Water Scarcity and Women: The Disproportionate Affects Women Face

There is a deep connection between water scarcity and women. Water is life, yet for millions of women in developing countries, accessing it is a daily struggle. In many parts of the world, women and girls spend a collective 200 million hours fetching water every day.

This burden impacts their health, education, and opportunities for economic independence. In this article, you’ll explore how water scarcity and women are interconnected, and how this crisis limits women’s educational and economic opportunities.

The Link Between Water Scarcity and Women’s Daily Lives

1. Women, the Primary Water Collectors

In many developing parts of the world, people don’t get water from taps in their homes. But they fetch water, which is a full-time responsibility, that is usually fulfilled by women and girls.

In Africa and South Asia, women walk an average of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) daily just to gather water. This chore is not a matter of choice but an expectation and responsibility, passed down through generations. 

In these areas, men are often responsible to handle income-generating tasks. Whereas, women are expected to manage household chores — including securing water for drinking, cooking, and other daily usage.

2. The Physical Toll

Women generally carry around 20 liters (44 pounds) of water on their head. Sometimes they repeat this task multiple times a day, under the scorching sun. 

This daily activity leads to chronic back pain, joint problems, and even complications during pregnancy. Studies have linked excessive water carrying to spinal deformities and musculoskeletal disorders. Still women bear the burden to keep their families alive because there is no alternative.

3. Less Time for School, Work, or Rest

The chore of water collection doesn’t just steal energy but it steals time. Young girls involved in this chore often miss school because they’re stuck in never-ending water queues.

On the other hand, mothers or women invest up to 4-6 hours a day just fetching water. This time can be used to invest in earning money, pursuing education, skill building, or even just resting. 

But the cycle of unpaid, invisible labor keeps women and their families trapped in poverty, generation after generation.

4. Psychological Stress and Safety Risks

Despite the drawbacks discussed above, the journey of collecting water is also dangerous. Women have to walk alone in rural areas where they are at a higher risk of facing harassment, assault, or even abduction.

The threat of facing such risks increases their mental burden, making water collection not just a physical hardship but an emotional one. Moreover, fetching water means waiting in long lines, dealing with shortages, or facing conflicts at shared wells. Such incidents create a constant state of stress and uncertainty.

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Health Risks of Water Scarcity for Women and Girls

1. Increased Exposure to Waterborne Diseases

Lack of clean water resources means that women and girls have to rely on contaminated water sources. Collecting water from such resources put them at a constant risk of waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. 

Such exposure put pregnant women in a more vulnerable position because unsafe water can lead to preterm labor or even pregnancy complications. As women are often the ones responsible for fetching water, yet they’re also the first ones to suffer from the contamination.

2. Lack of Sanitation and Hygiene Facilities

Millions of girls in developing countries face difficulties going to school every month when having their periods. These difficulties are usually because schools lack basic sanitation facilities, private toilets, and clean water for menstrual hygiene.  

Less or no water facilities force girls to stay home for several days each month. Regular absence from school each month results in significant learning gaps. In some cases, girls even quit going to school, increasing the school dropout rate. 

This shows how something as natural as menstruation can be a barrier to girls’ education and future opportunities.

3. Higher Maternal Health Risks Due to Poor Water Quality

Water scarcity increases health risks for women and girls. Many women in rural areas give birth in clinics without running water or proper sanitation. Lack of clean water during pregnancy and childbirth increases the risk of infections and complications. 

According to an estimate of the World Health Organization, roughly 800 women die every day from preventable pregnancy-related causes. Many of these causes are linked to lack of clean water, because basic maternal care—like sterilizing medical equipment or ensuring a hygienic birth environment—becomes impossible.

Social and Cultural Impacts of Water Scarcity on Women

1. Water Management and Gender Inequality 

As stated above, there is a close relation between water scarcity and women. This is because in many cultures, water collection is primarily considered “women’s work”. 

This association reinforces traditional roles that keep women tied to domestic responsibilities. Despite bearing the domestic burden, they often have little to no say in decisions about water management, infrastructure, or distribution. 

Moreover, leadership roles in water governance are usually dominated by men, even though it’s women who bear the daily burden of water insecurity. This exclusion perpetuates gender inequality, limiting women’s influence over policies that directly impact their lives.

2. Early Marriage and Gender-Based Violence Linked to Water Collection

Lack of water resources plays an important role in forcing families into desperate choices. For instance, in some regions, girls are married off early to reduce financial burden and to reduce the burden of water consumption. 

Early marriage not only ends educational opportunities but also increases the risk of domestic violence and health complications from early pregnancies. 

Despite that, the journey to collect water is often dangerous. Women and girls walking alone to fetch water are vulnerable to face harassment, sexual assault, and even trafficking. The simple act of fetching water becomes a daily risk to their safety and dignity.

3. Community Conflicts Over Scarce Water Resources

Water shortages become a reason for conflicts within communities. In these conflicts, women are at the center of disputes. Since they are the ones waiting in long lines, negotiating access, and ensuring their families get enough water. 

Therefore, they are also the ones who face hostility when resources run low. These disputes can lead to violence, discrimination, or social exclusion.

Women Advocating for Water Rights and Solutions

Water crisis impacts women more, but despite all the challenges, women are taking charge for sustainable water solutions. In many regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, women’s groups are demanding better infrastructure, fairer distribution, and long-term water management policies. 

Women are acting as an agent of change. They are taking a stand for installing community wells to lobbying for better governmental policies. Their involvement is key to breaking the cycle of water insecurity and building a future where access to clean water is a right, not a privilege.

Concluding Remarks

Water scarcity is not just an environmental issue but a gender crisis. Because women in developing countries are the ones who bear the heaviest burden. The consequences are expanded to poor health, loss of opportunities, and systemic inequalities. 

However, by practicing inclusion, gender equality, and investment in sustainable water solutions we can empower women as leaders in water management. Such practices can create a future where water is accessible for all.