World Water Day 2010

Today is World Water Day, and I wish I had fun fact for you instead of this sobering one: across the globe more people die from polluted water every year than from all forms of violence combined, including war. Even after teaching a course called "Freshwater Resources and Societies" I was unaware that 3.7% of all deaths worldwide are due to water-related diseases, according to the U.N. It's so easy for us more fortunate ones to take for granted our easy access to cheap, clean tap water.



While some progress is being made in providing better access to clean, potable water, this progress is too slow in too many regions, especially the world's most water-deprived countries. Niger, for example, ranks near the bottom of the Water Poverty Index and has received paltry World Bank funds for water infrastructure improvement. Water access appeared to be sustainable in the riverside village of Atteforme, Niger (shown above in 2004) where my sister worked in the Peace Corps. But I wonder how the flow of the Niger River is affected and will be affected by climate change and increased withdrawals from a rising population.