Would you prefer to drink “improved water” or “safe water?”
Technology Innovation in Achieving Universal and Equitable Access to Safe and Affordable Drinking Water for All (SDG 6.1)
A recent article by Asit Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada in the Asia & The Pacific Policy Society policy forum, “Implementing the human right to water, Turning the taps on better global water policy” highlights the urgent need to solve the lack of access to safe drinking water (Sustainable Development Goal 6.1). The authors called attention to a discussion launched by the Pontifical Academy of the Vatican to address water as a basic human right. The Vatican asserted that “access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights.”
Improved vs. Safe Drinking Water
The authors compare this very clear declaration to how, for decades, international water organizations as well as multilateral development banks created and used the term “improved sources of water.” As Biswas and Tortajada correctly highlight, this term has absolutely no relation to the quality of water. In addition, international organizations have consistently used the terms, “improved sources,” “clean,” and “safe” water, interchangeably.
As a result, it is implied that “improved sources” of water means “safe water” and this is clearly not the case. Conservatively, there are 663 million people do not have access to safe water. I believe this is understated when you consider that about 4 billion people live in water scarce and water stressed regions of the world.
Bold Solutions
We need bold solutions to move beyond business as usual thinking. To ensure that we deliver universal access to safe drinking water by 2030 we must deploy 21st Century technology solutions. “Democratizing access” to safe drinking water will ensure that we are not tied to the limitations of 20th Century technology. While centralized water treatment systems have served large populations well, and continue to do so, we need radically different options for safe water delivery technologies. Off grid, decentralized and distributed water systems can provide a broader set of options to actually ensure universal access to safe drinking water.
To create transformative new technologies, we also desperately need successful entrepreneurs from outside the water sector. Business as usual, the same stakeholders with the same set of solutions, will not achieve our goal of universal access to safe drinking water by 2030.
We need new voices and new solutions.
An example of innovative technology from a “water outsider” is Zero Mass Water (www.zeromasswater.com). They asked the question, “you own the air you breathe by simply taking a breath, why not own the water you drink.” They then came up with a solution. Air moisture capture to supply individuals with safe drinking water — off grid water powered by a solar panel. Their technology, SOURCE, is deployed in the Middle East, Mexico, Latin America and the US West. They leveraged leading edge material science research and solar technology to eliminate the need for centralized water treatment and distribution.
We need more of the honesty of Biswas and Tortajada coupled with an outside view of water technology innovation. There is no reason for us to tolerate the appalling lack of access to safe drinking water. Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right and it is our responsibility to ensure we immediately deliver on this right.
