How to explain Economic Water Scarcity and what are their Impact?

Economic Water Scarcity

How to explain Economic Water Scarcity and what are their Impact?

Economic water scarcity results from inadequate human capacity to meet the demand for water or from a lack of investment in infrastructure or technology to take water from rivers, aquifers, or other water sources. Economic water scarcity has an impact on one-fourth of the world's population. Lack of infrastructure contributes to economic water scarcity by forcing those without regular access to water to travel great distances to get water from rivers, which is frequently contaminated and used for home and agricultural purposes (irrigation).

Economic water scarcity is a major feature of Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, constructing water infrastructure there could aid in lowering poverty. Increased food production would also result from investments in infrastructure for water storage and irrigation, particularly in underdeveloped nations where low-yield agriculture is the norm. The ability to supply a community with water that is fit for drinking would also be very beneficial to the general well-being of the population. However, overcoming this kind of shortage may require more than simply new infrastructure; it may also involve socio-economic and political interventions that address inequality and poverty. However, because funding is scarce, extensive preparation is required.

Even while there is a lot of focus on upgrading water supplies for household and drinking needs, we are aware that additional uses, such as bathing, washing clothes, caring for livestock, and cleaning, consume significantly more water than just drinking and cooking. This finding shows that prioritizing drinking water demands too heavily only solves a small portion of the issue with water supplies, which in turn constricts the spectrum of potential solutions.