An integrated approach to valuing water Climate change, urbanization and industrialization are worsening the global water crisis. Can integrated water management planning help us balance all the ways we value water?
Value
1
A natural resource and ecosystem Climate change is causing more extreme weather events, resulting in increased incidences of flooding and changing water availability in others, exacerbating water scarcity.
2.3B people live in water-stressed countries
Value
2
Drinking water, health services and sanitation Access to clean water helps prevent disease epidemics. Handwashing is a cost-effective intervention that improves public health by drastically reducing the spread of infectious diseases.
40%
of the world’s population lack a basic handwashing facility with soap and water at home
Value
3
Water infrastructure for storage, supply & waste treatment If not properly managed, wastewater can spread diseases, and introduce excess nutrients and hazardous substances into rivers, lakes and oceans damaging ecosystems and creating risks for communities.
<50% of domestic wastewater is safely treated in 24 out of the 75 reporting countries
Value
4
An input to production and socioeconomic activity Population growth is driving agriculture, energy generation and other industrial expansion, but their demands compete with other needs and their discharges impact water quality and biodiversity.
+4%
increase of overall global efficiency, but efficiency actually declined in many individual countries*. * Lack of data impedes our ability to assess water-use efficiency, with only about 59 percent of the global population covered under the current UN estimates.
→Innovation ion→Innovat Innovation→ vation→Innov Technical and policy innovation can help us:
- Develop more efficient technology for agricultural processes - Reduce water losses in distribution networks - Improve treatment systems to reduce pollution - Implement water recycling and reuse
An IWM framework can help capture important insights from all stakeholders, and help decision-makers allocate resources to improve water management.
“
We’re bringing technology, innovation and experience to the challenge of sustainable water management, so we can create a water resilient future.” – Rod Naylor, Market Leader Australia Water, leading GHD’s global water strategy
→ ghd.com