The Future of Water - Q1 2020 by Mediaplanet UK&IE

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TIM WAINWRIGHT, WATERAID UK “One in four people do not have a toilet” » p4

GABRIEL ECKSTEIN, IWRA The use of smart water management tacking water challenges » p8

BRUCE GORDON, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Improving WASH facilities to fight neglected tropical diseases » p10

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Top 8 global water crisis facts 1 3 5 7 8 4 2 6 two out of five people or three bi l l ion people around t he world lack basic handwashing facilties at home: 1.6 billion have lim ited facilities lack ing soap or water, and 1.4 billion have no facility at all. (WHO/UNICEF 2019)1 Nearly three quarters of the population of Least Developed Countries lack handwashing facilities with soap and water. (WHO/UNICEF 2019)2

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Nearly 900 million children worldwide lack a basic hygiene s e r v i c e at t h e i r s c h o o l . (WHO/UNICEF 2018)3

Some 297,000 children – more than 800 every day – under f i ve d i e a n n u a l l y f r o m diarrhoeal diseases due to poor sanitation, poor hygiene, or unsafe drinking water. (WHO 2019)4

Children younger than age five in countries experiencing protracted con f lict are twenty times more likely to die from causes linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence. (UNICEF, 2019)5

One million deaths each year are associated with unclean births. Infections account for 26% of neonatal deaths and 11% of maternal mortality. (WHO/UNICEF 2019)6

Hyg iene promotion is the most cost effective health intervention. (World Bank 2016)7

Un ivers a l acces s to sa fe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene would reduce the global disease burden by 10%. (WHO 2012)8 WRITTEN BY: HTTPS://WWW.UNWATER.ORG/ WATER-FACTS/HANDHYGIENE/

Citation: 1. https://washdata.org/ 2. https://washdata.org/ 3. https://washdata.org/ 4. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water 5. https://www.unicef.org/media/62371/file/Convention-rightschild-at-crossroads-2019.pdf 6. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water 7. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/23833/9781464803482.pdf?sequence=3 8. https://www.who.int/gho/phe/water_sanitation/burden/en/

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Technology holds the key; collaboration opens the door

HP NANDA President, DuPont Water Solutions Business

Pushing advanced water treatment solutions to new frontiers and uniting global resources with local partnerships, we can solve water scarcity challenges together.

t’s often true that technological advancement has helped us to solve soc iet y ’s g reatest challenges. That’s true for water, too. Given t he complex it y of our societies, the local nature of water issues and how water touches every aspect of our lives, uniting others to rise to these challenges is not always easy. Sustainability Development Goal #6 calls to: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” Resource #1, but often in the shadows Water is fascinating, worthy and, quite simply, resource #1. With it, possibility flows, but not everyone appreciates that. A recent documentary, completed by Brave Blue World Foundation, aimed to shift thinking around solving water challenges globally and inspire greater urgency, as well as optimism. The documentar y, suppor ted by us, shows the people behind the scenes of the water industry - eliminating waste; working to circular, rather than linear water usage; valuing used water; re-using it – even making beer from it – and creating bio-refineries from wastewater treatment plants to harvest all the nutrients, metals

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and energ y that are other wise flushed away. Science is global, solutions are local Solutions to water issues are usually local and most effective when they are customised to solve local challenges. To do so, we must try to better understand these challenges by engaging the community through our local presence and tapping into innovation and experience from our substantial global network of scientists, researchers, employees and fellow collaborators. Recent ly, i n Uzbek ista n, we helped a nitric acid plant reuse most of its process water. In Nairobi, the Little Sisters of St Francis have an autonomous water supply for their hospital and community that avoids the health issues from overfluoridated groundwater. We also upgraded the Sanibel and Captiva island com mun it y ’s cher ished membrane plant to expand its capacity for tourism spikes. Key to the success of projects like these come from deep technical expertise - deep understanding of science and focusing on boundarypushing innovation programmes; persistence and commitment to work for years to solve technical challenges; and cultivating a ‘can do’ culture. Such solutions take

Solutions to water issues are usually local and most effective when they are customised to solve local challenges.

