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Water Scarcity Solutions

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Organizations worldwide have been studying and implementing water scarcity solutions. At GFA World, we have found that drilling fresh water wells and providing BioSand water filters makes a profound difference in the lives, health and wellbeing of families—and their larger communities. Delivering water through Jesus Wells Some villages in South Asia wait over six months for rain. Nearly all the rivers dry up, so people travel to other villages, which can be 4 miles away or more, to gather water. Villagers have tried to store water during the rainy season, but it often becomes contaminated, leading to disease. And, during monsoon season, rivers can become dirty and smell foul. GFA drills Jesus Wells , which draw fresh water from up to 600 feet deep year-round, even in the driest summers. We use local contractors to drill multiple wells, so we can build a well for, on average, $1,400—much less than many other organizations. The local congregation maintains the well, from lubricating th...
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Water Scarcity Definition

Water scarcity definition: it is a shortage of water due to inadequate infrastructure or a lack of regular supply. That means people can’t get enough clean water to fulfill their basic drinking, cleaning, farming and sanitation needs because demand exceeds supply. Throughout the decades, organizations have used different methods of assessing water shortage, such as the ratio of how much water a specific population uses versus its total available supply. The most recent methods focus on determining levels of water stress based on the availability of water geographically within a region and seasonal fluctuations in water resources. Different forms of water scarcity exist. Physically, water resources may be overused and not meet the needs of a population. For example, changing weather patterns significantly impacts the south of Madagascar, which suffers from the country’s lowest water service coverage. Lately, more frequent and intense droughts have led to hunger and malnutrition. Econom...
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Water Scarcity FAQs

Here are just a few water scarcity FAQs to consider: How much water does the planet have? Water covers 70% of the earth, but only 3% of it is fresh water. Out of that 3% of the planet’s fresh water, about two-thirds of is stuck, frozen in glaciers, or otherwise not available for human use. 1 How many people lack water? About 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries year-round, and 733 million of those live in high and critically-stressed regions. 2 Nearly two-thirds of the world’s population—4 billion people—experience a severe lack of water at least one month a year. 3 What are some examples of what’s happening to the world’s water? More than half of the earth’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900. 4 Central Asia’s Aral Sea was once the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world. In the last 30 years, it has shrunk to the size of Lake Michigan, due to pollution and water diversion for irrigation. As it receded, it became saltier and exposed now-polluted land, resulting ...
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Water Scarcity

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Sometimes it’s hard to believe that water scarcity is a problem on this planet since 70% of it is covered with oceans, rivers, lakes and the like. But only 3% of that water is fresh—and only a third of that is accessible (not frozen or otherwise obtainable). 1 Water Scarcity Definition Nearly half of the people in the world already live in water-scarce areas where they struggle to access water at least one month a year. About 75% of them live in Asia. 2 By 2050, experts predict that this number could increase to somewhere between 4.8 to 5.7 billion people. Researchers estimate that two-thirds of the global population may struggle with water shortages by 2025. 3 In the last 100 years, water use has increased by nearly six times compared to the early 1900s. 4 As a result, more and more regions are reaching limits regarding sustainable and accessible water. 5 In just four years, from 2004 to 2008, aquifer depletion nearly tripled when compared to the historical average. 6 “The world is...
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What Is GFA World Doing to Provide People with Access to Clean Drinking Water Solutions?

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GFA World has been serving people in Asia since 1979. For many of those years, we have been providing people with access to clean drinking water solutions through two primary methods. Jesus Wells Over 30,000 Jesus Wells have been drilled in the last two decades. These wells are provided to communities and villages that have no close access to clean drinking water. For example, in many communities, people were walking hours to find water and, oftentimes, it was contaminated. These communities now have access to clean water that is safe to drink and use for cooking and other needs. What makes these wells unique? First, the well is maintained by a local church and its pastor. The well becomes a ministry of that church and the water is provided free of charge to the community. The church is responsible for making sure the pump and handle are working well and the area around the well is maintained. BioSand Water Filters These filters are a great solution for individual families or small nei...
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What Is a Summary of The Water Shortage Problem and Solution?

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Summarizing the global water shortage problem and solution is challenging. It is important to note that 785 million people lack a basic drinking water source and at least 2 billion people use a water source that is contaminated with feces. 1 That’s a major problem that leads to serious waterborne diseases and even death. Consider a remote village in South Asia where a young girl must walk 3 hours to access water. Sometimes, the water she collects is contaminated with feces or other pollutants. She may bring water back to her family, but that water is likely to give them a waterborne disease. The process of collecting water also keeps her from school and continues the cycle of poverty in her family. While the water shortage problem is most urgent in developing countries, it is wise not to overlook the issues in developed areas. For example, more than 30 million Americans live in areas without access to safe drinking water. 2 Cape Town, South Africa, is an interesting example of the wat...
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What Are Some Water Solutions Through Technology?

Scientists and entrepreneurs are working diligently to find water solutions through technology. These solutions may be the key to bringing clean water to developing countries and to areas impacted by drought. While the full technology advancement list would be long, here are some intriguing water solutions being brought forward through technology. Solar solutions Solar solutions are becoming more widely used. Whether it be solar-powered desalination plants or individual home solutions, scientists are using the sun to provide clean water. One innovative project is the Source Hydropanel, which can provide up to 10 liters of water a day. A solar panel is used to heat sponge-like material to create condensation. The condensation accumulates and is then filtered. This is just one example of innovation that is solar powered. 1 The Drinkable Book Can a book filter water? Scientists think so! The Drinkable Book is a filtration tool and each page contains a way to sanitize water up to 99.9%. It...
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