Friday, March 22nd, 2002

"Water for Development"

Once viewed as an unlimited natural resource, we now know is that only 3 percent of the world’s water is fresh water, three quarters of which is in a form not readily available for use, such as deep aquifers and ice caps.

The worsening problems of water quality and availability are increasingly placing constraints on development efforts in many parts of the world. In Canada, we are fortunate to possess about one-fifth of the world’s freshwater supply, though not all of this is accessible. In the past we may have taken our water supplies for granted but this attitude may be changing with the growing public concern over issues such as water pollution and water scarcity, especially in light of recent E. coli outbreaks and droughts in various parts of the country.

To support the aims of WWD 2002, WaterCan will highlight the challenges facing communities in developing countries in their efforts to gain improved access to safe water supplies. It is estimated that over one billion people in the developing world - one out of every six persons in the world - do not have ready access to safe drinking water, while about 2.4 billion people do not have access to improved sanitation facilities[1] Consequently, water-related diseases are the main causes of poor health in the developing world, which in turn undermine the development potential of these regions. In Africa, it is estimated that more than one third of the continent’s population does not have ready access to safe water supplies and sanitation facilities. Diarrhea and dehydration, in large part caused by poor water and sanitation conditions, are the leading causes of illness and death among young children in the developing world.

Improving local communities’ access to improved water supplies helps to support development efforts in various ways. In addition to reducing the burden of water-related diseases, community members - usually women and girls - can spend less time and energy collecting water and focus on other more productive activities such as child care, attending school, and farming. Water and sanitation projects that emphasize community participation can also serve as ‘entry points’ for other development activities. The skills and confidence gained by communities who mobilize themselves to carry out water and sanitation projects can also be used to pursue other development activities such as the building of a health clinic or managing communal woodlots.

Throughout the year, WaterCan gives presentations to school children and various community groups about the dire need for safe water in the developing world. WaterCan sees WWD as a wonderful opportunity to link its efforts with those of other organizations who work within the context of this important global initiative. On March 22nd, WaterCan will be at the WWD 2002 Celebrations at the Canadian International Development Agency’s Headquarters in Hull, Quebec, where it will showcase its Water and Development exhibit, among those from CIDA, Environment Canada, and other organizations. We hope to see you there!

[1] WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme: “Global Assessment 2000 – Status of the water supply and sanitation sector.”