Dialogue

Alice: Bob, you wouldn’t believe the tragedy that just unfolded in my bathroom. My shower practically coughed out a single lukewarm droplet!

Bob: Oh, Alice, the horror! Was it perhaps a tiny water gnome protesting your excessive shampoo usage? Or did your landlord finally cut corners on the water pressure *again*?

Alice: It felt like a protest, alright. But seriously, it got me thinking. We complain about weak showers, but imagine not having *any* clean water at all.

Bob: Exactly! I was just reading an article this morning. Did you know billions of people lack access to safely managed drinking water? It’s mind-boggling.

Alice: Billions? That’s… a lot of parched throats. Here I am debating between sparkling or still, and others are praying for a muddy puddle. Talk about perspective shift!

Bob: It really puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? It’s not just about drinking, either. Sanitation and hygiene are huge problems too without reliable water sources.

Alice: So, like, no hand-washing after a trip to the, uh, *facilities*? That’s just asking for trouble. My inner germaphobe is screaming.

Bob: Precisely. Contaminated water leads to all sorts of waterborne diseases, which disproportionately affect children. It’s a vicious cycle of illness and poverty.

Alice: Gosh, I always thought it was mainly about drought in deserts. But it’s more complex, isn’t it? Like aging infrastructure and pollution?

Bob: Absolutely. Lack of investment, climate change impacts like extreme floods and droughts, and industrial pollution all play a part.

Alice: So, what can ordinary mortals like us even do, Bob? Start collecting rainwater in our teacups?

Bob: Well, supporting organizations that work on water conservation and infrastructure projects is a start. And being mindful of our own water usage, even if it feels like a drop in the ocean.

Alice: A drop in the ocean… ha! Good one. But you’re right. Maybe my dramatic shower struggle was a sign. I should probably turn off the tap when I brush my teeth.

Bob: See? Small steps, Alice. Small steps. We can’t solve it overnight, but awareness is the first splash.

Alice: First splash. I like that. So, no more hour-long shower concerts for me then? My neighbors will be thrilled.

Current Situation

Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet it remains a significant global challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, billions of people worldwide still lack safely managed drinking water at home.

• Approximately 2 billion people do not have safely managed drinking water services.
• Around 3.6 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services.
• Contaminated drinking water causes over 1 million deaths each year, primarily from diarrhoeal diseases, with young children being most vulnerable.
• The problem is exacerbated by factors such as climate change (leading to droughts and floods), inadequate or aging infrastructure, pollution from industrial and agricultural activities, and rapid urbanization.
• Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) – “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” – by 2030 requires substantial investment and concerted global effort.
• Efforts include developing new water sources, improving existing infrastructure, implementing water conservation strategies, and promoting hygiene education.

Key Phrases

• unfolded in my bathroom: (idiom) To happen or develop, often used for events. Example: A dramatic scene unfolded right before my eyes in the busy square.
• cut corners: (idiom) To do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often by sacrificing quality. Example: The company cut corners on safety, which unfortunately led to an accident.
• put things into perspective: (idiom) To compare something to other things so that it can be accurately and fairly judged. Example: Seeing the resilience of people in difficult situations really puts my own problems into perspective.
• mind-boggling: (adjective) Extremely surprising and difficult to imagine or understand. Example: The amount of data processed by modern computers is truly mind-boggling.
• parched throats: (idiom) Very dry throats, indicating a strong need for water. Example: After running the marathon, all the athletes had parched throats and rushed for water.
• sanitation and hygiene: (noun phrase) Public health conditions related to clean drinking water and adequate treatment/disposal of human waste, and practices to maintain health. Example: Improving sanitation and hygiene is crucial for preventing the spread of disease in communities.
• waterborne diseases: (noun phrase) Illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms transmitted through contaminated water. Example: Cholera and giardiasis are common waterborne diseases in areas with poor water treatment.
• vicious cycle: (idiom) A continuing unpleasant situation, in which one problem causes another problem that then makes the first problem worse. Example: Lack of education can lead to unemployment, which can create a vicious cycle of poverty.
• aging infrastructure: (noun phrase) Old and deteriorating basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, power supplies, water systems). Example: Many cities in the world are struggling with aging infrastructure, including their water pipes and bridges.
• play a part: (idiom) To be involved in something; to have an effect or influence on something. Example: Everyone needs to play a part in protecting the environment for future generations.
• a drop in the ocean: (idiom) A very small amount compared to the amount that is needed. Example: My small donation felt like a drop in the ocean compared to the vast needs of the disaster relief fund.
• turn off the tap: (phrasal verb) To stop the flow of water from a faucet. Example: Remember to turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth to conserve water.

Grammar Points

1. Phrasal Verbs: These are verbs combined with a preposition or an adverb (or both) that create a new meaning, often different from the original verb.
   • Cut corners: (verb + adverb) – “The landlord finally cut corners on the water pressure.” (meaning: did something inadequately to save money/effort).
   • Play a part: (verb + noun phrase) – “Industrial pollution all play a part.” (meaning: contribute or have a role).
   • Turn off: (verb + adverb) – “I should probably turn off the tap.” (meaning: stop something from operating).
2. Quantifiers for large or indefinite amounts: Words used to express the quantity of a noun.
   • Billions of people: Used with countable nouns to indicate a very large, specific number.
   • Any clean water: Used in negative or interrogative sentences with both countable and uncountable nouns to mean ‘some’ or ‘even a small amount’. “Imagine not having any clean water.”
   • All sorts of: Used to describe many different types of something. “Leads to all sorts of waterborne diseases.”
3. Using “Imagine + -ing” for Hypothetical Situations: This structure is used to ask someone to think about a possible, often hypothetical, situation or action.
   • “But imagine not having any clean water at all.”
   • Structure: Imagine + verb-ing (gerund phrase)
   • Example: Imagine living on a deserted island. (It asks you to form a mental picture of that situation).
4. Idiomatic Expressions: Phrases or expressions where the meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meaning of its separate words. They add color and naturalness to language.
   • Mind-boggling: “It’s mind-boggling.” (meaning: extremely surprising or complex).
   • Put things into perspective: “It really puts things into perspective.” (meaning: helps to understand the true importance).
   • Vicious cycle: “It’s a vicious cycle.” (meaning: a problem that leads to another problem, which makes the first one worse).

Practice Exercises