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 [1990-

2015]
• 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*
*Water connects to many
• ERADICATE EXTREME problems in developing world

• POVERTY AND HUNGER

• UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION
• GENDER EQUALITY
• REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY
• IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH
• COMBAT HIV/AIDS/MALARIA/OTHER DISEASES
• GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR DEVELOPMENT
 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_1P.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_1P.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, STANLASKOWSKI7@GMAIL.COM

• WWW.GLOBALWATERALLIANCE.NET
 CREDITS FOR PICTURES

• WWW.IBTIMES.CO.UK