WORLD Water Day was observed on 22 March with the focus on the importance of water. The theme for World Water Day 2018 was ‘Nature for Water’ – exploring nature-based solutions (NBS) to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.

The campaign is called ‘The answer is in nature’ and raises awareness of NBS. The central message is that NBS, such as planting trees to replenish forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands, is a sustainable and cost-effective way to help rebalance the water cycle, mitigate the effects of climate change and improve human health and livelihoods.

Damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption. Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home, affecting their health, education and livelihoods. President David Granger who recently addressed the Eighth World Water Forum in Brasilia, Brazil, said, “The protection of the sources of the world’s freshwater sources is essential to ensuring citizens’ entitlement to water; communities’ access to safe and sanitary water; and countries’ and the continent’s water security.”

The President pointed out, “The adverse effects of climate change – droughts, flooding, rising sea levels and extreme weather events – are exacerbating water quality and environmental security. The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has forecasted that climate change will result in reduced surface and ground water in most sub-tropical regions. The protection of the world’s freshwater sources, therefore, is essential to global water security.

“Rivers must be protected from pollution, including that caused by environmental degradation and the discharge of effluent from industry, mining and agriculture. River pollution impacts adversely on water quality, on health and on the economic and social well-being of citizens.”

Sustainable Development Goal six commits the world to ensuring that everyone has access to safe water by 2030; this includes targets on protecting the natural environment and reducing pollution. By using NBS to help meet the water needs of a growing population, we will contribute to the creation of a circular economy, at the same time as helping to protect the natural environment and reduce pollution — both key targets in Sustainable Development Goal 6, which commits the world to ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

While the world celebrated “World Water Day” last week, Guyana has made significant strides in ensuring that its citizenry from all 10 administrative regions benefit from and have access to potable water. Government’s flagship for water distribution and management, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), has provided access to potable water with the highest standards at an affordable cost.

The traditional focus of GWI had been on certain urban areas of the country with the exclusion of many and very limited service in the hinterland. The government has mandated a policy of ensuring equity of access for all regions, hence, GWI’s planning for improved service delivery includes the neglected communities and the rural and hinterland areas. This new focus brings certain challenges which the corporation has identified in its Situation Analysis documentation and plans for programme execution have been set out in this strategic plan. Government’s assistance is expected through The Water Resource Council which is charged with monitoring water quality and this agency is expected to regulate activities in the hinterland areas, especially regarding mining to guard against adverse effects on water supply.

GWI has been instrumental in rolling out a five-year plan which ensures that the levels of service provided to communities, decommission non-functioning wells and drill new wells; extend distribution and transmission mains; create district-metred areas, construct and complete new treatment plants; and increase hinterland communities coverage and conduct aquifer studies.

Over 20,000 residents are now benefitting from water services for the first time in years in the Sophia area. But while water has been identified as a critical factor for the corporation’s service delivery, the previous plan had failed to address quality issues that required speedy identification and remedial action, especially in the hinterland areas.
Given the fact that surface water is most vulnerable to infiltration and causes water-borne diseases, it remains critical for water-quality testing processes and timely decision-making .
Government through GWI must continue to demonstrate the fulfilment of its responsibility to provide the people of Guyana with access to clean, safe, and potable water, which has been articulated in the MDGs and now in the 2030 Agenda: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Specifically, Goal six that speaks to water quality, security, and accessibility . GWI’s new plan, if successfully implemented, will continue to meet the government’s water and sanitation sector objectives, while adhering to international standards as enunciated by the United Nations.