resources, t ime and incessant curiosity. The jewel in the deep tech crown is the Tarragona R&D facility in Spain. It’s unique in that we use the natural environment to replicate the challenges that our customers face on a daily basis, with source water from the municipality, the sea and industry. Advancing our aspiration with strategic acquisitions We recognise that we need more tools in our technology tool kit to solve evolving water challenges globally. In 2019 we made four important acquisitions in water purification, conservation and re-use: • Complementary ultrafiltration (UF) technology, which enhances performance for many water

streams including pretreatment for desalination. • Membrane bioreactors and submerged UF to, among other things, enhance wastewater reuse. • Closed-circuit reverse osmosis, which can enhance water recovery to as high as 95-97%. • Advanced membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABR), which can take secondary wastewater treatment to the next level with energy savings and smaller footprint. These are complimented by a host of market-leading technologies. We recognise the challenges in the world are so big, no one individual, organisation or country can solve them. Only through collaborating with others, challenging traditional boundaries in the supply chain and creating lasting impactful solutions that harness the great potential of technology, will we open the door to the possibilities that flow when water is abundant yet precious. I am an optimist; we can see that day.

DuPont Water Solutions is deeply committed to this goal and aspires to be “The most prolific innovator and market shaper in water technology, to solve global challenges in water purification, conservation and reuse”. The DuPont Tarragona R&D facility in Spain can treat 10,000m3 of water per day – enough to supply a city of 100,000 inhabitants. R&D runs right from the lab to piloting at full-scale, often with the staff of an enduser as part of the team. In fact, we undertook 150 such co-creation projects with customers in 2019. For the industry, it is a large technology application centre. For us, it is the rosetta stone translating R&D to real world solutions.

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Woman returning home after collection of shrimp larva. The majority of people here are below the poverty line and their main occupations are agriculture, fishing, fish farming and daily labour in Kathamari, Shyamnagar, Satkhira, Bangladesh. September 2018.

TIM WAINWRIGHT Chief Executive UK, WaterAid

One in ten people globally do not have clean water close to home. One in four people do not have a toilet. We must step up to the challenge of providing safe water and toilets to everyone, everywhere, by 2030.

veryone understands that water is vital for life – but it is also so much more than that. Having a safe and reliable water supply not only saves lives but can also change lives forever. Unless you are able to count on having clean water to drink close to home, it is virtually impossible to escape poverty. Without toilets that protect your family and community, you will spend more time sick a nd car i ng for t hose w it h waterborne diseases, making it harder to build a brighter future. These three basic ser vices of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene underpin all progress in development and are at the heart of what we do at WaterAid.

Yet in 2020, one in ten people do not have even the most basic supply of clean water close to home, and a staggering two billion people do not have a decent toilet. This has a huge impact on the most vulnerable in society. Women and girls often shoulder the burden and waste hours every day collecting water, thus missing out on the opportunity to go to school or earn a living. Without a plumbed indoor toilet, women and girls are forced to sneak outside in the dark, which not only impacts on their dignity, but puts them at risk of harassment or attack. Girls are more likely to miss school while on their periods when their schools do not have a private,

safe toilet. And, tragically, one child under five dies every two minutes from diarrhoea caused by dirty water and lack of sanitation. The first line of defence Having access to resilient water services is one of the first lines of defence against climate change. This means being able to drink safe water every day, whatever the weather. As the warming planet increases pressure on already scarce water resources, communities which lack access to safely managed water supplies will not be able to respond to the unpredictable and severe impacts of climate variability. Increasing global temperatures threaten to reverse positive gains

Putting water and sanitation at the heart of the climate crisis

made in improving access to clean water and decent sanitation over the previous decades – and risk trapping people in poverty for many years to come. We still have a chance to change the situation Developed countries have a moral responsibility to reduce their use of fossil fuels much more quickly. But we must also act now to protect communities that are already fighting the impact of climate change. The single most important thing we can do to help people face these dangers is to ensure that everyone everywhere has access to safely managed water and sanitation. This is not only a human right,

but also forms part of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to bring clean water and sustainable sanitation to everyone, everywhere, by 2030. But time is running out. Far too little is being done, by either national governments or donors, to acknowledge the importance of clean water as a climate change defence and ma ke t he urgent, long-term investments needed to help the most vulnerable people in the world.

