As the world’s population continues to expand and urbanize, access to clean water is becoming a crucial issue. Unfortunately, the problem is being exacerbated by wealthy elites in many cities who are using their resources to drain water supplies, causing water shortages and crises for millions of people. From cities in the United States to the Middle East, these crises are becoming more frequent and severe, leaving many wondering if there’s a solution to this growing problem. In this article, we’ll explore how wealthy elites are contributing to these water crises and what can be done to address the issue.
Wealthy City Dwellers’ Water Consumption Habits Drive Water Crises
An inevitable water crisis is looming around the globe. A drought in the Colorado River Basin has threatened the water supply of seven states, while Delhi is facing an ongoing water shortage that is set to worsen. Italy also plans to appoint a special commissioner to address the country’s drought crisis. According to WWF, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages by 2025. One of the key factors driving this situation is the consumption habits of wealthy households living in big cities, according to a recently published paper in Nature Sustainability.
The paper highlights how wealthier households’ consumption habits often drive water crises in cities. It used data to develop a model on how cities use water, looking at Cape Town as a case study for other urban centers given its severe drought from 2015 to 2017 and subsequent water restrictions (known as the Day Zero Crisis), as well as the city’s stark socioeconomic inequalities. Researchers found that the rich use more water than the rest of the population—and that they’re generally in better shape during a drought, effectively escaping the problems they exacerbate.
Elite and upper-middle-class groups represent 1.4% to 12.3% of Cape Town’s total population but use more than half of the city’s water (51%). On the other hand, lower-income households and “informal dwellers” who make up 61.5% of the city’s population use just 27.3% of the city’s water. During Cape Town’s two-year drought, lower-income groups reduced their daily water consumption by 51%. While more privileged groups reduced their water usage to a greater extent (mainly by pausing those non-essential activities), that was from their already high consumption rates.
“Drought-related restrictions can leave lower-income households without enough water to meet their basic water demands for bathing, laundry, cooking, and sustaining their livelihoods,” the researchers explain. Because the rich had access to private water resources such as bottled water or even rainwater harvesting systems, they were also quick to recover “from drought-related shocks.”
The Cape Town model ultimately showed that the wealthy’s water habits more strongly impacted water availability than population changes or climate change related droughts. It can be applied to other cities across the globe, as 80 metropolitan cities experienced severe water shortages over the last 20 years. The researchers predict this could worsen as wealth inequality continues to grow unless we find more equitable ways to share water in cities.
Environmental damage has long been a socioeconomic issue. The rich and famous are often called out for taking a toll on the climate, between their private jets and superyachts, while major companies’ high CO2 production have also been criticized for damaging the environment.
But researchers point out that a water-related climate catastrophe won’t affect individuals unilaterally, as the households that are the greatest offenders will likely continue to be better-off. “Our analysis confirms that the only way to preserve available water resources is by altering privileged lifestyles, limiting water use for amenities, and redistributing income and water resources more equally,” they write.
By 2025, the water crisis will worsen if people continue their current consumption habits. It is necessary to act now to prevent such a situation. Wealthy people who live in cities should take responsibility for their water consumption habits and look for ways to reduce their use. If the consumption of water is limited to essential purposes like staying hydrated and bathing, it could save enormous quantities of water. Governments also have a significant role to play in ensuring that the water is distributed equally among all the people. It’s time to act for a brighter and more sustainable future.
