April Edition
Welcome to Water Science Policy's April 2023 newsletter. Before we dive into the content from last month, make sure you didn't miss the Walk of Water , the exhibition we produced together with UNESCO WWAP and the European Commission for the UN Water Conference in New York.
Also, we're looking for new team members:
Now off to some content. Enjoy! And a happy labour day.
Water ATMs were introduced in Ghana - and are changing the way people can access this vital resource
“I prefer to walk that distance if I can get an extra container of water.”
Why do water ATMs not work for everyone?
While the introduction of water ATMs in Ghana is a shining example of how innovation can or could transform lives, it’s complicated.
Our fellow WSP member?Godfred . ?has the following recommendations to make them better: Governments should enable a favourable policy and regulatory space for water infrastructure investment; Water service providers should adopt and build on existing systems and local institutions; Affordable pricing should be set from the outset to encourage buy-in and usage; Governments should collaborate with private water providers to incrementally adopt digital water technologies. First they should put in place risk management mechanisms to help prioritise and reduce risks threatening the sustainability of existing infrastructure and for safe and affordable water delivery.
Read more - Available in:
Ocean Mourning – R.I.P. Mar
Accelerated urban development and a thriving tourism sector have complicated things on the Island of?Tenerife. Untreated wastewater has contaminated seawater with harmful bacteria, killing fish and other marine life in Los Silos and the surrounding coastal communities.
The illegal discharge of wastewater into the sea has triggered a battle for environmental justice among the residents of Los Silos, who are struggling to access clean water resources. As a result, protests have erupted, demanding more effective wastewater management and an end to pollution.
Dennis Schüpf ?documented how inhabitants are coping.
Read more - Available in:
Spain narrowing options to rebuild economic resilience due to reduced water resilience
Tortilla, paella, flamenco, and people that are just as sunny as the weather. Spain has become a favoured destination for mass tourism, resulting in a significant influx of foreign dinero. However, this economic success has also come with a significant (water) risk.
Climate change continues to diminish the available water supply, which is vital to most services, tourism, and the overall economy. There is a growing concern over the utilisation and distribution of water resources in the country, especially in the South that is most dependent on tourism and irrigated agriculture.
Thank you?Josefina Maestu ?and?Carlos Mario Gómez Gómez ?for your detailed explanation of this complex situation.
Read more - Available in:
领英推荐
How to steer money for drinking water and sewer upgrades to the communities that need it most
This article sheds light on the Jackson, Mississippi?water crisis. It's not an unexpected crisis though - more like a slow-motion bullet that finally hit the heart of the city’s?long-decaying infrastructure.
But there is hope on the horizon with the?Infrastructure Investment?and?Jobs Act?of 2021, which allocates over $50 billion for water infrastructure over the next 5 years.
The act prioritizes fair and equal access to clean?water, with almost half of the funding specifically designated for disadvantaged communities. However, determining which communities qualify as disadvantaged remains a complex issue, and states will play a critical role in ensuring the funds reach those most in need.
Thank you?Andrian Lee ?and?Melissa Scanlan ?as well as?The Conversation France ?for allowing us to republish this article, but also kudos to our devoted translators for making it accessible in other languages.
Read more - Available in:
Protecting Mongolia’s Blue Pearl
Mongolia's Khuvsgul Lake, known as the Blue Pearl, is a vast body of almost pristine deep blue waters. It holds?about 70% of Mongolia’s fresh water and 0.4% of all freshwater in the world, and it’s an?UNESCO ?Biosphere Reserve.
However, unregulated tourism, livestock waste, and poor?sanitation?have damaged the lake's?ecosystem?and surroundings. Poverty rates in the area are among the highest in?Mongolia.
To tackle these challenges, a $3 million project funded by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific was launched from 2016 to 2020. The project was implemented by the?Government of Mongolia ?and the?Asian Development Bank (ADB) .
Learn more about the project through images documented by Mark Bezuijen and?Bat-Erdene N
Read more - Available in:
You're now up to date. Thanks for reading!
Visit watersciencepolicy.com | More of Water Science Policy here | Follow us: