Literature Review: Water Shortage is the next global crisis. Water shortage has significantly threatened the world on a global scale /significantly challenged /is the key danger/biggest threat / globally/confronted by the world today

Water is an essential part of life. Aside from drinking, water is used in irrigation, sewage systems, food preparation and transportation. The lack of water can have an impact on a global scale and already many countries all over the world suffer from water shortage the result being health problems, sanitation and even education. However, any people argue that threats such as global warming and overpopulation exist which are important than water shortage.

Water shortage can be seen as a global threat for many reasons. McKie (2015) states in the article, ‘Why fresh water shortages will cause the next great global crisis’ that all over the world reservoirs and aquifers are drying up. McKie further explains how Middle East has been hit hardest by water scarcity and there is careless use of water in South Asia where groundwater ‘has been pumped recklessly over the past decade’. This clearly explains some of the causes of water shortage around the world. Similarly, Khan (2015) lists water scarcity as one of the four biggest threats to the world stating that ‘water is the new oil’. According to Khan, water crisis has made the biggest impact on the world population and therefore may result in war over fresh water supplies. This can result in death as it will affect the population. Equally, in a survey carried by the World Economic Forum (WEF) called ‘Global Risks 10th Edition’ (2015:3), water crisis is number one in regards to having the biggest impact globally. This suggests that water shortage is a very important issue and must be acknowledged as a global crisis.

Conversely, it is argued that water shortage is not a global threat. According to Carle (2015), the top global threat is climate change. The article ‘Climate change is the to global threat’ discusses a survey which shows climate change to be voted as a top global threat by many countries thus meaning it could be a bigger concern than water shortage. Furthermore, Radford (2008) explains in ‘The Water Shortage Myth’ that at least ninety seven percent of the earth is made of salt water which can be desalinated into fresh water. This means that there is enough water but it needs to be purified. Koerth-Baer (2009) supports Radford’s idea by citing Asit Biswas, president of the Third Word Water Centre for Water Management who claims that there is plenty of water but the main problem is ‘actually getting the water to the people’. This suggests that water shortage will not be a problem if we distribute it equally to all countries. Zetland (2008) in ‘The water shortage myth’ discusses the water pricing system in which he explains that low prices lead to water shortages. This suggests that water scarcity can be managed if we charge higher pricing for water.

McKie writes for the guardian and the website was last edited on March 2015. Although there are no mentions of peer review, the article has been amended recently which suggests it is being carefully monitored. McKie obtains his facts from the ‘US Geological Survey’ which itself is a reliable organisation. The survey ‘Global risks’ by WEF is in its 10th edition which suggests that information is regularly being updated. WEF state facts backed by statistical evidence from different countries thus reporting facts objectively. Zetland only discusses the water shortage myth in regards to Canada and fails to compare and mention

any other facts or statistics in relation to different countries. In the article, Zetland himself explains how to solve the problem without using secondary sources which suggests that the article is subjective and bias. On the other hand, Koerth-Baer uses Asit Biswas as a secondary source which makes it reliable to use as a source for the opposition in my essay.