The climate crisis is a water crisis The climate crisis is a water crisis. It is only when we realise this that we can come up with solutions that are effective enough to make a real difference.

hen temperatures rise, the water cycle gets more and more impacted, with increasingly dramatic consequences for nature and humans. To tackle this, we must change the way we think about global warming and start treating it as the water crisis it is. To win the climate race, we need a new approach – water The climate crisis has hit faster and harder than scientists predicted, meaning that we now only have time for the most effective solutions. To keep global warming below 1. 5 deg rees Celsius, the global community needs to upgrade its

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climate commitments fivefold in the coming decade. A l l c o u nt r ie s w i l l n e e d t o make water a top priority in their nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement, since the most disast rous consequences of the climate crisis are linked to impacts on the water cycle, with more unpredictable rainfalls and a growing number of floods and droughts. Water solutions can both reduce emissions and make nature and societies better able to cope with the unavoidable temperature rise.

Good water governance is tomorrow’s biggest challenge Competition over dwindling water resources could get more and more fierce as the global population increases, the climate crisis escalates and civil strife soars. How water is managed will be a question of life and death for individuals, societies and nature. Since hardly any human activity is possible without water, different groups and interests could easily become pit ted aga in st each other, with potentially disastrous consequences for social stability, equality and our chances to combat global warming.

TORGNY HOLMGREN Executive Director, Stockholm International Water Institute

Good water governance is crucial, since it recognises the true value of water, encourages innovation, tackles pollution and waste, and ensures that both humans and nature get their fair share of limited water resources. Using the climate crisis to unleash a new era of innovation We may be on the cusp of a promising new era of social and environmental innovation. Thanks to important advances in Earth monitoring, we have a much better understanding of how different natural processes and ecosystems are connected.

This knowledge, coupled with new digital tools, makes it possible to develop industry, energy and a g r ic u lt u r e i n a mu c h m o r e sustainable direction, with less water and energy input. We must use this opportunity to set the world on a new course, where water is at the core of climate policy.

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Game-changing digital tool bringing new hope to Africa

Improved data from satellite technology will be able to help African farmers and governments use their land and water resources more sustainably and more productively.

hen you’re trying to solve a problem, it’s a good idea to look at it from every angle. Take a step back so you can see the entire picture and then zoom in on the real issues. That’s why analysis of satellite imagery is so important when it comes to getting a new perspective on the many challenges facing Africa, including the population’s ready access — or lack of access — to quality water. For instance, information from satellites can be used to show farmers how much irrigation they need to apply to their crops, or zero in on those areas in need of drinking water. That’s crucial in a continent where water is often a scarce resource, and where lack of clean drinking water can have such a devastating impact on public health.

As the World Health Organization stresses, contaminated water can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. MEDIAPLANET

As the World Health Organization stresses, contaminated water can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio.

often water is expected to remain in any location. This will give decision-makers a

Translating data into actionable decision-ready information Although Africa’s coastline and land surface has been imaged by satellites for decades, analysing the data that comes back isn’t always easy. Indeed, it’s often so large it’s difficult to compute. But now, a new platform applicable to the entire African continent will change that. Geoscience Australia has partnered with the African and international community to develop the new platform, known as Digital Earth Africa, it will translate decades of satellite data into decisionready open source information that can help African nations track changes across their continent in unprecedented detail. As a result, African farmers, managers, industry and governments will be able to use their land and water resources more sustainably and more productively. The platform, which includes a tool called Water Observations from Space (WOfS), will also show how water resources have changed across the continent over the last three decades, and provide insight into how

