ABSTRACT
The impacts of climate change can be manifested through changing patterns of water availability. Given that water and weather are closely linked through evaporation and precipitation, any alteration in the balance between the two can cause an erratic rise in droughts, floods, humidity, glacial melt and rise in sea level. The increasing demand for water exacerbates the water crisis and seasonal irregularities in the availability patterns. In this chapter, we examine the aspect of water stress as a function of the availability of safe water in terms of quantity and quality in the health sector. Water is a key constituent to healthcare operations in any healthcare establishment. The chapter looks at water consumption patterns in the health sector, and provides suggestions for the efficient and sustainable management of water and wastewater in healthcare facilities. The healthcare sector is also a major contributor to water-related pollution, and must optimise its current functions in water-deficient systems by improvising and harnessing currently available technologies while maintaining regular checks and balances, to reduce its water footprint. There is urgent need for efficient management to ensure continuity in access, reduction in wastage and overconsumption of water.
