The Global Water Crisis
Clean, fresh water is one of our most undervalued dental supplies.
We’re in the habit of accessing fresh, clean, drinkable water at the flip of a wrist. But that convenience is misleading.
A worldwide water crisis threatens international health and stability.
Consider that one in eight people in the world lack access to safe water. Over 3 million people die each year from water-related disease. And more people in the world own cell phones than have access to a toilet.
In the US, thirty-six states will face water shortages in the next five years, and places like Arizona and California are already facing limited supply. It’s estimated that in the next 30 years, the US water crisis could cost the country as much as $300 billion.
Pollution, rising temperatures, and population growth all have a role to play in accelerating the water crisis, but waste is a prime culprit. Americans use an estimated 500,000 gallons of water per person in one year. According to water.org, an American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a typical person in a developing country uses in a whole day for bathing, cooking, cleaning and waste disposal.