Information from satellites can be used to show farmers how much irrigation they need to apply to their crops, or zero in on those areas in need of drinking water. That’s crucial in a continent where water is often a scarce resource, and where lack of clean drinking water can have such a devastating impact on public health. much better understanding of where water is permanent, intermittent or occurs rarely, boosting agricultural productivity and food security. Quality water sources can be more easily identified, too, thus reducing cases of diarrhoea and improving health outcomes. A nd because everyone has access to the data, communities and individuals will be

able to make more informed decisions and choices — not just governments. Customised views and analysis for different users “It’s a game-changer,” says Walter Panzirer, Trustee at The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust, which has provided funding for the project. “This technology will provide us with actionable data on water and water resources, but it will also provide so much more: from conservation to human development, from urban planning to agriculture, from environmental concerns to environmental causes.” “The potential gain from this tool is almost incomprehensible,” agrees Trista Kontz-Bartels, Program Director of The Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Vulnerable Children in SubSaharan Africa Program. “Because we, and all users, will be able to customise the views and the analysis we want to look at, it has endless capability. Not just endless for us, but endless for governments, for NGOs, for philanthropy, for the private sector and even for the millions of smallholder farmers across Africa.”

easily understandable data should help the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals which were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Data available through the Digital Earth tool is directly relevant to Goals 2 (zero hunger), 6 (clean water and sanitation), 9 (industry, innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action), 14 (life below water) and 15 (life on land). “ Th is data w i l l suppor t t he sustainable development of Africa, it will help every country in Africa move closer to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and it will better ensure water, food, environmental and disaster security for every citizen,” said Trista KontzBartels. “Having this available for the entire continent will improve the lives of all Africans.” WRITTEN BY TONY GREENWAY

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Digitalisation, a smarter approach to water management?

1) How is technology shaping the water industry? It is completely changing how many processes are viewed. It will even influence how services are managed in the future. Today, the virus crisis technology is already helping smart utilities to manage a great deal of things remotely, t hu s protec t i ng t he health of their employees.

2) What are the potential barriers to implementing digitalisation? There are several. Some of them

are cu lt ura l bar r iers, as t he management culture needs to shift. Ot hers are size bar r iers, as sma l ler ut i l it ies w i l l have problems to implement the same solutions as the big utilities. F ina l ly, financia l barriers may prevent ut i l it ies i n poorer countr ies hav ing ac c e s s to t he s a me technology and solutions, alt hough I believe t hat dig italisation will democratise how services are provided, levelling the play field. Finally, we need to keep a systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective in mind, avoiding creating silos with the use of individual tools and technologies that do not talk to each other.

3) What solutions can we implement to overcome these challenges?

One si ze does not f it a l l, a nd solutions need to be developed a nd t a i lored for developi ng env i ron ment s a nd for sma l ler and rural utilities. We also need communication and training so the water professionals can transition to the digital world. I am sure that IWA will play a crucial role narrowing that gap.

We need to keep a systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective in mind, avoiding creating silos with the use of individual tools and technologies that do not talk to each other. 4) Are we able to implement this digitisation within the water industry in every country?

ENRIQUE CABRERA Vice President, International Water Association

E.g. the differences of implementation depending on stages of development? Yes, we are. We just need to think about d ig it a l i sat ion a s a ver y powerful tool that needs to take into account individual needs. Once we understand what is needed, s ol u t io n s s ho u ld b e s e le c t e d according to those needs.

5) What are the uncertainties within technology and digitisation and how can we overcome these?

There are great expectations on artificial intelligence and machine learning, and I do not think we can see where that path will take us. I hope it will take us very far. At the same time, I think that security and reliability are issues that need to remain at the forefront of the discussion, since a greater dependence on digital tools and automatisation will also increment the consequences of security breach or a system malfunction, and we need to remember to develop very secure and reliable systems. Read more at globalcause.co.uk

... And, how are smart water solutions aiding the water industry?

ma r t water solut ion s of fer a w ide r a n ge of opp or t u n it ie s to t he water industry through the enabling technologies of digitalisation. Digital water, smart water solutions with state-of-the-art connectivity (IoT), data pro c e s s i n g a nd built-in analytics supports the movement and maturing of the water industry tow a rd s v a lue

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CECILIA WENNBERG Vice President, Urban Water, and member of IWA Digital Steering committee

c reat ive pro ces ses of virtualisation and autonomous decision-ma king. This will result in

benefits of a more proactive, data driven call-to action and improved efficiency in asset maintenance and operation.

