Water Quality and Human Health in a Changing Environment—a Rural Community Perspective, Western Kenya

Abstract

One of the greatest threats and challenges presented by global environmental change is ever increasing water quality degradation and related water borne diseases. With only 2.5% of the world's water resource being fresh water, it is no wonder that water scarcity is a potentially explosive concern for future generations. IPCC projects that although an increase in average temperatures of several degrees as a result of climate change will lead to an increase in average global precipitation over the course of the 21st century, the increase in runoff and precipitation containing more pathogens and pollutants may well lead to a decline in water quality.