Water Security and Sustainable Development Assignment 2022

WATER SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Water Security is fundamental for sustainable development across the globe. It has
always remained a human concern. Although the water security problem is complex and
multifaceted, it is central to achieving sustainability. Also, it is principal to guarantee the well-
being of humans, socio-economic development, and environmental stability. Humankind is
heavily dependent on water resources, and to secure this vital resource for human existence, the
sustainability of the ecosystem is crucial. In addition, water security is compromised by human
activities. The increasingly growing population, excessive use of natural resources, urbanization,
and pollution have put massive stress on the water resources and have destroyed natural
ecosystems, resulting in water-based disasters. Besides, humankind is disturbing sustainable
peace due to water-related conflicts. Water scarcity is causing people to relocate and disrupting
the ecological balance.
Moreover, water is essential and nexus for achieving various world sustainable development
agendas such as poverty reduction, zero hunger, food, agriculture, energy and economic security.
Without water, none of the aforementioned sectors can sustain itself, which would result in the
loss of human lives due to extreme food shortages. Furthermore, the increased water usage in the
energy sector is also alarming and threatening water resources. This growing concern and
significance of water security demand a comprehensive water resource management system,
including governance at all levels of government and community level, reuse, restoration, and
reclamation of water. The introduction of Water Conservation Technologies (WCT) and opting
for nature-based solutions demand the restoration of the natural ecosystems. The
mismanagement of natural water resources is threatening sustainability. Water is an essential
natural resource on Earth; however infinite, its wise use is critical for our future generations.

Coordinated response and efforts are required from the global community to ensure water
sustainability. The need is to shift the dependency of the energy sector and industries on water
and make colossal investments to ensure water security.
The issue of water security is complex and multifaceted but central to sustainability.
Throughout the centuries, there has been an increase in the consumption of water resources by all
sectors ranging from domestic to agriculture to energy to the industrial sector. Humans' increased
use of water has disturbed the water ecosystems and their quality. Sustainable growth demands
the security of the natural water resources, and to secure water, the protection of the environment
is necessary (Mishra et al., 2021). In addition, sustainable development goals like poverty
eradication, zero hunger, climate change, gender equality, and others are extensively linked with
water security, thus proving water security as a fundamental element for sustainable
development. Also, the human interaction with the environment is central to the impact on water
resources (Mishra et al., 2021). According to a report by Global Water Partnership to the Sweden
government, Water Security is principal for the environment protection and achieving
sustainable goals like poverty reduction (Global Water Partnership, 2009). Furthermore, human
life is greatly dependent on water. The development and survival of health systems, hygiene and
sanitation, agriculture, transportation, and economic growth rely heavily on water. The impact of
water scarcity on agricultural production can trigger food shortages which can cause internal
unrest in any country. It will also trigger population shifts. People will migrate to the regions
with abundant water, causing the disturbance there. Besides, the ecosystems can never sustain
without the water putting the livelihoods and other natural resources at risk (OECD, 2013).
The concept of water security is broad and multidimensional. There have been a variety
of definitions of the notion of Water Security; however, all talk about the sustainability of water

resources and humankind's well-being. Water security is the resourceful management of water
resources for human existence and well-being (Global Water Partnership, 2009). According to
the United Nations Agency on Water, a water-secure world is a world where water resources are
secured, used sustainably for the well-being of humankind and socio-economic development,
and accessible to everyone. The natural ecosystems related to water must be preserved, and
humankind must be protected from water-related disasters (United Nations University: ESCAP,
2013.) Water security depends on three principles, firstly, the availability of quality water for
social and economic activities by ensuring the sustainability of the environment—secondly,
reduction in water-related disasters such as drought, floods, and pollution. Thirdly, avoiding
water-related conflicts to ensure global peace(Mishra et al., 2021). Furthermore, water security
also demands addressing the negative impacts of the poor management of the resource, such as
alterations in the environment, as indicated by the Global Water Partnership (2009). However,
the United Nations Sustainable development agenda adopts a straightforward and inclusive
approach in the Sustainable Development Goal no. 6, ‘Water Security and Sanitation’ and
demands the humans’ right to safe access to drinking water and its availability for sanitation
purposes (Pahl-wostl et al., 2016). Briefly, a water-secure world is a world with better quality of
life which can only be available by preserving the natural environment.
The human race has posed severe challenges to the environment and water security. The
tremendous increase in population and the changing environment are central anthropogenic
elements (Reid et al.) that stress freshwater. The human population is predicted to be 9.1 billion
by the mid of the present century (Global Water Partnership, 2009). The people are settling in
cities, and rural areas are being eliminated. According to the United Nations, about fifty-five
percent of the total world’s population is settled in cities, and with the tremendous shifting of

people from rural to urban areas, it is predicted to increase by sixty-eight the percent by 2050
(UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2018). This human impact on the environment
and ecosystem affects the accessibility and distribution of water, resulting in increased water
shortages. Besides, the water distribution and water waste management in cities also intensifies
the water security crises in developing nations. The urban areas have uneven and insufficient
water resources to meet the demands, which is posing another threat to water sustainability
(Abedin et al., 2013). In addition, humans remained involved in conflicts over water in the past.
In the 1960s, the United States of America attacked the irrigation canals in North Vietnam
(Jerome 2015: Moumen et al.,
2019). Also, according to Card (2005) and Moumen et al. (2019), the privatization of water
resources in Cochabamba, Bolivia, increased outrage from people, proving that even the
distribution of water resources is also crucial for ensuring the sustainable peace.
Another major challenge posed by humans to water security is pollution. The rapid
urbanization in the cities and uneven water waste management is increasing the surface
deterioration of the underground water bodies (Mishra et al., 2021). The deposition of pollutants
in the soil and earth crust is disturbing the underground water bed, leading to less storage of
water underground. Furthermore, the environmental change due to human activities is destroying
natural ecosystems. The change in the global average temperature results in the depletion of
water resources and increases the number of deserts. It is estimated that almost seventy-five per
cent of Himalayan Glaciers will be disappeared by 2035 (Kumar, 2014). In addition, human
activities are accelerating the impact of water-related disasters such as floods and droughts
(Catherie et al., 2013). The droughts were able to leave a significant impression on food security;
they caused long-term socio-economic impacts. The countries dependent on hydroelectricity