THE WORLD WATER CRISIS STAN LASKOWSKI LECTURERADVISOR UNIVERSITY

THE WORLD WATER CRISIS STAN LASKOWSKI LECTURER/ADVISOR, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CO-FOUNDER AND VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL WATER ALLIANCE

PART 1: PROBLEM DEFINITION • HOW BAD IS THE CRISIS? • THE MANY DIMENSIONS OF THE WATER CRISIS • SOME IMPLICATIONS • DON’T WE REALLY HAVE ENOUGH WATER? !

OVER A THOUSAND CHILDREN DIE EACH DAY FROM WATER-RELATED ILLNESSES

FETCH WATER FROM A HUGE WELL IN THE VILLAGE OF NATWARGHAD IN THE WESTERN INDIAN STATE OF GUJARAT

HOW DOES WATER SCARCITY COMPARE TO OTHER GLOBAL THREATS? 2016 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: GLOBAL RISK OF HIGHEST CONCERN FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS #1: THE WATER CRISIS (AHEAD OF CLIMATE CHANGE, THE FOOD CRISIS, PEOPLE MIGRATION, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, ETC. )

DISTRIBUTION OF EARTH’S WATER

WHAT ARE THE GLOBAL WATER ISSUES? -- TOO LITTLE ………. . DROUGHTS -- TOO MUCH……. FLOODS -- TOO DIRTY……. . POLLUTION -- TOO HEAVY……. HARD TO TRANSPORT -- WRONG LOCATION……. . NOT WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE, ETC -- NOT WELL MANAGED; NOT WELL ALLOCATED…. . MANY GOVERNANCE ISSUES [CORRUPTION, GENDER, FINANCING/PRICING] -- INEQUITIES WITH THE POOR……. POOREST PEOPLE AND POOREST COUNTRIES HAVE ESP DIFFICULT TIME WITH ACCESS

A BANGLADESHI WOMAN COLLECTS CONTAMINATED WATER TO RINSE PRODUCE AT A VEGETABLE MARKET

PUMPING WATER IN ALLAHABAD, INDIA AFTER A HEAVY RAIN

FINDING WATER IN SOUTH AFRICA

USUALLY IS WOMEN’S WORK [SOMOLIA]

WATCHING FOR TRAINS WHILE COLLECTING DRINKING WATER IN MUMBAI

NIGERIA

COLLECTING SWAMP WATER IN KENYA

LONG WALKS EACH DAY FOR A LITTLE WATER

A FARMER WATERS A PLANT IN PLAYITAS TOWN, NICARAGUA, DURING A SEVERE DROUGHT

CANAL IN JAKARTA

BEHIND THE WATER CRISIS ARE STORIES OF HUMAN HARDSHIPS

FROM INTERVIEWS WITH WOMEN IN PUNE, INDIA “ WE FACE ACUTE SHORTAGES OF WATER. WE HAVE PUBLIC STANDPOSTS… BUT WATER IS AVAILABLE FOR ONLY 2 -3 HOURS EACH DAY. LONG QUEUE. . . FREQUENT FIGHTS. (MAY) NEED TO WALK 20 -30 MINUTES TO FETCH WATER … IT IS SO HUMILIATING! ”

FROM CHARLENE, CARIBBEAN SLUM DWELLER “NO WATER TO WASH OUR HANDS WHEN WE USE BUSHES, PLASTIC BAGS, OR THE ONLY PUBLIC TOILET AVAILABLE SOME DISTANCE FROM OUR HOMES… EVERYONE WATCHES… NO DOORS FOR PRIVACY… AFFECTING OUR PRIDE AND DIGNITY… SOMETIMES DEFECATE IN BAG IN THROW IT…”

PART 2: THE WORLD’S RESPONSE TO THE WATER CRISIS • RECENT HISTORY: UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS [19902015] • THE NEW SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS [2016 -2030]

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS [MDG] • IN THE YEAR 2000: • 189 COUNTRIES SIGN EARTH CHARTER • 192 COUNTRIES SIGNED THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS) • MDG #7 “ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY” TARGETS FOR WATER AND SANITATION [WASH]: BY THE YEAR 2015 REDUCE BY ONE HALF THE PERCENTAGE OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IMPROVED DRINKING WATER SOURCE AND TO IMPROVED SANITATION [1990 BASE YEAR]

OTHER MDGS* • ERADICATE EXTREME • POVERTY AND HUNGER • UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION • GENDER EQUALITY • REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY • IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH • COMBAT HIV/AIDS/MALARIA/OTHER DISEASES • GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR DEVELOPMENT *Water connects to many problems in developing world

