and stress the importance of bringing freshwater to every
citizen and the importance of cleanliness. If the different religions incorporated the
aforementioned into their practices many more people would listen, as it is their religion. As
people are passionate about their religion it is possible for the people to become passionate about
the teaching of freshwater access and they can raise awareness to governments and other people.
Throughout different countries, different policies and regulations are put in place to
ensure the government is bringing accessible freshwater to its people. In the continent of Africa
it is thought that Africa is constrained by the lack of money, however it is the lack of policies put
in place. This is the case for forty African countries (Bond & Bauer n.d.). Local governments and
water users can play a much stronger role in the policy making process and by doing so they can
have a far greater impact on the overall sector of governance (Bond & Bauer n.d.). Legislation
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 52
incorporates policy into national political and legal frameworks, setting water quality standards,
protecting individual and communal water rights and managing conflict (Bauer & Bond n.d.).
Policies and legislation is essential to bring freshwater access to citizens and it can only be
Besides water there is one thing in the world humans struggle to survive without. That is
money. Without money people are unable to pay for water, food, shelter and transportation. So
money and water go hand in hand. The first WaterCredit program was introduced by water.org to
supply people with the money required to be able to pay for water in their country
(WaterCredit). Water.org pairs with microfinance institutions that provide loans to a person or
family in need of water or toilets. The loans through WaterCredit are affordable which makes it
easy to repay in the future. In eight countries, WaterCredit has allowed more than four million
people to have access to safe water and sanitation (WaterCredit). There have been a total of
938,000 loans disbursed in various regions (WaterCredit). Programs such as WaterCredit are
transforming lives and giving hope to men, women and children to a better and healthier future.
Conclusion
simple. It is a struggle generation after generation face due to poverty and simply the lack of
water in their home country. There are a few main reasons why this issue remains so prevalent in
the twenty-first century: lack of education, lack of structure and policies, poverty and the
dwindling supply of water remaining on Earth. Many children are unable to attend school due to
water related illnesses and/or because they are collecting water. This results in children being
uneducated and growing up into adulthood without the knowledge to make a change. This cycle
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 53
of citizens being uneducated due to water related reasons continues through generations.
Education is important in this situation for a multitude of reasons. With education, parents can
learn about the dangers of retrieving unsafe drinking water, as well parents can step forth to the
government requesting for changes in their country. Education gives people the stepping stone
Not having clean, safe drinking water is a violation of human rights. The United Nations
General Assembly has acknowledged that clean drinking water is essential for humanity and the
need to live. However, hundreds of million of people and children are denied this basic human
right. There are significant health concerns when children are unable to drink and use fresh,
clean water. Thousands of children under the age of five die every year due to diarrhea and the
mental affects are significant. Their bodies become defenseless to the bacteria and infections that
The effects of not having access to freshwater alter someones life drastically and can
impact an entire culture. The lack of water impacts the sanitation of hospitals, health treatments,
education and economics as well as the safety of citizens. Women and young girls are required to
walk miles upon miles in search for a water source. This journey uses energy that these people
simply do not have and are unable to replenish. Often, these women and young girls are raped in
their search, which also leads to the fact that this search for water is unsafe.
The reality is the lack of freshwater access in developing nations is a global issue that
must be addressed. The ripple effect of inadequate water has on its nation is tremendous as
families are unable to provide for their children, the health system is compromised as well as the
food and agriculture. This all results in developing nations to contribute less to the world stage in
exports, which also affects the economy. For all the aforementioned reasons, the violation of
Freshwater Access In Developing Nations 54
human rights is not the only reason why this issue should be tackled immediately. Despite
international agreements and laws, the lack of freshwater access in developing nations continues
to be an omnipresent issue. Citizens everywhere deserve the right to a healthy and safe life; a
childhood and education. By absolutely no means should humans continue to struggle in search
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