2.

Causes of Water Scarcity

Water Scarcity is our world today is a combination of many factors. Global Climate change,
Population, Urbanisation, Surface Water Pollution and Ground Water Pollution are some of
the major factors contributing to our lack of Water.
2.1.1 Climate Change
Climate Change in our world today has a large effect on our water supply. The change in
temperature has effect rain patterns around the world which has affected our water supply
significantly. These changes in our environment, among others, have created a water scarcity
in our world today.
The main cause of our climate change, Namely Global Warming, is a result of accumulated
greenhouse gasses which have created the Greenhouse Effect. Water vapour, Carbon
Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Chlorofluorocarbons are the main gasses which
contribute to this effect. They are the product of our human activities that are now built into
our everyday life. Industrial factories, Transportation methods, and overpopulation of our
World have contributed to this effect in the most significant way. The greenhouse effect has
is warming our planet and so changing our environment. [A blanket around the Earth, NASA]
Due to the rising temperatures, some areas are experiencing more precipitation, others less.
The ice caps are busy melting and raising our sea levels which in turn is contaminating our
fresh drinking water with the saline solution of our oceans.
Climate change modelling exercises consistently indicate the many of the worlds major river
basins may experience more severe droughts and floods in the future. South Africa is
particularly venerable due to our need for rain water in the agriculture sector and water
recourses for livelihoods, our limited recourses for adaptation and lack of institutions to
regulate river and stream flow. [Science Scope, Chapter 3, Aug 2009, Climate change and our
water Resource, Dr. Gift Manase]
Due to the changes in our climate it has made it increasingly difficult to establish trends in
our rainfall. [Mary and Majule, 2009]. The climate change will result in a shortage of fresh
drinking water, with developing countries such as South African Being heavily
impacted.[Rabie, 2008]. Rabie (2008) also suggests that with water cycles intensifying, dry
countries getting drier, South Africa being classified as a Semi Arid country, the scarcity in
water can produce a number an impacts such as:
Disease
Xenophobia
Air pollution
Forest fires
Economies
to name a few.

2.1.2 Population
South Africa has a population of about fifty million people, where approximately fifty nine
percent (59%) live in urban communities (Tornqvist & Ofverstrom, 2008). According to
Statistics South Africa (2011) trends in the South Africa population indicate significant
growth in the future years, increasing the demand for water. In addition, Gauteng remains the
most over populated province in South Africa. Mundia (2007) agrees that the rapid growth of
population increases the demand needed and thus stresses water supply to a critical level.
2.1.3 Urbanisation
According to Tornqvist and Ofverstrom (2008) Urbanisation has slowly been growing over
the last five years. Furthermore, Urbanisation can contribute to governments efforts of
relieving poverty and high rate of unemployment. However, the growth of urbanisation
contributes to the growth of important sectors namely agriculture and domestic households,
two of the largest consumers of South Africas water.
2.1.4 Surface water pollution
The increase in population and water pollution is a trend found in South Africa and is
expected to grow (Tornqvist & Ofverstrom, 2008). In addition, this trend is likely to
compromise the reliability of surface water in many regions around South Africa; even more
so in regions where over population occurs such as in Johannesburg suburbs. The results of
water pollution are linked with many water associated diseases that can be fatal to human
beings (Anthony, 2007).
2.1.5 Ground water pollution
According to Ewart (2011) water supply in Johannesburg is further impacted by the acid
mine drainage. Acid mine drainage is the result of mass exposure of mining by-products such
as iron pyrite and heavy metals (Ewart, 2011). In addition, the exposure of the metals
underground are contaminating underground water supplies, the reactions of metals with
ground water will cause health risks when consumed for domestic purposes. If surface and
ground water cannot be relied on, water sustainability in particular for residential
households should be focused towards rainwater.







2.2 Impacts of Water Scarcity on Health
2.2.1 Infectious Diseases

A problem with water shortage is that people are forced to consume contaminated water. at
present 1.1billion people have little choice but to use potentially contaminated and harmful
sources of water [Centre for disease Control and Prevention, Coping with Water Scarcity,
2010]. The situation is worse in developing countries, South Africa, as we lack the resources
to fix the problems associated with contamination. Common diseases in contaminated water
include:
2.2.2.1 Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is caused by micro organisms living in untreated water. It cause a person to lose
both water and electrolytes which leads to dehydration and sometimes death. It is the most
important problem directly related to clean drinking water and sanitation. About 4 Billion
cases around the world cause 1.8 milling deaths and 1.6 million are children under 5 years of
age.
2.2.2.2 Arsenicosis
Long- term exposure to low concentrations or Arsenic in water can lead to skin keratosis and
cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder and kidney. Millions of people around the world are in
danger of this as they are reliant and water contaminated with arsenic, sometimes from
natural sources, and do not have safe clean drinking water.
2.2.2.3 Cholera
This is an acute infection of the intestinal tract stemming from Cholera infected water. It
causes severe attacks of diarrhoea and can quickly lead to dehydration and death. It is a
worldwide problem but can be treated effectively with access to clean drinking water and
sanitation techniques.


2.2.2.4 Flourosis
This is a bone disease cause by ingestion of high concentrations of fluorine in untreated
water. It is associated with genetic problems in children whose parents were exposed to it.
Poor bone structure and weak spines are some of the symptoms. This in endemic in 25
countries around the world.
2.2.2.5 Intestinal Worm
This is a parasitic worm which leads to diarrhoea, malnutrition, anaemia and retarded growth.
It is spread by water running by infected soil. The soil becomes infected by human faeces
from people who are already infected and so is spread very quickly. About 400 million school
age children are infected by Roundworm, Hookworm and whipworm.
2.2.2.6 Guinea worm disease
People contract this disease by drinking water which contains the worms larvae. It causes
debilitating ulcers. About 50000 cases are reported in Africa annually.
2.2.2.7 Bilharzia
This disease is caused by a parasitic worm which lives in certain fresh water snails, water
itself (where it can live for up to 48Hours) and in human hosts. They cause infection of the
bladder, lungs, kidney and intestine. About 200 million people are infected and around 20
million suffer severe consequences.
2.2.2.8 Trachoma
This is an eye infection caused by unclean water and poor sanitation practices. About
6million people around the world are blinded by it.
2.2.2.9 Typhoid
This is a fever associate with drinking contaminated water and causes dizziness, headaches
and loss of appetite. About 12 million people are infected around there world
2.2.1.10 HIV/AIDS
A hygienic environment, clean water and adequate sanitation are key factors in preventing
opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS. AIDS infected people are more
susceptible to water related diseases than health people and become sicker from the infections
than people with a healthy immune system.
As more people are forced to ingest water contaminated with many of the above disease, the
infection rate with increase and spread and at more rapid rate than they already are. Almost
all of the above mentioned diseases can be prevented and treated with access to clean
drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities.

[UNICEF-Common water and sanitation-related Diseases, July 2010]
References

DWAF, 2005. Ground Water Resource Assessment (GRA) phase 2
Kruger, AC, 2006. Observed Trends in Climate Change and Daily Precipitation Indices in
Southern African
Mike Lockwood, Solar Change and Climate, December 2009
Schulze, et al.2005. Climate Change and Water Resources in Southern African: Studies on
Scenarios, Impacts, Vulnerabilities and Adaptation. WRC report 1430/1/05. Chapter 9, p152
United States Global Research Program, Climate Change Impacts Cambridge University
Press, 2009
UNICEF. Common water and sanitation-related Diseases July 2010