Water for Shared Prosperity: 10th World Water Forum

AUTHOR: David Jarrett Editor@ RDJ Publishing and RDJ Group ChiefExecutiveOfficer

Courtesy:worldwaterforumorg

The World Water Forum is the largest international gathering in the water sector involving various stakeholders, which has been co-hosted by the

World Water Council and a host city The Forum is held every three years and has been taking place since 1997

The World Water Forum is not just a conference: it includes a three-year preparation phase (preparatory phase), a one-week event (event phase), and a presentation of the results (synthesis phase) with ongoing support for collective action.

The Forum brings together participants from all levels and areas, including politics, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector, among others. On 18th to 25th of May 2024, the heads of state, the heads of international organizations, high level government officials, experts, scholars, entrepreneurs and economists from all over the world will share their knowledges, experiences, and practices regarding a wide range of topics related to water.

Water Circulation Engineering to Mitigate Hydrological Disaster

Several speakers [at the Forum] outlined concrete measures to implement water circulation engineering for the community. Eva Plannes, an architect and researcher from the Netherlands, recounted the success story in Chennai, India. The speaker stated that the "City of 1000 Tanks" project, which is located in this area with a population of 7 1 million, employs water circulation engineering to mitigate the risks of drought and flooding caused by rainfall

The water balance concept is an engineering model designed to ensure the sustainable circulation of water in accordance with the population's needs This engineering utilizes Decentralized Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), which identify the convergence of natural water sources with interconnected water holes. The water will then be distributed or collected through online monitoring.

"The inspiration was drawn from the irrigation system at Hindu temples, which regulates the availability of water, whether it is plentiful or scarce," said Plannes, who is engaged in a collaborative project with the local government and the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Meanwhile, another speaker, Prof. V. Srinivas Chary, explained that the City of Hyderabad in India is now initiating the adoption of eco-friendly structures that utilize recycled water Used or unclean water will be processed with purifying technology before being stored with rainwater and other water sources Chary stated that the clean water recycling technology is calculated based on the occupant capacity or usage level, such as in industries. Therefore, the solution for fulfilling water requirements does not just depend on the freshwater supply from natural sources

Forum Formulates Priorities in Four Regions

Speakers present at the session included Alain Meyssonnier, President of the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME); Benedito Braga, CEO of Sabesp; Rashid

Mbaziira, Executive Secretary of the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW); Changhua Wu, Chair of the Governing Council of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF); and Eelco Van Beek from the Asian Development Bank(ADB)

The 10th World Water Forum has produced a four-point Ministerial Declaration, which was adopted at the end of the Ministerial-Level Meeting on Tuesday, 21 May. The declaration was attended by 106 countries and 27 internationalorganizations.

Firstly, the establishment of a Center of Excellence for water and climate resilience to develop capacity, knowledge sharing, and the utilization of superior facilities.

Secondly, the Ministerial Declaration highlights the promotion and emphasis on integrated water resource management in small islands Although surrounded by vast water bodies, Indonesia still requires effective management systems to address the challenges of water qualityandavailability

Thirdly, the proposal of World Lake Day to raise awareness about the significance of lakes as a water supply source that sustains human life and serves important social and economic functions World Lake Day should not be merely symbolic but serves as a key component in preserving lakes worldwide (Ayu Sulistyowati/TR/ElviraIndaSari/SW/MB)

Youth's Tangible Role Needed in Maintaining Water Security, Sustainability

The young generation could make a real contribution to maintaining the security and sustainability of water resources The simplest ways were keeping plastic waste out of the ocean and saving water usage

This was said by Cinta Laura, the Communications Ambassador for the 10th World Water Forum, at the Media Center in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Bali, on Monday, 20 May

The commitment to host the 10th World Water Forum from 18 to 25 May showed that Indonesia is determined to promote equal access to water for everyone.

"Everyone’s involvement in water resources protection and conservation will bring a positive impact on the environment and of course the climate," she said

The youths could also help water preservation by spreading positive information about clean water conservation and disaster mitigation through various communication channels.

Meanwhile, Andy Bahari, the volunteer leader from World Clean Up Day Indonesia, underscored that water preservation and conservation from waste is a shared responsibility to ensure water sustainability for future generations

"Waste that accumulates in rivers pollutes the quality of the water It has an impact on humans and the environment because it is contaminated by dangerous substances," hesaid

The 10th World Water Forum is taking place in Nusa Dua Bali from 18 to 25 May under the theme "Water for Shared Prosperity" with six sub-themes, namely Water Security and Prosperity, Water for Humans and Nature, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy, Sustainable Water Finance, and Knowledge and Innovation. (Ridho Syukra/TR/ElviraIndaSari/WS/Flo)

This article is a compendium of key matters via Press Releases of the recently concluded 10th World Water Forum held in Bali, Indonesia from May 18 – 25, 2024. RDJ Publishing has used editorial licence to condence andmodifyforreaderenjoyment.

For further details, the Forum can be contacted at secretariat@worldwaterforum.org

Readings: https://media.worldwaterforum.org/en/contents/siaran-pers660047517afb1