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The Global Water Crisis “Is Getting Worse”
Water stress and scarcity truly is a global issue and one that will become even more pressing as the impacts of climate change are felt increasingly, coupled with population growth, more extreme weather events, poor water management and increased urbanisation.
Although the issue is acknowledged, it seems that more must be done to address the situation, with UN special rapporteur on human rights and the environment David Boyd saying that the water crisis “is getting worse”, in a report presented to the Human Rights Council.
He explained that the climate emergency, economic growth, changes in land use, extractivism, population growth, inefficient use of water resources and poor planning, regulation and enforcement are all contributing to the acceleration of water pollution and the degradation of water-based ecosystems.
He explained that there are five key steps that countries will need to take, on a national level, to address the water crisis.
These include carrying out a state-of-the-water assessment, legal mapping initiatives, incorporating a rights-based approach to water-related plans, bringing in water-related laws and standards, and evaluating progress to ensure that human rights are fulfilled.
In the report, Mr Boyd asserted: “Three-quarters of all the natural disasters in the last 20 years were water-related, including floods, landslides and other extreme weather events.
“Given the devastating impacts of the global water crisis on people’s lives, health and human rights, remedial actions must be taken rapidly and systematically, with priority placed on improving conditions for the most vulnerable.”
The expert went on to say that it will also be necessary to build human, financial and institutional capacity at every step of the process, as well as informing and engaging members of the public, especially women and marginalised and vulnerable groups.
If you, as a business, are concerned about the impact your operations are having on the environment, especially where in a water-based context, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are lots of ways in which you can make a significant difference and really reduce your water usage and consumption, safeguarding this precious resource for future generations.
Get in touch with the team here at H2o Building Services to find out more about water efficiency and what you can do to really improve your water footprint.
We can carry out a water audit of your site, which will show us how and where you use water across your entire site, revealing any vulnerable areas so that we can advise the appropriate water-saving solutions for you.
There’s a lot you can do to save water, whether you decide to prioritise water leak detection and repairs, look into rainwater harvesting or perhaps invest in automated meter reading technology. Give us a call today to see how we can help you run your business in a more sustainable way now and well into the future.