Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2024

First exams 2026

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Water Equity Issues (HL) (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Revision Note

Water Equity Issues

Inequitable access to water and sanitation

  • Water equity refers to the fair distribution of water resources, ensuring everyone has access to:

    • Safe, clean drinking water

    • Sanitation

  • Inequitable access occurs when certain groups of people are denied this basic human right, which is essential for health and well-being

    • Lack of access to clean water can lead to severe health issues, including the spread of waterborne diseases

  • Inequitable access to water disproportionately impacts marginalised groups such as:

    • Indigenous peoples

    • Low-income communities

    • Women

Human health impacts of inequitable water access

  • Unsafe drinking water leads to widespread health issues, including waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid

    • Diarrhoea, often caused by contaminated water, is responsible for nearly 485,000 deaths annually

    • In children under five, unsafe water contributes significantly to malnutrition and stunted growth, affecting their development

  • Poor sanitation leads to the spread of infectious diseases

    • Especially in overcrowded and impoverished areas

Negative impacts on sustainable development

  • Inadequate water access undermines sustainable development goals, as clean water is essential for health, education, and economic growth

    • Access to clean water and sanitation is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6)

    • This goal aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all people by 2030

  • Communities without safe water and sanitation face difficulties in education, economic development, and quality of life

  • Areas that lack clean water cannot develop industries, grow crops efficiently, or maintain healthy populations, making it difficult to lift people out of poverty

Indigenous communities

  • Limited access to safe water and sanitation:

    • Many Indigenous communities, especially in rural or remote areas, have limited or no access to clean water

      • In Canada, for example, Indigenous reserves face ongoing 'boil water advisories'

      • This means residents must boil their water before using it

      • Some of these advisories have lasted for decades

    • In Australia, Indigenous communities in rural areas often have less reliable access to safe drinking water than urban populations, affecting their health and quality of life

Low-income groups

  • Water affordability:

    • For many low-income families, even if clean water is available, they may not be able to afford it

      • In the United States, rising water prices in cities like Detroit have caused water shut-offs, where families unable to pay water bills have had their water supply cut off

    • In developing countries, low-income communities may rely on unsafe water sources like rivers or shallow wells

      • This increases their exposure to diseases

  • Sanitation challenges:

    • In urban slums, many people live without proper sanitation facilities, such as toilets or sewage systems

      • In Kenya, it is estimated that 60% of residents in informal settlements, such as Kibera in Nairobi, have no access to clean toilets, leading to open defecation and severe public health issues

    • Poor sanitation not only spreads disease but also increases the risk of water contamination, worsening the situation for those who are already vulnerable

Women

  • Women and girls may be disproportionately affected by water inequity

    • Some may spend hours walking long distances to collect water

    • This can prevent them from attending school or engaging in paid work

    • This can significantly limit their educational and economic opportunities

    • Lack of access to sanitation may also affect school attendance for girls, who may miss school due to the lack of proper facilities during menstruation

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Alistair Marjot

Author: Alistair Marjot

Expertise: Biology & Environmental Systems and Societies

Alistair graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. He has taught GCSE/IGCSE Biology, as well as Biology and Environmental Systems & Societies for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. While teaching in Oxford, Alistair completed his MA Education as Head of Department for Environmental Systems & Societies. Alistair has continued to pursue his interests in ecology and environmental science, recently gaining an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation with Edinburgh Napier University.

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