Water quality and sanitation are major issues in developing countries. Approximately 1.2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. Water is polluted from agricultural, industrial, and household sources, with agriculture being the largest contributor. This pollution causes diseases like malaria and diarrhea, which are responsible for hundreds of thousands of child deaths each year globally. An example is given of Mexico City, which lacks proper sewage systems and disposal, draining sewage into crop fields and causing the city to sink due to overpumping of water. The issues persist because governments cannot afford or do not have the knowledge to implement modern water and sanitation systems.

1. Water Quality and Sanitation in Developing CountriesBy, Kurt Pisarik10-9-09Agron. 342

2. Background70% earth is covered by water. 2.5% is F.W. Less than 1% of F.W. is accessible. 1.2 billion people without sanitary water (globally)Ashok GadgilLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

3. Water DistributionAgriculture (68%): irrigation and livestock.Industrial (24%): technology and cooling systems.Households (8%): washing, drinking, cleaning.Mark W. RosegrantXimingCaiSarah A. ClineInternational Food Policy Research InstituteInternational Water Management Institute

4. Water PollutionAgriculture: salinization, pesticides and fertilizers.Industrial: trash, chemicals and toxic wasteHousehold: raw sewageand trash

5. Effects of Pollution Bacteria: malaria and diarrhea. -Diarrhea is accountable for at least 400 deaths of children under the age of 5 every hour. -Malaria and Diarrhea are usually the main reason for malnutrition in children in the developing world.VirusesParasites: tapeworm, mosquito’s etc.

6. Example of water pollutionMexico City: They lack proper sewage systems, and disposal. Drain their sewage into fields of crops. Also Mexico City is a “sinking” city because it pumps out more water from the aquifer than it can be replenished. (it sinks about 2 inches/yr) Causing self-destruction of own city.Journey to Planet Earth: “The Urban Explosion” video by PBS

7. Why isn’t it being fixed?Government’s can’t afford or isn’t knowledgeable about the new technology in water systems like; sewer systems, water filters, pumping stations etc. Bad government infrastructure. Karl Marx’s “Golden Rule”

8. BibliographyGadgil, Ashok. Drinking Water in Developing Countries. Annual Reviews. 1998 http://eetd.lbl.gov/iep/archive/uv/pdf/1998DrinkingWater.pdfRosegrant, Mark W. , XimingCai, and Sarah A. Cline. World Water and Food to 2025 Dealing with Scarcity. International Water Management Institute. http://www.worldfoodprize.org/assets/symposium/2002/transcripts/rosegrant.pdf“The Urban Explosion.” Journey to Planet Earth. PBS