What will water management look like over the next few years?

I have a strong belief that we have only seen the early phases of digital water. Right now, we are in the phase of testing and exploring the opportunities and more and more it will lead to an acceptance in the industry of the true values of digital water. Ot her industr ies are already more mature in their digital transformation and as the water industr y is inspired and learning from them, we should expect an increased pace of digitali s at ion i n t he water industry. Water m a n a ge ment remains crucial fo r s o c i e t y a n d it s

The challenges and new risks faced by the water utilities seen from urbanisation, water scarcity and water quality, ageing infrastructure and climate change calls for an inevitable need for adoption of new technologies to provide improved, cost-efficient, resilient water and wastewater services. development, across the globe. The challenges and new risks faced by the water utilities seen from urbanisation, water scarcity and water quality, ageing infrastructure and climate change calls for an inevitable need for adoption of new technologies to provide improved, cost-efficient, resilient, water and wastewater services. In this transformation I believe that the water industry, through digital water, will go further into offer ing sustainable and resilient solutions, contributing to

sustainable development and continuous improvements in public health and safety and social wellbeing.

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We must invest Smart water in new tech to management is the solve the global future, says new report water crisis LUKAS STROHMEIER Business Analytics Expert, Andritz

Governments and private companies must utilise the latest technology to increase the efficiency of water systems to help solving the global water crisis, says Business Analytics Expert, Lukas Strohmeier.

here are two key global water challenges: water scarcity and flooding. Water and wastewater networks, desalination, as well as flood control and irrigation systems rely on pumps to create and maintain water security. Pumps are critical to ensure the right amount of water is present at the right time.

It is estimated that up to 90% of currently installed pumps are energy inefficient and replacing old pumps will save costs and significantly contribute to fight global warming. Pumps are at the core of water systems and ensure our modern living standard Unfortunately, it is estimated that up to 90% of the currently installed pumps are energy inefficient. Replacing old pumps will save costs and significantly contribute to fight global warming. Increasing the efficiency of the entire water networks is key. Innovation must spread beyond pumps and new technology – such as data analytics, IoT and predictive maintenance – as well as new business models are crucial to help mastering the global water crisis. Private and public organisations need to collaborate and invest jointly to ensure a sustainable water future can be realised.

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Reaching those that need to be reached: accelerating WASH access to combat NTDs Neglected Tropical Diseases affect the most vulnerable populations. Millions of people in the world continue to suffer from illness and death linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

eglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect more t h a n 1 bi l l ion p e ople, thrive among the poorest and most vulnerable populations – the same populations who often lack basic WASH services. WASH is essential for preventing d i s e a s e s l i ke t r ac hom a, s oi ltransmitted helminthiases and sch istosom iasis as wel l as for managing related morbidity. Climate change may increase the spread of many NTDs including dengue and other vector borne disease linked to inadequate water management. Large inequalities in access to WASH persist. At least two billion people in the world drink water contaminated with faeces and 673 million continue to defecate in the open. Well-targeted WASH efforts to

com mun it ies who suffer from or are most at risk from N TDs are essential to reach the most vulnerable populations. Working collaboratively across sectors is needed to reduce inequalities and achieve the 2030 Agenda ambition of leaving no one behind. Collaboration between WASH and NTD actors: review of the past five years Over the past five years, WHO and partners have mobilised the WASH community to accelerate and sustain efforts to control and eliminate NTDs through a Global St rateg y on WA SH a nd N T D s. Later the publication of a toolkit, developed jointly with the NTD NGO Network (NNN) was released, to help health and WASH partners with the practicalities of working together.

