PRIORITIZING SAFE AND CLEAN WATER TO AVERT WATER STRESS

Water is essential for life and good health but for many, accessibility is not as easy as opening a tap or flushing the toilet! Not only is clean, potable water a need for drinking, cooking and the production of food, it is also essential for sanitation and hygiene purposes.?

In Africa, the water scarcity problem is escalating and will be exacerbated by rapidly growing urban areas, which place heavy pressure on water resources. The demand for water will continue to grow and surpass supply if there’s no preparation to accommodate the needs of Africans. Economic water insufficiency will continue to be a major hurdle.?

The United Nations predicts that by 2025, approximately 230 million Africans will be facing water scarcity, and up to 460 million will be living in water-stressed areas.

Climate change is also expected to intensify the already intricate relationship between world development and water demand. Africa has been dealing with some of the most severe droughts it has ever seen, as the world continues to report hotter years?because of climate change. Rivers, lakes and dams that are usually abundant with water supply are running dry, leaving many women and girls having to travel long distances to access water for their homes and families.?

Cape Town Day Zero

Recently in South Africa, the city of Cape Town faced a drought due to 3 dry winters between 2015 and 2017, which would have led to what was known as “Day Zero”, the day Cape Town's municipal water supply would’ve needed to be shut down. Fortunately, the city did not have to experience “Day Zero” due to the implementation of water restrictions during that period, banning outdoor and non-essential water use and encouraging the use of grey water for ablution facilities.

Cape Town may have survived the drought and steered clear of Day Zero but what many don’t realize is that the entire country is confronted with the increasing water demand because of a growing population. Unstructured planning, unsatisfactory management of water resources, limited investment into water infrastructure, and recurring droughts over the past decade are all contributing factors to the state of South Africa’s water.

Efficiency and quality are top priorities for the water industry. These goals are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve as the expense of providing clean water grows in many regions, while at the same time operations must be as efficient and economical as possible. Time is running out!

Clean water - A progressive strategy for economic growth

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 6 is focused on ensuring access to water and sanitation for all.

Living through a pandemic as we are now has proven the significance of sanitation, hygiene and adequate access to clean water for preventing and suppressing diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that?handwashing is one of the most effective actions you can take?to minimize the spread of germs and avoid infections, including the COVID-19 virus.?Yet, the world still has billions of people who don’t have access to safe water and sanitation; and funding to address this issue remains inadequate.

With improved access to clean water, sanitation services and water management comes great opportunities for societies, particularly those in dire conditions. These communities positively gain from better access to basic water and sanitation services through improved health, avoided health care costs and time saved.

The good management of water resources can ensure more efficiency in productivity across different economic sectors and contributes to the health of the ecosystem.?Taken together, these interventions can also lead to long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits that make a difference to the lives of many.

Digitalization can advance the water industry?

Digitalization has great potential to move the water industry forward. It offers the capability to remove speculation from water treatment processes. Enhanced connectivity via digital technology improves data accessibility, allowing users to effectively observe processes remotely and in real-time.

We have many systems working in the water industry that try to reduce energy use, avoid water loss and utilize resources better. As experts in water applications, Siemens?offers?powerful, innovative technical solutions.

In the water sector, our company aims to promote greater awareness, among customers and end-users, of the other uses of Siemens flow meters such as?water leakage detection, pipeline water management and irrigation flow measurement. By optimizing existing infrastructure, Africa can quickly and efficiently increase access to water.

With Siemens Water (SIWA) applications specifically developed for the water industry, water operators can optimize energy efficiency, avoid water loss, reduce contamination of water bodies and take predictive maintenance measures.

The water crisis is a global crisis and we must all contribute to its change! Government leaders, public institutions and the private sector in all countries and regions must all roll up their sleeves to urgently tackle the serious problems presented by water stress. Water must be treated as a scarce resource and a strong focus must be placed on managing its demand. Integrated water resources management must remain a top priority as it provides a broad framework for governments to align water use patterns with the needs and demands of different users, including the environment.

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