By Aki Pagratis

Water is one of the most essential elements to our existence. It is vital for all forms of life and it is the defining feature of our planet. But today, in many parts of the world, water is also responsible for snuffing out life, according to an annual report released on Monday by the UN Environmental Program. In fact, more people are dying each year by water related illnesses than by all violent crimes combined, including war.

According to the 88 page report titled Sick Water, more than half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by people suffering from water-related illnesses and 3.7 percent of all deaths, millions of people, are caused by water related diseases, each year. Unfortunately, as is often the case with war and ecological disaster, young children are the most vulnerable. Annually, approximately 1.8 million children under five die because of the water they consume. That means a young child dies every 20 seconds.

Achim Steiner, the U.N. Undersecretary General and executive director of UNEP, is urging quick action. "If we are not able to manage our waste, then that means more people (will be) dying from waterborne diseases," he said. The most serious cases are in underdeveloped nations, where an estimated 90 percent of all wastewater goes directly into rivers, lakes or oceans, untreated. An estimated two million tons of sewage, industrial and agricultural waste is dumped into the world’s waterways each year, causing disease and damaging ecosystems.

However, the report does offer solutions which Steiner underscores. "If the world is to thrive, let alone to survive on a planet of 6 billion people heading to over 9 billion by 2050, we need to get collectively smarter and more intelligent about how we manage waste, including wastewaters."

Sick Water calls for a sustained investment and a firm commitment from the local authorities and international donors. It is not the quantity of investment, the report says, “not one-off, short-term, single-sector investments,” that will make a difference. Rather a paradigm shift is proposed. New approaches that include carefully targeted investments and technological innovation, are needed. “Not one size fits all,” but by ensuring that investments are appropriate to the industries and communities they serve.

In short, effectively tackling this problem requires engagement and commitment that boost economies, increase labor productivity and reduce poverty.

The video below is a commentary by Rose George, the British author of the 2008 book "The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters."