46 Health Problems from Unsafe Water
Enough Water is as Important as Safe Water
Many people do not have enough water to meet
their daily needs. When there is not enough water to
wash, people can get infections such as scabies and
trachoma. Not having enough water to drink and
wash with can also cause infections of the bladder
and kidneys, especially in women. (To learn more
about these illnesses, see Where There Is No Doctor,
Where Women Have No Doctor, or another general
health manual.) In hospitals and other health centers,
if there is not enough water for washing, infections
can spread from person to person. Especially for
children, not having enough water can mean
dehydration and death.
Women’s burden
When water is scarce, the people who collect and
carry water — usually women and children — have
to travel long distances and carry very heavy loads.
This leads to injuries to their necks, backs, and hips.
Collecting water often takes so much time and strength
that they and their families use much less water than they would if it was
plentiful. The search for water can take so much time that the other work
women do to support family health, including caring for children and tending
crops, does not get done.
Water can prevent and treat many illnesses
Water is used to reduce fevers and to clean wounds and skin infections.
Drinking a lot of water helps to prevent and treat diarrhea, urinary infections,
coughs, and constipation. Washing hands with soap and water after using the
toilet and before eating or handling food also helps prevent many illnesses.
Cleaning wounds with
soap and water helps
prevent infections.
Treat minor burns
by holding them
in cold water.
Hot soaks and compresses
treat abscesses, boils, sore
muscles and stiff joints.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012