WAS THE MDG FOR WATER/SANITATION A SUCCESS? HTTP: //WWW. UN. ORG/SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT/WATER-AND-SANITATION/ • THE GOAL WAS MET AHEAD OF SCHEDULE FOR DRINKING WATER: “BETWEEN 1990 AND 2015, THE PROPORTION OF THE GLOBAL POPULATION USING AN IMPROVED DRINKING WATER SOURCE HAS INCREASED FROM 76 PER CENT TO 91 PER CENT; 2. 6 BILLION PEOPLE HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO IMPROVED DRINKING WATER SOURCES SINCE 1990, BUT 663 MILLION PEOPLE ARE STILL WITHOUT” • THE GOAL FOR SANITATION WAS MISSED BUT SOME PROGRESS WAS MADE: STILL “ 2. 4 BILLION PEOPLE LACK ACCESS TO BASIC SANITATION SERVICES, SUCH AS TOILETS OR LATRINES” • THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT FOCUS IN SEVERAL AREA: GENDER [NOTE: INADEQUATE GENDER-CENTRIC DATA]; POLLUTION [NOTE: 80% OF WASTEWATER RECEIVES NO TREATMENT]; INEQUITY REGARDING THE POOREST OF THE POOR [NOTE: THE LOWEST QUINTILE HAVE MADE ESSENTIALLY NO PROGRESS UNDER THE MDG FOR WATER]

2016 -2030: THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS [SDG]

GOAL 6: ENSURE ACCESS TO WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL HTTP: //WWW. UN. ORG/SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT/WATER-AND-SANITATION/ • BY 2030, ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER FOR ALL • BY 2030, ACHIEVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE AND EQUITABLE SANITATION AND HYGIENE FOR ALL AND END OPEN DEFECATION, PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS AND THOSE IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS • BY 2030, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY BY REDUCING POLLUTION, ELIMINATING DUMPING AND MINIMIZING RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS, HALVING THE PROPORTION OF UNTREATED WASTEWATER AND SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING RECYCLING AND SAFE REUSE GLOBALLY • BY 2030, SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE WATER-USE EFFICIENCY ACROSS ALL SECTORS AND ENSURE SUSTAINABLE WITHDRAWALS AND SUPPLY OF FRESHWATER TO ADDRESS WATER SCARCITY AND SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM WATER SCARCITY

GOAL 6: ENSURE ACCESS TO WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL [CONTINUED] HTTP: //WWW. UN. ORG/SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT/WATER-AND-SANITATION/ • BY 2030, IMPLEMENT INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING THROUGH TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION AS APPROPRIATE • BY 2020, PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER-RELATED ECOSYSTEMS, INCLUDING MOUNTAINS, FORESTS, WETLANDS, RIVERS, AQUIFERS AND LAKES • BY 2030, EXPAND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING SUPPORT TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN WATER- AND SANITATION-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING WATER HARVESTING, DESALINATION, WATER EFFICIENCY, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, RECYCLING AND REUSE TECHNOLOGIES • SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN IMPROVING WATER AND SANITATION MANAGEMENT

SOME UN STATISTICS ON THE WATER CRISIS HTTP: //WWW. UN. ORG/SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2016/06/WHY-IT-MATTERS_SANITATION_1 P. PDF • “WATER SCARCITY AFFECTS MORE THAN 40 PERCENT O F THE GLOBAL POPULATION AND IS PROJECTED TO RISE. ” • “MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF WASTEWATER RESULTING FROM HUMAN ACTIVITIES IS DISCHARGED INTO RIVERS OR SEA WITHOUT ANY TREATMENT, LEADING TO POLLUTION. ” • “MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR FROM DIARRHOEAL DISEASES. POOR HYGIENE AND UNSAFE WATER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF THESE DEATHS AND MOSTLY AFFECT CHILDREN. ”; “MORE THAN 800 CHILDREN DIE EVERY DAY FROM DIARRHOEAL DISEASES LINKED TO POOR HYGIENE”

SOME UN STATISTICS ON THE WATER CRISIS [CONTINUED] HTTP: //WWW. UN. ORG/SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2016/06/WHY-IT-MATTERS_SANITATION_1 P. PDF • “EXTENDING BASIC WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES TO THE UNSERVED WOULD COST US$28. 4 BILLION PER YEAR FROM 2015 TO 2030, OR 0. 10 PER CENT OF THE GLOBAL PRODUCT OF THE 140 COUNTRIES INCLUDED IN ITS STUDY” • THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NOT INVESTING IN WATER AND SANITATION COSTS AN ENORMOUS 4. 3 PER CENT OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN GDP. THE WORLD BANK ESTIMATES THAT 6. 4 PER CENT OF INDIA’S GDP IS LOST DUE TO ADVERSE ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND COSTS OF INADEQUATE SANITATION

