NEWS 4

Is the world running out of fresh water?

SUMMARY

The planet contains more than one billion billion liters of H₂O in which 97% is salt water and 3% represents the sweet. The third of this is retained in glaciers and layers of polar ice. Of the remainder, most are found on the ground or in underground aquifers.

The news then describes the reason for the exhaustion of drinking water with worrying numbers of deaths. According to the BBC, more than two million people die every year due to lack of drinking water.

The total global water requirement per year is more than four billion liters per year, and the natural sources of the liquid no longer reach the reach. The World Economic Forum and other institutions estimate that in 2030 there will be a 40% higher demand, which the planet will not be able to supply. As a result in a few years, half of the world's population will not have enough water for everyone and this will affect agriculture, which will increase food prices.

As solutions, it is proposed to clean dirty water using special bottles to clean dirty water and make it potable. Another option that is suggested is known as "distillation by steam compression" but it is costly and inefficient.

Desalination seems to be the best solution to the crisis, but it requires a lot of pressure and involves high and expensive energy expenditure. The simplest solution could simply be to improve the way we manage what we have. In developing countries, for example, 45 million cubic meters of fresh water are lost per day due to underground leakage.

VOACABULARY

Exhaustion: esgotament
Shortage: escassetat
Reservoirs: embassaments
Built on ancient lake beds: construït sobre llits antics de llac
Beyond: més enllà

OPINION

In relation to the solution that is developed in the news, I agree that we must improve the way we manage what we have.I mean, to take full advantage of the water we get with only mentalizing ourselves in performing daily activities in the routine. For example, when we shower in  winter, we often expect hot water to flow out, while losing amounts of water is lost, to rectify this we could put a bucket and reserve it to scrub the earth. Or when we wash our teeth, close the tap and not let it open. They are clear examples that do not involve much effort and many people do not carry it out.

Therefore, if we are all aware of what we disapprove and think about when doing these actions, we could maintain a more lasting environmental sustainability.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170412-is-the-world-running-out-of-fresh-water