How is the global water shortage affecting people’s health?
In California, devastating droughts and surging temperatures have affected the water cycle. These extreme weather events have led to greater evaporation and changing rainfall patterns.The US state experienced it’s driest three years on record between 2019 and 2022.
While severe storms in 2023 filled previously depleted reservoirs, groundwater reserves remain critically low. Today, nearly one million Californians are affected by failing water systems.
Most cities have made investments to diversify their water supply and expand conservation efforts, but smaller rural communities that rely on wells are increasingly vulnerable.ManyCalifornians rely on drinking water that may contain chemical contaminants. Drought can further increase these contaminants, while fire damage to the well equipment can add toxic chemicals to the water.
The changing water is already harming people’s health. For example, following the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County – California’s most destructive wildfire in history – chemical contamination of the drinking water system resulted in health risks and restrictions on water use. In a survey of more than 200 households following the fire, 54% self-reported that at least one member in their household experienced anxiety, stress or depression in connection with securing safe water and contamination issues.
Nine thousand miles from the Californian crisis, Kenyans are facing even greater climate-related water shortages and the severe health risks that come with it.
Kenya contributes less than 0.1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions annually but like manylow-emitting countries, it is disproportionately affected from the effects of the climate crisis.
Extensive drought has led to extreme food insecurity[PDF 34.8MB]. Ngawosa Eregai, a Community Health Worker in Turkana County, says: “The biggest challenge we have is lack of water.”
Four or five people have to use their hands to dig deep holes in the ground where the rivers used to be to get to water. “We drink this water because we do not have a choice,” says Ngawasa. “We trust that it will not be harmful.”
For Esther Elaar, who fetches and carries water for her family to use every day, the four-hour walk weighs on her physical health. “My whole body feels sore,” she says. “I usually carry 20 litres of water at a time because the water point is far off.”
The long and hot walk to water impactingpregnant women like Esther. Their babies are dying before they’re born.
“While carrying water, I feel the baby in my womb moving,” Esther says. “A lot of women have miscarried in this area while going to look for water.”
