23. Water

Importance of clean water

• Water is as necessary natural resource
• Humans need access to clean, safe drinking water in order to live
• Poor water quality is a major cause of disease and death in some countries
• Water usually needs to be treated before we can drink it
• Developing countries often lack the means to treat and supply water to citizens
• Developed countries tend to have much better sanitation
• Citizens have access to clean tap water
• Drinking water is not contaminated by sewage or waste water
• The supply of clean water would improve public health in many developing countries

Water supply

• Urban life would be impossible without water supply systems
• These systems are massive engineering projects
• Many professionals are involved in their planning, construction and maintenance
• The supply and distribution of water are major concerns
• Water is becoming scarce in some countries
• Areas that suffer droughts often need to import water
• As populations grow, there is more pressure on water supplies
• This could lead to a water crisis

Water and politics

• The supply of water is also an important political issue
• Huge amount of water are needed for agriculture and industry
• The irrigation of crops accounts for a large proportions of water use
• A water crisis could lead to political conflicts or even wars

Argument: water should be free

• Some people believe that water should be free for everyone
• Governments should supply water to all homes at no cost
• Private companies should not be allowed to profit from this natural resource
• Money from taxes can be used to pay for water supply systems

Argument: water should not be free

• If water is free, people take it for granted
• They do not think about how much water they waste
• They leave taps running while washing or brushing their teeth
• If we have to pay for water, we will use it more responsibly
• Water supply systems are extremely expensive
• Investment is needed to maintain and improve them
• Private companies may provide a better service than governments
• If they provide an efficient service, they will make more money
• They will repair leaks to avoid losing money

Bottled Water: Opinions

• Some people carry bottles of water wherever they go
• For example, they take bottles of water to work or to the gym
• They believe that bottled water is healthier than tap water
• They also argue that it tastes better
• However, other people believe that we should consume less bottled water
• Plastic water bottles add to litter and waste problems
• Companies should not be able to make a profit from water
• It is unethical to make money by selling packaged water
• There is no difference in quality between bottled and tap water

干净水的重要性

• 水是一种必要的自然资源
• 人类为了生存需要接触到干净的、安全的饮用水
• 在一些国家劣质的水质是导致疾病和死亡的一个重要原因
• 在我们饮用之前水通常需要被处理
• 发展中国家经常缺乏处理和供给城市居民水的工具
• 发达国家倾向有更好的卫生
• 城市居民接触到干净的自来水
• 饮用水没有被污水和废水污染
• 干净水的供给将提高很多发展中国家的公共健康

水供给

• 没有供水系统城市生活将不可能
• 这些系统是大规模工程项目
• 许多专业人士参与到他们的计划、建造和维护
• 水的供给和分配是主要顾虑
• 在一些国家水正变得稀少
• 饱受干旱的地区通常需要进口水
• 随着人口增长，在水供给上将有更多的压力
• 这会导致水危机

水和政治

• 供水也是一项重要的政治问题
• 农业和工业需要大量的水
• 农作物灌溉占据了很大比例的水使用
• 一个水危机会导致政治冲突甚至战争

论据:水应该是免费的

• 一些人认为水对每个人都应该是免费的
• 政府应该向所有家庭免费供水
• 私人公司不应该被允许从自然资源中获利
• 来自纳税的钱应该被用来支付供水系统

论据:水不应该是免费的

• 如果水是免费的，人们认为这理所当然
• 他们不会考虑他们浪费多少水
• 他们在洗手或刷牙的时候让自来水流着
• 如果我们必须支付水，我们将更加负责地使用它
• 供水系统极其昂贵
• 必须有投资去维持和提高它们
• 私人公司或许能比政府提供更好的服务
• 如果他们提供一个更高效的服务，他们将赚更多的钱
• 他们将维修漏水以避免失去钱

瓶装水:观点

• 一些人不论他们在哪都会携带许多瓶装水
• 比如，他们带瓶装水去工作或健身房
• 他们认为瓶装水比自来水更健康
• 他们也认为它更可口
• 然而，其他人认为我们应该消费更少的瓶装水
• 塑料水瓶子增加垃圾和废物问题
• 公司不应该从水中获取利润
• 通过销售包装水来赚钱是不道德的
• 瓶装水和自来水在质量上没什么区别