Evidence of Solution

The topic that I researched was supply of clean water. Many developing countries all over the world do not have any sources of clean water. People that live in these places are forced to drink and clean themselces with either dirty water or no water.This problem leads to two main problems, lack of drinking water, which causes many infections and diseases that can easily be passed on. And the other problem is that many of the people can not clean themselves which leads to easy spread of disease. About the 3.475m people are killed each year by this particular problem and many more are affected by it.

For the science behind the problem I reaserched the diseases and how to dilter water. Many people are able to water but it is rarely clean. There are many filters and different types solutions that filter water. A main way that people filter water today is by heat but it is very hard to provide all the families in a town or village with a machine that can heat the water enough to filter out most of the small bacteria. Also I researched the diseases that one can attain from using thse water resources.Big infections such as intestinal parasites, and diarrhea kill the most. I researched different symptoms, causes and cures.

For my local solutions I did two things to help the problem. At first I posted little flyers next to mirrors in bathrooms giving a few facts about clean water and what the reader can do in his or her everday life to help out. Also I left my email address for those willing to donate money to build a well. My second solution was to put a box to collect soda can tabs. When recycling soda can tabs the water pollution is decreased in addtion to raising the awareness about the problem and receiving money for recycling that goes to a foundation that builds wells in Africa.

Any body can help this problem in their lives. For example just turning of the water while brushing your teeth will save more water than people in developing countries can get to drink for two days. Same goes for taking shorter showers. Showers take up a lot of water, but if one quickly cleans up then the water waste can go down by a lot. Also people can out of rain buckets to collect rain water so that they can re-use to water the garden.

Is this proble global? Even though this problem occurs mostly in developing countries it has happened in many other developed countries. Also helping the world is helping everyone so I do think it is in the world’s hands to help these countries. Since it costs from 500 to 1200 dollars to build a well it is in the hands of rich companies, organizations and countries to help build these wells.

Overall this problem is easily treatable but it takes time and patience to help these countries.

FAQ’s

What can be done to help developing countries?

Raising awareness is always a good start. Although donating money to organizations that use the money to provide towns and villages with a clean water source, is also good way to help with this problem.

How much does it cost to build a clean water well?

The price variea around the world depending on country a type of well. Through my research I’ve found that it usually costs from about 500$ to 1200$. These wells are really a great help and allow kids and people to live a healthier life style.

How many people suffer each year from lack of clean water?

Each year millions of men, women and children die from two problems that grow from lack of clean water. The first problem is that there is no proper sanitationa and the second is drinking water. Diseases form and spread easier this way leaving close to 2m people dead each year.

What problems can grow from lack of clean drinking water?

Many viruses, infections and diseases are formed in the human body. Particularly in children because their immune system still hasn’t fully grown. Probably the biggest sickness that is caused by dirty water is intestinal paratsites and diarrhea problems, that kill many.

How many die from diarrhea each year?

About 1.5m are killed every year from diarrheal problems and it over threatens close to 2.2m people.

Which countries suffer greatly from this problem?

Many African countries suffer from this problem aswell as Haiti, especially after the earthquake hit Haiti. But probably the worst are in Uganda and outside Africa is Indonesia.

Are water filters available?

Many solutions that mixed in water, making it drinkable. Also different filters are made. But making these items and giving them out is expensive and not practical. For example UNICEF gives out free solutions but plan on starting to sell them in the next years.

What is UNICEF?

This organization stands for; United Nations Childrens Fund. This organization is a branch of the Uinited Nations that helps children all over the world.

What does UNICEF do for drinking water

UNICEF provides much support (medical and water sources) primarily to many kids. But they do this through their parents so essentially thay are helping whole families by giving medicine and providing water sources for them.

How do doctors help?

After watching a report on Haiti a certain doctor proved a good point. He said that all day he could be curing patients and he can do it, although if his pataitents, at the end of the day, are going home to drink the same water then there is no use.

How important is it to have access to clean water for kids.

Millions of kids every year die because they lack access to clean water on a daily basis. When kids do not have access to clean water two problems occur. The first one is that they don’t get clean water for drinking, which then turns to diseases and infections. The second problem is related to hygiene, when kids can not shower and clean themselves with clean water, there is a spread of infections and other diseases. According to UNICEF over 1.5m kids die each year from intestinal diseases caused by lack of clean water. Overall keeping kids in reach of clean water is a very important task and is easily reachable goal.

Case Study: Indonesian Water

This case study talks about setting up clean drinking wells and towers as well as many floods and natural disasters. Indonesia has been suffering many problems, and a big one is access to clean water. In the case study it ties problems together. It says that certain villagers were taught to use the clean wells and after disasters struck they were posted 24-hours a day to service other members of the village by giving them clean water. Personally this is a good idea and helps leading the world to the end of the world water crisis.

Case Study: Uganda’s Water Shortages

Low access to clean water has had many health obstacles in Uganda. A study carried out in 2002 showed that, diarrhoea alone accounted for approximately 19 percent of child deaths in Uganda. Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that malaria is the leading factor of child deaths in the country. About 70,000 to 100,000 kids in Uganda die every year from malaria. Uganda is really in need of the worlds support and with donations the world can help Uganda and save its population.

