Catastrophe without Water

1.	Fire stations without water

Due to water shortages in the developing world, lives and property have been lost to fire due to a lack of adequate water systems. Though local governments could have plans for water stations, fires cannot be put out because of lack of the same. “Since October, he said, 18 people -- including eight from one family -- had died after their shacks caught fire:

"There's no water to put out the fire. Fire brigades take hours, and by the time they arrived you would have lost your property or even your life." http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:J-KWihonTYoJ:ipsnews.net/news.asp%3Fidnews%3D35423+Fire+no+water+in+africa&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4

“The ravaging effect of the fire spread very rapidly across the area because of the planks used in constructing the shanties. Unfortunately, all the affected residents have to watch helplessly as their properties were been destroyed by fire. Though fire fighters were alerted, they did not arrive at the scene of the fire until about 3hrs later. Sadly too, there was no water to fight the fire.”

http://www.geniusofafrica.org/news/publish/article_1111.shtml

2.	Hospitals without water

To run certain institutions effectively, adequate water systems should be in place, especially in healthcare institutions like hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. A lot of work is needed to ensure the provision of tap water to clinics and hospital in places where water is scarce. It is important that when one goes to a hospital for treatment, they do not leave with other acquired diseases from a facility that was supposed to cure them and not add to the health concerns.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200611030297.html http://www.globalgiving.com/pr/1100/proj1007a.html http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/01/stories/2004080104760300.htm

3.	Hunger and poverty

Since water is needed for life, hunger is a direct result of a lack of water. Water is needed to irrigate dry lands, to water animals and for human consumption. Lack of it creates poor food security, leading to hunger and poverty.

http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Development/water/#WaterandEnvironmentalIssues

4.	Diseases spread through lack of water

Trachoma

Trachoma is an eye infection spread mainly through poor hygiene caused by lack of adequate water supplies and unsafe environmental sanitation conditions. About 6 million people worldwide are blind today because of trachoma. It affects women two to three times more than men. Children are also especially susceptible. Studies have found that providing adequate water supplies could reduce infection rates by up to 25 per cent.

http://www.trachoma.org/trachoma.php