Water

Water

Over 2/3 of the worlds surface is covered with water, but less than 1% is fresh water for drinking.

Water

Clean water is a basic human right. Clean water is essential for life, but over a billion people in the world do not have it.

Water

In many parts of the world people do not even have access to water.
Over two million people die from water related diseases every year.
The total population for Wales is nearly 3 million (2001 census)

Water

In 1976 Welsh reservoirs dried up and people in Wales were advised to buy bottled water for their babies and young children.

Water

It was a difficult time for farmers and fire-fighters as our woods and heath lands burned. Some rivers became little more than trickles

Water

In 2006 a drought order in Wales and England came into force. 650,000 people were affected

Water

In Wales we are using more water than we have ever done before. The average Welsh person uses 150 litres of water every day! This is as much as 30 times more than the equivalent person uses in a country like Senegal.

Water

Rising global temperatures will lead to changes in the water cycle resulting in dryer dry seasons and wetter wet seasons.
Rising sea levels will threaten safe drinking water by making groundwater more salty.

Water

In developing countries many women and young girls carry up to 40 pounds of water on their heads over long distances. Long journeys walking to wells and rivers carrying heavy pots of water can cause exhaustion and damage to bones and joints

Water

More than 80 countries with 40% of the world’s population are subject to water shortages. During the last 20 years rainfall patterns have changed and there has been increased drought in many countries which are already short of water.

Water

People in the developing world are dependent on occupations such as farming and need water for their crops.

Water

The poor countries have few resources and cannot adapt to climate change like wealthier countries can.

Water

Many developing countries grow cotton. To make 1 cotton t-shirt needs 25 cubic metres of water. We buy more clothes in Wales than ever before. We may be using another country’s water without knowing.