How to Make Water Issues Matter to World Leaders

Published on by in Government

How to Make Water Issues Matter to World Leaders

TC190319.jpg

Asit K. Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada

THE CONVERSATION | March 19, 2019

In December 1992, the UN General Assembly declared 22 March World Water Day, to be celebrated each year. With increasing populations and economic activities, many countries face water scarcity – which in turn limits their economic development.

Sadly, not a single World Water Day over the past 25 years has focused on how water could be put high up on the political agendas of countries on a long-term basis. Until this happens, probabilities of solving national, and then global, water problems are slim.

An analysis of the last 50 years would indicate that except for Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s prime minister from 1959 to 1990, no other leaders of any other country have shown sustained interest in water in normal times. They are interested in water only when there are severe droughts or heavy floods. Once these extreme events are over, and situations return to normal, their interests in water promptly evaporate.

In contrast to national political leaders, most water professionals from all over the world, from academia, public and private sectors and NGOs, explicitly or implicitly consider water to be one of the most, if not the most, important issue facing their countries.

If this gulf in perception between national policymakers and the water profession is to be bridged, the latter must change their current messaging.

In recent decades, the focus of the water profession has been exclusively on good planning and management. However, this has not got national political leaders interested in water on a long-term and sustained basis.

This is because they are elected or judged primarily on the basis of improvements in the economic and social conditions of their countries. Thus, to attract their attention on water issues, the message to them should focus on how good water management can contribute to a country’s social and economic development, poverty alleviation, job creation and improved quality of life for citizens.

EVERYONE’S PROBLEM

Water problems are a global issue and leaders in both developed and developing countries should focus on them.

There’s a misconception among most policymakers in developed countries who feel their water problems were solved over half a century ago. Developed countries still have major water problems to solve. However, these are different from the problems in developing countries.

In most developed countries billions of dollars are needed annually to keep their water and wastewater infrastructure functional, safe and in compliance with current and future regulations. For example, every four years the American Society of Civil Engineers grades America’s infrastructure using a simple A to F report card. The latest 2017 report gives America’s dams, inland waterways and drinking water a D, and wastewater a D+.

According to the American Water Works Association, the US needs to invest more than US$1 trillion over the next 25 years to replace its ageing drinking water pipes. This does not include costs of updating sewer and stormwater pipes and water supply and wastewater treatment plants.

In developing countries, a large proportion of the population are engaged in agriculture-related activities, which accounts for nearly 70% of total global water use. In India, agriculture accounts for some 90% of national water use. Corresponding figures for Egypt are 86% and for China 65%.

Agriculture depends on a reliable supply of water. So, nearly all developing countries have a dedicated water ministry because of its economic and social importance. Even then, water in such countries is not being managed efficiently and equitably.

India, for example, has had ten water ministers between 2000 and 2018. But not a single water minister in that time has managed to make any perceptible difference to how water is managed in India.

It has been difficult for India to find and retain good and capable persons as water ministers. For a total of five years at least, ministers holding another important portfolio were given the additional responsibility of running the water ministry. This includes the current minister.

CONVINCING POLICYMAKERS

Water professionals have failed to convince senior policymakers of the potential of water to assure their countries’ economic and social development. They have been unable to put water high up on the political agenda by not realising or appreciating what influences the political views and priorities of prime ministers or presidents.

India’s former prime minister, Indira Gandhi, was a mentor to one of us (Asit). In early 1973, she noted that a water professional often thinks the “sun and the moon” revolve around water. As a prime minister, she had not much interest in water. She explained that issues like water or energy are a means to an end. As a prime minister, she was interested mostly in the ends: how could India’s economic growth be increased, how could poverty be alleviated, or how could a significant number of good and well-paid jobs be generated?

To attract the attention of state leaders, water professionals should make it clear that water can act as an engine for economic and social development, generate new employment and improve the standard of living and quality of life of the people.

Water professionals can also point out lessons from Singapore, whose leaders have consistently considered water to be a strategic issue for the country’s social and economic development.

During a series of private discussions with Lee Kuan Yew, we found out that he had three people in his office who examined all policies “through the lens of water” before they were approved.

