Threats to Clean Water and Sanitation 
Climate Change
Water Scarcity
Pollution and Runoff
Population Growth
Urbanization
Sea levels rising and flooding, that we can see have been occurring recently, play a part in the distribution of salt water and faecal matter that causes damage to sanitation infrastructure (Water and Climate Change | UN-Water, n.d.).
With temperatures being high, it leads to melting of glaciers which in turn flows into our freshwater and throws off regulation (Water and Climate Change | UN-Water, n.d.).
Wildfires and droughts that are due to climate change are destroying vegetation and is reducing groundwater recharge, which in turn creates water scarcity (Water and Climate Change | UN-Water, n.d.).
"Growing demand for water increases the need for energy-intensive water pumping, transportation, and treatment, and has contributed to the degradation of critical water-dependent carbon sinks such as peatlands. Water-intensive agriculture for food production, particularly meat, and for growing crops used as biofuels, can further exacerbate water scarcity" (Water and Climate Change | UN-Water, n.d.).
Extreme weather events are making water more scarce, more unpredictable, more polluted or all three" (Water and Climate Change | UN-Water, n.d.).
"The contaminated water is the main cause of various diseases such as cholera and typhus" (15 Interesting Facts About Water Pollution, n.d.).
"In America 40% of rivers and 46% of the lakes are polluted and unsuitable for swimming, fishing or any other activity" (15 Interesting Facts About Water Pollution, n.d.).
"80% of the water pollution is caused due to domestic sewage" (15 Interesting Facts About Water Pollution, n.d.).
"Around 70% of industrial waste is dumped to water" (15 Interesting Facts About Water Pollution, n.d.).
In general, the more the population grows, the higher the need for clean water.
For the population who doesn't watch their water use, they are wasting clean water that other people could use.
The more water being used in agriculture that is trying to meet the need for the populations food, the more wastewater that is produced that pollutes the environment(How Is Population Growth Responsible for the Growing Problem of Water Scarcity | Population Media Center, 2022).
"An increase in population in population also fuels an increase in food needs. Agriculture uses a tremendous amount of water" (How Is Population Growth Responsible for the Growing Problem of Water Scarcity | Population Media Center, 2022).
"Unsanitary conditions in neighbourhoods without water and sanitation services create a constant threat of a disease outbreak, such as cholera, that can devastate poor communities and spread through the city and beyond"(Water and Urbanization | UN-Water, n.d.).
"Unserved urban communities are vulnerable to shock. A lack of resilient water and sanitation systems and hygiene facilities means that the community’s ability to stay healthy during environmental shocks is severely compromised"(Water and Urbanization | UN-Water, n.d.).
"Planning, budgets and infrastructure are failing to serve most urban residents in the developing world with water and sanitation, contributing to poor health conditions and heavy pollution loads in wastewater"(Water and Urbanization | UN-Water, n.d.).
"Urban planning is not keeping pace with population growth"(Water and Urbanization | UN-Water, n.d.).
"Fast growing towns and cities across the developing world are home to millions of people living without access to basic services such as safely managed water and sanitation services"(Water and Urbanization | UN-Water, n.d.).
"Water Scarcity can be caused by: collapsed infrastructure and distribution systems, contamination, conflict, or poor management of water resources"(Water Scarcity, n.d.).
Water scarcity can allow sewage systems to fail which creates hazards of contracting diseases (Water Scarcity, n.d.).
"Over two billion people live in countries where water supply is inadequate" (Water Scarcity, n.d.)
It also leads to water to become more expensive,
making it hard to maintain use (Water Scarcity, n.d.).
"Four billion people — almost two thirds of the world’s population — experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year" (Water Scarcity, n.d.).
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With population growth rates increasing rapidly, but water is a finite resources causing stress through the world (How Is Population Growth Responsible for the Growing Problem of Water Scarcity | Population Media Center, 2022).
More than 6 billion pounds of garbage, mainly plastic end up in the oceans every year" (15 Interesting Facts About Water Pollution, n.d.).
The more the population grows and less action towards being good consumers and productive citizens, the more polluted our water will get.