Title Aid for Sanitation and Water Projects Lags	Summary This is an interesting article about how water sources are becoming more and more available to developing countries. The article talks about having water resources has been progressing very well, although it is still a major issue. It shows that helping countries that lack water has dropped by 8%. The writer makes a point thagt even though individuals have been making great efforts in the effort of treating this problem, there is still much more space to cover and provide clean water to. This article has been published recently meaning that we still have this problem today. In response to this article I think that we should push it all the way and make the same efforts as before.
Author ANDREW C. REVKIN
Date Published April 21, 2010
Source
Web Link http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/

Title As Weather Tracks With Climate Scientists' Grim Forecasts, an African Nation Is Awash in Misery	Summary This is an article written by someone who was actually in a village in Kenya that is lacking not only clean water for drinking purposes but also for excretory purposes. It states that there are families that pay amounts of money to use clean water that’s located somewhere in town. Also it says that there used to be a place where the trash was and that’s where they used to go to the bathroom. Others who can’t afford to pay for such luxuries must travel far to find small bodies of water. This article is very interesting because it has many quotes of someone who actually suffers from the lack of clean water around the globe.
Author MICHAEL BURNHAM
Date Published May 4, 2010
Source
Web Link http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/05/04/04greenwire-as-weather-tracks-with-climate-scientists-grim-26206.html?scp=10&sq=clean%20drinking%20water&st=cse

Title World Water Crisis	Summary This is a very well put together article about the world water crisis by the New York Times. They have taken many different pictures to represent different problems in the world, in terms of water. It shows and gives facts about how water is either being misused or how people aren’t getting any of it. This article gives a wide variety of problems and several solutions. Itranges from pictures in the United States to Africa, Vietnam, India, Ecuador and many more. Personally I think this is a really good article to show to give information aobut the Water Crisis.
Author GERD LUDWIG
Date Published
Source
Web Link http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1724375_1552669,00.html

Title Clean Water For Struggling Haiti	Summary This is a news report on the scene of Haiti after it has been hit by the big earthquake. Survivors and reporters both talk about how clean water isi now lacked greatly in Haiti. One doctor that is now working in Haiti to help cure people, said that he can keep curing but at the end of the day if these people keep going to home to find dirty water then this problem is just going to keep gring and disease is going to keep spreading. Many things are being done not only in Haiti but around the world and many things still need to be done.
Author Jean Max Bellerive
Web Link http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,81830682001_1985705,00.html

Title Background: water in Uganda	Summary This article gives good insight and facts about the economic factors and factors of progress in providing the Sub-saharan African world with water. Most countries in the African countries to this year have not made any progress since they have started the mission to provide water to these countries. This fact shows that there is still much room to help provide these populations with water. Also lots of projections for future water saving projects are made in the article. If everything goes according to plan then the African world will be well on its way to saving the water.
Author Anne Perkins
Date Published 28 March 2008
Source
Web Link http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/2008/mar/28/katinegoalbackground.water

http://www.unicef.org/wash/

- UNICEF's (United Nations Children's Fund) participation in this issue, explaining the issue and how it is trying to help.

http://www.ryanswell.ca/

-Ryan was a little boy who did extra chores and got more money to start his foundation of building wells where they are need. Truly inspirational.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyVJBbcyztE&feature=player_embedded#!

-Video by UNICEF with facts about lack of clean water. Shows how many kids are effected and what can be done to help the issue

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9142.aspx

- An article about water challenges, and different systems of water purifications.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/30/heroes.doc.hendley/index.html

-Many creative ideas are invented

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXR4Z_NBD-E&feature=related

AND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz9eM2edA2c

-interesting water facts about world water day. Helps get a visual perspective on the topic

http://www.pitch.com/2010-01-14/news/kansas-city-s-gary-white-is-the-engineer-behind-matt-damon-s-water-org/

-Many celebrities and important people are well aware of this global issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC5CIoGg-SI

-Big conference discussing the issue and how it is being helped.

http://www.globalwater.org/

-More info on helping the world to help find clean water resources and help solve the issue.

Science in the Issue

Providing clean water to many developing countries towns and cities is a big problem. Lacking access to clean water causes plenty of problems such as; death and sicknesses caused by dehydration, death and sicknesses from lack of clean water, and many other hygiene issues. Looking at facts, according to the organization UNICEF more then 1.5m people die each year with intestinal problems caused from lack of clean water. Most of these deaths come from intestinal parasites that may easily lead to other problems. To better understand the problem it is a good idea to look at the science behind filtering water for it to be in a clean state, appropriate for drinking.

The main problem in developing countries that causes waterborne diseases water infection. The water sources maybe infected, many different things may affect this such as; dumping of household garbage, industrial waste, mining and quarrying activities, and agricultural runoffs of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, lastly the most common factor which causes diseases is water infected my fecal matter. All these different factors bring horrible infections, especially to kids in developing countries. Much water originates in the same place all over the world, but the key thing is that many developed countries have advanced water systems that filter out water and deliver it to homes in a clean state.

One way water is clean is by adding different chemicals to it, a main chemical added is chlorine. This chemical kills of germs and bacteria that are water borne. Although chlorine isn’t able to kill of fecal matter in water, that’s why advanced water filters have boilers in them that boil the water and kill of close to 99% of the germs that were infested in the water originally.

Many water filters have been invented and are being used all over the world. Although in developing countries setting up whole new aquatic system would cost too much so wells are often made in towns that cost much less. For example UNICEF travels and gives out free solutions and chemicals that clean the water. IN hope that one day people in the developing countries will soon be provided these items and be able to buy them by themselves.

More about the effects of polluted water on the human body. When poor quality water is used for hygienic purposes, bathing is not of much use. This brings diseases amongst people and easily spreads them. Fecal matter is the biggest cause to intestinal infections in human bodies, especially kids. Parasties begin to grow inside your body and symptoms become obvious:

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

• Nausea or vomiting

• Gas or bloating

• Dysentery (loose stools containing blood and mucus)

• Rash or itching around the rectum or vulva

• Stomach pain or tenderness

• Feeling tired

• Weight loss

Passing a worm in your stool

There are many different treatments such as, drug therapies, homeopathic treatment, herb treatments and nutrition and supplements. Although in developing countries medical treatment isn’t as developed so that is another problem in this chain.