He noted: “All policies had to bend at the knees for water survival.”

With such an enlightened outlook, Singapore’s water management, which in the early 1960s was similar to that of Delhi, became one of the best in the world only 25 years later. Water continues to receive high political priority in Singapore.

Even for advanced industrial economies, water can be an engine for their continuing social and economic development. Properly planned, water should contribute to a better quality of life and standard of living of their citizens. However, this is unlikely to happen without strong and sustained high-level political support.

Asit K. Biswas , Visiting professor, University of Glasgow. Cecilia Tortajada , Senior Research Fellow, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.

This article was published by THE CONVERSATION, March 19, 2019.

Media

Taxonomy

5 Comments

  1. Dr. C. Tortajada, we have been having very good success with gaining support and interest from elements of the UN, central government, NGOs and local governments as well as interest and involvement from several universities on every continent with our Whole System Transformation - Socio/Economic Development (WST) approach to clean water and what that brings to the lives of those involved. 

    WST involves Waste to Energy, Sanitation, Production of fertilizer/mulch, Clean recycled water suitable for agriculture and also the production of potable water. The shortening of food chains and increased local production of food of a better quality are part of this system as is the reduction of medical problems associated with unclean water and poor sanitation as well as unsafe daily survival practices.

    WST is developed to be highly suitable for villages of between 20 people and 2000 people. One of the vital elements is the provision of education and medical support to teach, train and show people how to maintain the system and grow the system while staying healthy and reducing infant mortality and other debilitating medical problems. All of this enables this symbiotic system to provide life giving clean water that effects the development of the entire village.

     

    Just the provision of clean water does not solve the problems of a village, symbiotic systems that look at this Whole System Transformation approach gives clean potable water and water for farming and much more.

    If there is interest in WST then please feel free to contact me directly on :

    pettman@soleco-technology.com   or   pettman@pettman.com.au

  2. If you will excuse the introduction of some well know facts. High level political support has caused any and all presumed water shortages. Teaching people how to clean their own water and waste water is quite simple and inexpensive. The only down side is politicians can not meter their water and charge them. Something that has been free throughout history. The key word for this technological freedom is decentralize! By teaching the Permaculture concept and using the bioremediation technology the shortages will disappear very quickly. Ground water use will decrease to a trickle. The need for $trillions for infrastructure will be eliminated. People, plants, animals, and the planet will be able to return to a fertile and sustainable condition. This is now becoming the social norm . Even though the people are fighting politicians to achieve this healthy future.

  3. Thanks for this article which in itself indicates the kind of caring that other should-be water implementers lack.  It appears from this that, Indira Gandhi in India was on the right track.

    There is perhaps an answer to be found in the big picture if decision-makers could focus on the poor; either bringing the water to them or bringing them to the water.  Since water is viewed as an important part of an engine to growth and development, imagine how it would be that the poor could contribute if they had water?

    This might suggest a kind of ‘trickle-up’ to those of greater means, remembering that for the 2030 goals no. 1  is ‘no poverty.’  Could it not be said that if the poor have water so will the rest of their adjacent society.  Even if government wanted to favor them beyond others those others would presumably see to it that prosperity was in a more equal measure.

  4. Much ss governments across the world are concerned about the need to secure the availability of good drinking water for their citizens  Ghana's Community Water and Sanitation Agency is rather destroying the community management system with the view to politically satisfy itself with jobs. The Agency's staff have declared themselves redundant through years of inaction, but are now dismissing community operatives with the hope of making money for themselves. It is time the communities refused to hand over the management of the water systems back to government agencies.

  5. I would like to communicate this issue through my son Arlian, who is with 13 years of age going to be the youngest speaker at the 2019 APCS Asia Pacific Summit in Brisbane. We have been making films with him talking about the problems of plastic pollution, but I would like to talk also specifically more about water. The topic will be sustainable cities. Would anyone be willing to connect with us about that. info@plasticfreeboy.com 

    2 Comment replies

    1. We welcome him to join the Community Young Water Leaders here on The Water Network! https://youngwaterleaders.thewaternetwork.com/ and those who wish to mentor the young professionals as well welcome.