How to solve the World's Water and Sanitation Crisis?

The world's water and sanitation crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time, with more than two-thirds of the global population affected. Every year, World Water Day on March 22nd serves as a call to action to raise awareness and push for solutions to help end this growing global struggle. This year's World Water Day campaign is named 'Be the Change', emphasizing the importance of taking action in our own lives to change how we use, consume, and manage water across the globe.

While clean water remains a fundamental human right, so many families are denied access due to their economic status and lack of sanitation conditions needed for health and well-being–and this is unacceptable! So how can we work together towards finding the best possible solution? Here’s a closer look at how we can address today's water and sanitation crisis.

1) World Water Day and the United Nations Conference

World Water Day is an awareness day, celebrated on March 22nd since 1993, to bring attention to the importance of clean water and its impact on humanity.

To do our part in informing as many people as possible about this serious matter and accelerating change, we need to continue using our platforms to share important facts and stories that make an impact. We can also focus on local initiatives such as river cleaning activities with the help of our community which could lead others to take action. Additionally, sharing inspiring videos highlighting those making a difference could inspire others to do their bit in learning more about this crisis and finding ways we can all help. One of the main objectives of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All by 2030.

The United Nations Conference will be dedicating this special day to addressing critical water crises faced by many people around the world. It will take place in New York from May 22 to 24 and is the first event of its kind since 1977. This is a unique opportunity to unite all people around this issue and accelerate change toward the goal.

In order to jumpstart progress, this initiative strives to bring together multiple stakeholders and form new partnerships that will generate substantial commitments. Those promises are then compiled into the Water Agenda for Action, designed to spur even more advancement through concrete actions taken by all parties involved.

2) The current situation of the water crisis:

• 2 billion people in the world do not have access to water
• 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children, live in areas where access to water is difficult
• Every day, more than 1,000 children under the age of 5 die because of unsafe water
• By 2040, it is estimated that nearly 1 in 4 children will live in areas of extremely high water stress (demand exceeds resources).
• Wetlands are being drained for agriculture, with more than 50 percent loss since 1900. 
• Global water demand (in water withdrawals) is projected to increase by 55 percent by 2050, mainly because of growing demands from manufacturing (400 percent increase).

Source : UNICEF, UNEP, OECD 2012

Unfortunately, it is the weakest and therefore the children who are most affected by this crisis.

On the one hand, periods of drought significantly hinder families' access to food and water. Heatwaves bring about intense aridity in the soil, thus diminishing or even destroying crops entirely. The already scarce amount of water present is no longer enough for populations to meet their minimal needs.

Nevertheless, floods and failing sanitation systems often lead to polluted drinking water sources, groundwater, and rivers. This puts children at risk of severe dehydration as good ailments such as cholera, typhoid fever, and acute respiratory infections - the most dangerous being acute diarrhea which is a major contributor to infant death rates worldwide.

It is essential that we respond to these alarming figures with innovative solutions that address the various challenges of environmental degradation and inadequate water supply management systems. We have no choice but to embrace creativity, collaboration, and technology if we are to strengthen local resilience and create equitable access to safe water for all.

3) Actions to be taken to protect the water resources:

The importance of taking simple actions to better conserve, save, and protect our precious water resources cannot be overstated. Here are some examples of personal commitments you can make given by UN-Water to address the crisis.

• Save water: Make sure to limit the length of your showers and turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, washing dishes, or preparing meals.
• Eat local: Make an effort to prioritize local and seasonal food items when shopping, as well as products produced with minimal water consumption.
• Ignite the conversation: Uncovering the vital relationship between sanitation, water, and menstruation.
• Be inquisitive: Uncover the source of your water, and how it is shared and allocated, and visit a wastewater treatment facility to observe how your waste is managed.
• Share equally: Share the water load equally between women and men, girls and boys.
• Protect nature: Invest in nature by planting a tree or creating a rain garden - these natural solutions can help to mitigate the risk of flooding and store precious water.
• Safe Flushing: Expertly handle plumbing issues, such as fixing leaky water and sewer lines, emptying full septic tanks, and reporting sludge spills promptly.
• Lobby: Writing to your elected representatives about the budget can help improve water access and availability both at home and across international borders.
• Stop Pollution: Dispose of food waste, oil, medicine, and chemicals properly - not down the toilet or drain.
• Clean up: Help clean up the rivers, lakes, wetlands, or beaches in your area.

By implementing these simple measures, each of us can do our part to address the global water crisis. Together, our efforts will bring about a tangible impact and reduce the current inequity between those with ample access to safe water and those who still lack it.

It is time for the world to unite in an effort to transform our environment and protect it from further degradation. World Water Day 2023 is an opportunity for all of us to look at the magnitude of this crisis and its global consequences, and to make sure that adequate measures are taken. We must also spread awareness of how humanity is directly or indirectly affecting water sources; by informing as many people as possible we can accelerate the change. As highlighted, everyone needs to make small adjustments in their everyday habits and contribute in whatever way possible, so it certainly is not too late. Together, we can create a sustainable future for us all: A future filled with healthy oceans and rivers, crystal clear lakes, clean air, and growing populations - a future where water is not only accessible but also of good quality. The decisions we make now are more important than ever!

BIOROCK provides a safe, sustainable solution for wastewater treatment with its innovative non-electric sewage systems. Through this advanced system, we can help reduce sludge spills, protect our environment from further degradation, and ensure the safe flushing of water. By investing in BIOROCK, you are helping to create a sustainable future for all of us. So, let's join forces and discuss it together! A member of our team will be glad to answer your questions and accompany you in your project!