How Unsanitary Water is a Global Problem In resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly (2010) stated that “safe and clean drinking water … [was] a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights” (p.2). This right, however, is not accessible to everyone in the world. So, this paper will look at why unsanitary drinking water is a global problem, examining the problem through the lens of the conflict theory, and some possible solutions.
Problems
First, this paper will look at factors as to why unsanitary water is a global problem. According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, more than 780 million people still do not have access to safe drinking water in the world (Ramirez-Djumena, 2012, p. 33). While this number technically meets the United Nations Millennium Development Goal Target 7c to “reduce by half, between 1990 and 2015, ‘the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking-water and basic sanitation,’” there is still more than 40 percent of all inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa who lack access to safe-drinking water and only 19 out of the 50 countries in that area are on track to meet Target 7c (Bain, 2012, p.228; Ramirez-Djumena, 2012, p.32). Without access to clean drinking water, the inhabitants in these areas are more susceptible to water-born diseases. The World Health Organization reported that due a lack of access to clean water, “1.6 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases … and 90% are children under 5, in developing countries” ("Health through safe drinking water and basic sanitation," n.d.).
Not only is access to clean, safe water a matter of public health, but it is the cause of conflicts in some areas. The Nile River is the cause of conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia currently. The Blue Nile is the biggest tributary to the Nile, and since Ethiopia is prone to famine, they want to create agricultural irrigation. However, Egypt threatens the Military usage if Ethiopia goes through with their plan for fear of what it would do to the Nile and what that, in turn, would do to them (Edeos- digital education, 2013, 4:14).
Conflict theory Next, this paper will look at this problem through the lens of the Conflict theory. This theory is based off of how the world is unequal in the context of resources and power. This theory is based off of how those in power and have the money exploit those who are less powerful than them. Since clean, drinkable water is a scarce resource in the world, with the majority of the world’s water being salt water, it has become seen as a profitable commodity by some instead of a basic human need. Many governments in developing countries desire to control the available water; so, when corrupt governments care more about their potential profit than the needs of their people, problems can arise.
Furthermore, Shah implies, in his global issues report, that a primary contributor to the water crisis is that water has become a commodity. Multinational corporations have increased their control of water since there is a large market for water; but, this results in the poor who cannot afford the water being cut off from the supply of water (2010). So, with this exploitation of power not only by multinational corporations but by some countries own governments as well, this is resulting in the lack of access to drinkable water by those in developing nations.
Solutions
One major solution to the problem of combating the problems associated with unsafe water is putting in place a government education effort in the areas affected by unsafe water. Many people in these areas do not realize that drinking unsanitary water leads to contracting deadly diseases. If taught about the harmful effects of drinking unclean water and the benefits of clean water, it would potentially allow for better acceptance of clean water methods, and would likely let the communities flourish since the number of deaths associated with contaminated water would decrease. This education could allow to the adoption of a second solution, the adoption of a filtration process done in communities, or even just individuals, in need of sanitary water. An example of this being implemented was covered by a case study conducted in rural Western Kenya by Dye, Apondi, Lugada, Kahn, Sandiford-Day, and DasBanerjee (2011). This study gave every household in a community a filter, either personal, household, or both; and, reports showed positive results in obtaining clean water, which allowed for a decrease in diarrheal diseases. A third possible solution, is the building of wells in these areas. The well would not just be beneficial to an individual, but to the community as a whole since it would allow all the members to have access to clean water. Furthermore, a well would be a sustainable, stable source of safe water since underground water is, largely, away from contamination.
Conclusion
This paper observed how unsanitary water is a global problem, perceived it through the lens of the conflict theory, and looked at three possible solutions. As a global community, this problem should be addressed since close to one-seventh of the global population does not have access to clean water and are dying from preventable causes, especially since the majority of those deaths are children, as referenced earlier. Should not everyone in the global village have access to one of their most basic human rights in order to live longer, healthier, better lives?
References

Bain, R., Gundry, S., Wright, J., Yang, H., Pedley, S., & Bartram, J. (2012). Accounting for water quality in monitoring access to safe drinking-water as part of the Millennium Development Goals: Lessons from five countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 90(3), 228-235A. Retrieved March 2, 2015, from ProQuest Research Library.

Dye, T., Apondi, R., Lugada, E, Kahn, J., Sandiford-Day, M., & DasBanerjee, T. (2011). A qualitative assessment of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to diarrhea and water filtration in rural kenya. American Journal of Public Health, 101(8), 1515-20. Retrieved March 4, 2015 from ProQuest Research Library.

Edeos- digital education. (2013, April 15). Water and Development [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RL7IQ5fcCw

Facts and figures. (2013). Retrieved March 2, 2015, from cooperation-2013/water- cooperation/facts-and-figures/en/ Health through safe drinking water and basic sanitation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/mdg1/en/ UN General Assembly (2010, July 28). The human right to water and sanitation. UN General
Assembly, 64th Sess, UN Doc A/res/64/262. Retrieved March 4, 2015.

Shah, A. (2010, June 06). Water and development. Retrieved March 4, 2015, from http://www.globalissues.org/article/601/water-and-development Ramirez-Djumena, N. (2012, June). Water for people: the global target for safe drinking water has been met but more than 780 million people still lack access to clean water. Finance & Development, 49(2), 32-33.