Water is currently passing through a critical stage and, in many parts of the world there is a serious shortage of clean and crystalline fresh water.
But the problem isn't the water supply; the Earth has virtually the same volume now as it did hundreds of years ago. The problem is simply "us", mankind. It isn't either that we ignore the value of water; it is how we manage this valuable natural resource.
Analyses of people's attitudes and habits reveal a total unawareness as regards the significance of water. Only by thoroughly studying the behavior of persons, it will be possible to understand their perception about water.
Scientists have discovered that there is a historic human mismanagement of water resources; obvious cases of waste, pollution and widespread ignorance concerning water problems. To this we should add demographic growth and uncontrolled use of one our most valuable and limited resources, water.
The world is increasingly using up its water resources. Diverse developing nations throughout the world are already facing a critical water shortage. Over one billion people survive without sufficient water and approximately two billion, a third part of the total world population, suffers the consequences of poor and inadequate drainage systems. Millions die every year due to contaminated waters. In many other parts, the unavailability of water and its high demand for domestic and industrial use, makes agriculture difficult. Moreover, water pollution increases this ratio in many aspects.
In many parts of Peru water is not adequate for human consumption. About 7'000,000 Peruvians lack the facilities for potable water and drainage connections and are forced to consume underground or surface water or to buy it from tank trucks. Additional to the questionable quality standards of these waters, this situation has a dramatic effect on domestic economy.
The insufficiency of potable water in many of Peru's main cities, implies a high risk to the health of its inhabitants. Almost five million Peruvians consume water from the surface such as from rivers, streams, canals, irrigation ditches including wells that unfortunately are sometimes adjacent to used waters. A million more Peruvians get their water supply from tank trucks and over half a million get it directly from wells improvised inside their homes or located close to outdoor latrines.
With the development in Mining and Commercial activities in Peru over the last years and the expansion of cities located by river margins, water quality and its care unfortunately have also been neglected with rivers becoming the receivers of all kind of organic and inorganic waste discharged from communities along their basins.
The flora and fauna of most rivers in Peru is gradually extinguishing; and water sources are turning into mere waste collectors; thus, becoming the cause of infections and diseases among the population. But the problem of water pollution in Peruvian rivers is much worse as their tributaries likewise carry great volumes of contaminated waters.
Unfortunately the Willkamayu, the "Sacred River of the Incas", is one of the most highly polluted.
