my research and writings

Health Issue:

My final project will focus on the health issue of contaminated water and the diseases transmitted from it in South Africa. Water contamination can transmit many diseases that have negative long-term effects. While many are impacted, I am focusing on children under 18. There are over 20 million children younger than 18 in South Africa.

Global Magnitude:

Diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio can be transmitted through drinking contaminated water. There are approximately 505,000 deaths from these diseases. Some of the countries with the worst drinking water include Nigeria, Lesotho, Tanzania, and Mongolia. Although South Africa has a cleaner water system compared to other African countries, there is a major lack in sanitation and in infrastructure for safer pipes. When I traveled to South Africa last year for a service trip, I volunteered at an elementary school in a township. There, I witnessed this issue firsthand. The water these students drank came out of old, rusted pipes, badly in need of replacement.

South Africa Magnitude:

In South Africa, around 46% of all water supply systems are contaminated with bacteria and other pathogens. Over 47% of all clean water is lost through leaks, which is a result of poor infrastructure. More than 67.6% of treatments to decontaminate water are not successful. Although the overall risk level has dropped, not even 3% of all water supply systems in the country meet the criteria to achieve Blue Drop certification, a program introduced by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Its goal is to introduce safe drinking water through an accreditation process, where water supply systems are evaluated in different aspects. Another problem is the design of the water supply systems. There is a lack of monitoring and awareness of the issues and risks associated with contaminated water. Around one third of the rural population lack basic sanitation services, and schools and clinics have no water access either. This causes significant disparities in health and education.

Final Project Proposal:

For my final project, I would like to write a research proposal for future use that raises awareness about how the lack of safe infrastructure leads to children drinking contaminated water every day.

References:

UNICEF. How many children are there in South Africa?. UNICEF Data. https://data.unicef.org/how-many/how-many-children-under-18-are-there-in-south-africa/

World Health Organization. (2023, September 13). Drinking water. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water

Gilligan, Chris. (2023, September 25). US News. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/slideshows/countries-with-the-worst-water-supply?slide=28

The Water Project. Water in Crisis - South Africa. The Water Project. https://thewaterproject.org/water-crisis/water-in-crisis-south-africa

du Plessis, Anja. (2023, December 7). Water crisis in South Africa: damning report finds 46% contamination, 67% of treatment works near to breaking down. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/water-crisis-in-south-africa-damning-report-finds-46-contamination-67-of-treatment-works-near-to-breaking-down-219350

Igamba, Joan. (2022, July 5). Water Crisis In South Africa. Greenpeace. https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/blogs/51757/water-crisis-in-south-africa/