At least two billion people in the world drink water contaminated with faeces and 673 million continue to defecate in the open. The toolkit has been used in more than 15 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia and encouraging examples of successful joint work have emerged. Lao PDR and Cambodia have led coordinated implementation of mass drug administration, water safet y plan n ing and nutr it ion

BRUCE GORDON Coordinator, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit, World Health Organization inter vent ions to el im inate schistosom iasis among high ly endemic communities. Some countries like Ethiopia have developed national and local guidelines to support resourcing, planning and monitoring of joint interventions and many countries h ave i n it iate d joi nt sit uat ion analyses and planning. While significant progress has been made, efforts have not been w it hout c h a l len ge s . Work i n g across sectors can be difficult due to differing priorities, funding streams, and communication. Looking ahead: accelerating WASH efforts to combat NTDs Looking ahead, a new 2030 Global NTD Roadmap setting new targets and milestones for NTD control, e l i m i n at i o n a n d e r a d i c at i o n

beyond 2020 will soon be released with WASH featuring even more prominently as a key multisectoral action to manage morbidity, reduce infections and to ensure diseases don’t return when disease control i nter vent ion s l i ke m a s s - d r ug administration eventually scale back. The roadmap will be accompanied by a revised WASH-NTD Strategy 2021-2030. Continued partnerships with the new roadmap and strategy to set the agenda, maintain visibility and political will combined with t he tool k it and lear n ing from implementation to drive action in countries is more important than ever to improve the health and reduce poverty among the most underserved population. Read more at globalcause.co.uk

The must-have items of 2020: water, sanitation and hygiene The water in the oceans, rivers and lakes is natural and available for free for those who live near them. Safe, drinkable water is not. Nor is sanitation and hygiene.

n my travels, I often hear people say that water comes from God and so, like air and sunlight, it shouldn’t have a price. This is a big misconception. Humans developed systems for water, sanitation and hygiene to promote life and protect against disease. Now, as COVID-19 spreads across the planet, we suddenly see taps, toilets, soap and sinks for what t hey a re: i nvent ion s absolutely critical to public health and human survival. Resilient, sustainable, affordable w ater sa n it at ion s ystem s a nd good hygiene practices save lives. It is five years since the launch of Agenda 2030, which includes Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by the end of this decade. 2020 also marks 10 years since the UN General Assembly explicitly recognised the human rights to water and sanitation.

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COVID-19 and water, sanitation and hygiene The COVID-19 crisis is showing us that a society is only as healthy as its most vulnerable members. But this is only revealing a more general truth universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene is vital to address the current coronavirus pandemic, but also to curb other preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and pneumonia. Therefore, achieving universal coverage is not just about putting more money into the top of the funnel. We need policies on the ground to ensure sustainable services for all, including the poorest and most marginalised communities. Providing water and sanitation for free for extremely poor or vulnerable communities – and in emergency situations – may be an essential lifeline in some situations, but still needs to be paid for, as otherwise this approach deprives governments

Now, as COVID-19 spreads across the planet, we suddenly see taps, toilets, soap and sinks for what they are: inventions absolutely critical to public health and human survival.

and service providers of the revenue needed to maintain and expand these services. The COVID-19 crisis has thrown up interesting responses in this respect. Many countries around the world are reconnecting households that had been disconnected for

CATARINA DE ALBUQUERQUE CEO, Sanitation and Water for All

non-payment (even if the households were low-income and could not afford the tariffs) and are making a special effort to connect or provide services to informal settlements, overcoming barriers that had been previously seen as insurmountable. The benefits of investing in water and sanitation Investing in water and sanitation systems so that everyone has safe, reliable, affordable services is the definition of a no-brainer. Benefits include an overall estimated gain of 1.5% of global GDP and a $4.3 return for every dollar invested in water and sanitation services due to reduced health care costs and increased productivity. Investing in water and sanitation systems is also a massive opportunity to serve a huge and rapidly expanding market. Poor communities may have limited funds, but they don’t expect something for nothing.

Time and again, all over the world, communities are demanding their rights and demonstrating their willingness and ability to pay a reasonable price. The human rights to water and sanitation is sacred and non-negotiable. Realising those rights depends upon affordability. Every country needs to invest in and develop its people and institutions, policies and regulations. Strong systems, integrated across relevant ministries, need to be backed by robust accountability and monitoring mechanisms at every stage. Fulfilling everyone’s human rights will take dedication and flexibility, but above all, it will take political prioritisation, more money and an explicitly pro-poor approach.

