Coping With Water Shortages

“Of a population of roughly 6.1 billion more than 1 billion lack access to potable water. The World Health Organization says that at any time up to half of humanity has one of the six main diseases -- diarrhoeaschistosomiasis or trachoma or infestation with ascaris guinea worm or hookworm -- associated with poor drinking water and inadequate sanitation. About 5 million people die each year from poor drinking water poor sanitation or a dirty home environment -- often resulting from water shortage.” (Tenenbaum 1998) This above mentioned quote gives us the intensity of the problems due to water shortages faced by people around the world. But the impacts caused by water shortages cannot be limited only to the health impacts. The contour is much bigger and involves economic and social impacts and costs as well. The issues of water shortages cannot be solved solely by the policy makers or planners on their own. As water shortages are prevailing in many parts of world and people are tackling the situation so these issues of water shortages can be addressed best by the people who are confronting the problems. Coping Strategies are very potent in policy and planning parlance.