World Water Day, 22 March 2018
Mayur Sharma??
Marketing Head @ BrainADZ | Water Communicator | Content Expert | Ex Indian Express | Ex Vermmillion
“All the lessons are in nature. You look at the way rocks are formed - the wind and the water hitting them, shaping them, making them what they are. Things take time, you know?”
- Diane Lane
The theme for World Water Day 2018 is Nature for Water. Activities focused on this theme will be organized world over to explore and discuss the nature-based solutions to the water challenges which we are facing in the 21st century. According to UN Water, currently, 2.1 billion people are living without safe drinking water - which is not only a serious concern for their health - but their education and livelihood as well.
In the February issue of Express Water magazine, we have also explored the impact of nature on water, and their relation in our cover story. Restoring urban wetlands should be one of the priorities to balance our water cycle and avoid flood-like situations. Creating a green water and wastewater infrastructure is another priority which should seamlessly merge with the grey infrastructure wherever possible. The rejuvenation and restoration of our rivers, lakes, ponds, and other natural water resources are also significant. Reconnecting our rivers to the floodplains is also necessary.
Although the clock is ticking, there is still some time left to do our bit, so that our next generations would not inherit the cities like Cape Town (South Africa) which could be the world’s first city to run out of the water. This would mean that the city’s population of 4 million people will not have access to running water anymore this year. The day has been nicknamed as Day Zero and is being discussed everywhere.
Only four years ago, Cape Town’s six major water reservoirs with a capacity of 230 billion gallons were full. But three consecutive years of low-rainfall (a third of normal levels) with continuously increasing population, have dramatically reduced the water levels of dams. As of January 29, 2018, NASA reported that the reservoirs are at just 26%, with the largest reservoir at only 13% capacity. As per World Water Council, their 4 million residents must reduce their water usage to just 50 liters per day. The magnitude of this drought in Cape Town’s is a once in every 300 years event.
What is even more frightening is the fact that Cape Town is not the only city facing the threat of such a water crisis. Cities in India, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Australia, USA, and Italy are currently facing severe water shortages and could even be the next in line if we do not change the way we see water - as an abundant and unlimited source to waste away. If we go by the predictions of WWC, by 2030, the world will face a 40% global water deficit under the business-as-usual climate scenario, and by 2050, over 40% of the world population will be subject to severe water stress.
The most important and simple lesson for us then is to stop neglecting our ecosystem and start making amends for whatever we have done till now.
Some of the leading experts with whom we interacted for our magazine this month, are: Benedito Braga - President - World Water Council (WWC), Ajitabh Sharma (IAS) - Secretary - State Govt. of Rajasthan (India), Rajiv Menon - MD - Black & Veatch India, Koichi Matsui - Chairperson & MD - UEM India, Warwick Lorenz - MD - Australian Pump Industries, Dr. Mritunjay Chaubey - Global VP - Environment & Sustainability - UPL Ltd, Dr. Alexandros Stefanakis - Wetlands Expert - Bauer Resources GmbH, Marie Telepneff - Sr. Product Marketing Manager - Bentley Systems, Avinash Kumar - Director - Programme and Policy - WaterAid India, Chandrasekaran J - Founder - Reach Foundation (WATSAN), Simon Ross - IWC - Australian Water Partnership (AWP), Robert Brears - Founder - Mitidaption / Young Water Leaders, Sandeep Sisodia - Sr. Tax Manager - Black & Veatch India, SUEZ, SonTek, GKD - Gebr. Kufferath AG - Germnay, and the Art of Living. Let me know if you would like to read the complete issue - I will be happy to share the magazine (softcopy/print) with you.
As we gear up for our first event in the water sector - the Express Water Jal Sabha (8-10 March, Pune) - a forum exclusively for the heads of the water supply and sewage departments of Municipal Corporations - a gathering of 50 delegates from municipal organizations across India has confirmed their participation. It will be a unique platform for the audience to come together to debate and discuss issues faced by the corporations around water supply and sewage, 24x7 water supply, smart metering, and STPs (their financing, and decentralized STPs), among others.
As always, I welcome editorial contributions from water professionals across the globe, on the issues they find significant for the water sector.
- Mayur Sharma, Editor, Express Water Magazine, Indian Express Newspapers Limited
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6 年Hi Mayur, your efforts are commendable. But I do not fully agree with the macro approach. The issues with Water are so heterogeneous that solutions are contextual with respect to regional conditions. At the core of it are two points - basic understanding of Water and rational pricing of Water. 90% of the it is about water management rather than technology. Solutions implemented at one place are not necessarily the solutions for another community. It is time to role up the sleeves and work towards providing affordable water through out the year rather than have an effort on one day of the year. To us, everyday is a world water day
Public Utility Management || Advocacy: Water · Energy · Sustainability || Public Policy || Opinion Author || Professional Certificate in Applied Corporate Finance || All views are personal
6 年The February edition is certainly an excellent ensemble of literary works from water experts across the globe. The World Water Day (22 March), 2018 theme ‘Nature for Water’ is the perfect lead for the current edition. I strongly believe that all those having some kind of interest in water should read the magazine. All the best. Aj. S. 04032018.
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