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Water quality is just as important as water access Ensuring vulnerable communities have access to clean water requires partnership, principles for sustainability, behaviour change and a strong focus on quality from start to finish.

DR RAY NORMAN WASH Global Sector Lead, World Vision International

PAULINE OKUMU Senior Director, WASH Operations, World Vision International

ost of us take access to clean water for granted. But when it isn’t available, life is an unimaginably diffic u lt dai ly st r uggle — a hardship that is almost impossible to comprehend. Dr Ray Norman, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Global Sector Lead with international Christian humanitarian organisation World Vision, remembers a community in Mali that was based 6km away from the nearest source of water. Women and girls usually had the job of fetching it, and the round trip took them hours. Then a well was drilled which gave ever yone immediate local access to clean water — and the results were revolutionary. “I was particularly touched by the impact it had on women,” says Norman. “Suddenly they had time to devote to their children, so it was very empowering for them, and the girls were able to go to school. It took enormous stress off the community. Clean water has a huge effect on health and education — and livelihoods, too, because it frees people up to become income generators.”

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Why installing water points is not enough Yet, tragically, 2.2 billion people around the world lack safe drinking water (WHO & UNICEF, 2019), and more than 800 children under five die each day from diarrhoea as a result of unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hand hygiene (WHO, 2019) Pauline Okumu is Senior Director, WASH Operations at World Vision. “Those who are most vulnerable to a lack of access to clean water include people with disabilities; people in crisis; people living in fragile contexts, such as refugees; women and girls; and the poorest of the poor,” she says. “It’s also an issue for people in marginalised, remote areas where there is poor infrastructure, such as bad or under-developed roads.” Water points — where people can go to draw water for their day-to-day consumption — are important, but simply providing them is not enough, admits Norman. That’s because water quality must be ensured all the way to the point of use. “For a long time, we focused on the importance of giving people access to water,” he says. “But we realised that water access alone does not always result in desired health outcomes.”

Clean water has a huge effect on health and education — and livelihoods, too, because it frees people up to become income generators.

“We have to work on bet ter sustained behaviour change around water management and safety. If efforts to improve water access are not equally matched with improved hygiene practice and sanitation measures, these communities will continue to experience diseases that result in fatalities and debilitating effects.” Instigating behaviour change and creating partnerships Okumu agrees that working with people to develop healthy WASH behaviours is critical. “For example, we need to give people guidance about the importance of hand-washing,” she says. This simple practice can deter a lot of diseases, as the COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us.

She recognises that implementing sustained change is a long-term process; but if the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 (‘ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all’) is to be achieved, challenges around hygiene must be faced. Plus, at a global strategy level, Okumu notes t hat sustainable policies and plans must be put into place to ensure that water systems are built well, maintained c o n s i s t e nt l y, a n d m o n i t o r e d effectively.

or g a n i s at ion s) i mple m e nt i n g these changes in the field must engage with village health workers and faith leaders, and involve all community members including women, people with disabilities and children: the very people that will benefit most from access to clean water and better hygiene practices. “Don’t plan for people,” says Norman. “Plan with them. And move tow a rd s ev idence -ba se d initiatives and practices that, over time, will result in real change.”

Involving and empowering communities Howeve r, i f t h i s i s to work , strong partnerships are needed between various actors including governments, funders, peers and private organisations. “G over n ment ent it ie s of ten ne e d ou r enc ou ragement a nd collaborative support (in training, equipment and/or needed protocols) to establish regular monitoring of water quality and functionality”, says Norman. “And we have to empower communities to maintain their own water systems — and maintain them safely.” Th i s me a n s t h at t he NG O s (non-governmental organisations) a nd C B O s (c om mu n it y- b a s e d

WRITTEN BY TONY GREENWAY Citation: Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2017. Special focus on inequalities. New York: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), 2019 WHO, 2019 - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/ detail/drinking-water Wash data, 2019 - https://www.washdata.org/sites/default/files/ documents/reports/2019-07/jmp-2019-wash-households.pdf

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The Future of Water - Q1 2020

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