SOME IMPLICATIONS OF THE WORLD WATER CRISIS • HEALTH: EG, OVER A THOUSAND CHILDREN DIE EACH DAY FROM WATER-RELATED ISSUES • ECONOMIC: DECREASED PRODUCTION; PEOPLE REMOVED FROM THE WORKFORCE • HUNGER: THE FOOD SUPPLY IS VERY WATER DEPENDENT • HUMAN DIGNITY AND FAIRNESS: UN HAS DECLARED ACCESS TO WATER/SANITATION TO BE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS BUT 663 MILLION PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AN IMPROVED DRINKING WATER SOURCE, 2. 4 BILLION DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IMPROVED SANITATION, AND OVER ONE BILLION PRACTICE OPEN DEFACATION • GENDER BIAS: WOMEN KEPT FROM GENERATING INCOME, TENDING TO CHILDREN, AND OBTAINING AN EDUCATION • INEQUITIES: THE POOREST OF THE POOR SUFFER MOST AND HAVE NOT MADE MUCH PROGRESS SOURCE: UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS REPORT, 2016

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES [DRIVERS] OF THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS? • -- MISMANAGEMENT OF WATER? • -- POPULATION INCREASES/DISTRIBUTION • -- INCREASED DEMAND [THINK ABOUT 5 BROAD SECTORS]: DRINKING WATER, SANITATION, HYGIENE [WASH]; AGRICULTURE; ENERGY; MANUFACTURING; ECOSYSTEMS • -- POLLUTION • -- CLIMATE CHANGE • -- INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS • -- OTHERS?

SOME SPECIAL CHALLENGES AND EMERGING KEY ISSUES • GOVERNANCE: ANTI-CORRUPTION, FINANCE, LEGAL AUTHORITY/COMPLIANCE, GENDER, EQUITY, WATER ALLOCATION, WATER-RELATED CONFLICTS • MORE “POP PER DROP”: REUSE, RECYCLING, DESALINATION, INCREASED EFFICIENCY [ESP FOR AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY] • POLLUTION CONTROL

SOME PROMISING SOLUTIONS • GREATER RECOGNITION OF THE CRISIS, PERHAPS LEADING TO MORE POLITICAL FOCUS • BETTER INTEGRATION [AMONG DISCIPLINES; AMONG SDGS] • BETTER MONITORING, DATA COLLECTION, AND ANALYSIS • TECHNICAL EFFICIENCIES FOR AGRICULTURE • DESALINATION • WATER AS A METHOD FOR PEACE

CORE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS STAN LASKOWSKI’S SHORT LIST • CAPACITY BUILDING: SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS – LEGAL, REGULATORY, FINANCIAL, EDUCATION [ SUSTAINABILITY! ] • INTEGRATION: WITH OTHER MDGS • FINANCE: INCREASE TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE; MANAGE COMPETITION WITH OTHER PRIORITIES

HEY, GLOBAL CITIZEN, CAN YOU HELP?

HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION • DEDICATE YOUR CAREER TO WATER AND RELATED ISSUES • EDUCATE YOURSELF AND OTHERS ON WATER ISSUES • JOIN AN NGO [EG, GWA, EWB, OTHERS] • BE AN ADVOCATE • RAISE FUNDS

PHILADELPHIA AREA PARTNERS • WWW. GLOBALWATERALLIANCE. NET : GLOBAL WATER ALLIANCE (GWA) NETWORK OF WATER PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS WORKING ON EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE THROUGH CONFERENCES, PUBLICATIONS, IN-COUNTRY PROJECTS • ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS: PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT LEVEL ▪ DR. ARUN DEB’S WORK IN INDIA ▪ WWW. KSMMINISTRIES. COM : KENYA ▪ OTHERS: LEADERSHIP IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES BY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGS— EX: AFGHANISTAN, TANZANIA, CENTRAL AMERICA

ARSENIC TREATMENT PLANT AT MASLANDPUR, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Hundreds of millions need your help… children’s lives depend on it!

CONTACTS • STAN LASKOWSKI, GWA, STANLASKOWSKI 7@GMAIL. COM • WWW. GLOBALWATERALLIANCE. NET

CREDITS FOR PICTURES • WWW. IBTIMES. CO. UK