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Debemos entender que pese a que los paises en desarrollo deben mejorar su sistema de suministro de agua potable y cloacas , no deberíamos preguntarnos si la cantidad de habitantes que tendrá el mundo en unos años puede llegar a ser contraproducente .

Mi propuesta es simple , se debe suministrar agua potable a más cantidad de gente todos los días . pero debemos controlar el crecimiento de la población mundial , especialmente en aquellos paises que no pueden hoy brindar las condiciones básicas necesarias para el desarrollo de las personas .Las consecuencias serán mas muertes de niños que nacieron en el país y en el momento equívocado.

Seamus B.
A couple more Stats/Notes - from WHO/other Reliable Sources:
o In most developing nations of Africa, 50-75% of populations are still totally dependent on "traditional" water sources (meaning, largely, NOT pristine lakes/rivers/streams or aquifers - above or below ground - but rainy season mud-holes/other "sometimes" bodies of water; many now drying-up, usually also shared with livestock and wildlife, used for everybody's public bathhouse/toilet);
o On average, for many/most countries (excl. those in martial conflict, e.g., Somalia) in Africa, in ranges of 40% of ALL MORTALITY is directly relatable to Water/Food-borne pathogens/diseases;
o Mortality/morbidity "stats" - for just 1 of those many diseases (i.e., Diarrheic dehydration) - are not only fairly static over many years'decades, but even still growing in areas. And this in the face of so much increased activity in recent years, by so many, bringing new water resources/purification systems to those most at risk.
Doesn't this raise key questions in your minds: WHAT/WHERE'S THE DISCONNECT HERE?

Coming up with more integrative, comprehensive solutions - replicable/applicable around the world, with only localized specific modifications required - as suggested (Prof. Irender Sud in opening "salvo" to this discussion column), is obviously an ultimate solution.
But bringing all the disparate pieces of this puzzle together, in what we could even begin to consider "ultramontane" (let alone "universal") solution approaches, may take more time/resources/will than the exacerbating "Global Warming" phenomenon permits.
We all know the old saw "The Devil's in the Details", now a cliche'; but I've got another "oldie-but-goodie" to consider: "Don't Start Vast Projects with 'Half-Vast' (slightly naughty play on words here) Ideas".
Before taking on more comprehensive plans, let's work at trial/perfecting the requisite COMPONENTS of such system: For Water Conservation, let's promote sub-soil "soakers" vs. sprinklers; building/use of "Cofferdams" (widely used by the Egyptians for centuries); lets REALLY open our collective minds to CHANGE! Now, as NEVER BEFORE, we've a vast array of very new "appropriate technology" available. Let's Test, Use, Share, Conserve; then COMPILE it!

Friends,

A futuristic (rather doomsayers) slide show capturing the water-scarce society in 2070 is in circulation on the net. It is narrated by a 40-year old who looks 85 because he didn't get requisite `biological water' to grow; a clean shaven woman represents a generation that didn't get `physical water' to shampoo her hair; and food is 85 percent synthetic as `agricultural water' has been in short supply. This and much more makes me think if indeed we are heading towards such a crises!

The answer could be both `yes' and `no' - depending on who you are and where you are. Most on this list are presumably distanced from such stark realities! However, there is a vast majority on the streets and in the villages struggling to keep `sane' in this emerging spectre of water scracity. The idea is not to debate `if' and `but' of the situation but to go `beyond' in making an argument.

Most competition entries (although I have yet to read them all) either present a case in water conservation or in making easy access to clean water, rarely do these initiatives address the collective need for water (biological+physical+agricultural+others) in a given situation. Without fail, some needs are undoubtedly addressed but one doesn't get a clear picture on what the `entrered initiative' does to transform the total picture. Will it not make sense to judge each entry around it?

Most entries make meaningful contribution to unclogging the crises, aiming to tinker the big picture of scarcity and deprivation. However, if it is the `big picture' (of water commodification) that is being targeted then the `externality' of challenge cannot be missed. Isn't it the `political water' that is pitched against all other kinds of `waters'?

We must get beyond the idea that the solution to poor people's problems is to increase the subsidies.

Rajiv Gandhi accurately observed that 85% of the subsidies intended for the poor never reach then and little has changed since that time.

The net impact of imposing artificially low prices on water is that we subsidize the rich and make it impossible for the water utilities to repair the leaks and maintain the water supply system, much less extend it into neighborhoods where poor people live. When public water utilities fail for lack of adequate funding (resulting from artificially low prices), the rich can still get water from private wells and tankers but it is the poor who end up paying ten to twenty times as much as their wealthier neighbors.

In addition, it should be no comfort to claim that the poor are protected throgh the provision of "Free Water" at public stand posts and fountains. If we place a value of even ONE RUPEE per hour on the time required for women to carry this water then the "FREE WATER" provided to the poor becomes the most expensive water in town. (SEE: "Hidden Cost of "Free Water" at http://www.IndiaWaterPortal.org/blog/)

Finally, the ubiquitous system of intermittent supply (normally about 2 hrs per day) so common throughout the developing world not only SUCKS raw sewage directly into the drinking water but is actually far more expensive (when all costs are included) than a system with continuously pressurized (24/7) water. What ever may be saved to the city through adoption of intermittent supply, simply transfers far greater costs to the consumer in terms of necessary in-home storage, pumping and treatment systems.

It is not the "price" of water but the availability, affordabilitiy, and quality of water that is most important.

We have enouh water , just share it!!!!!

Like that

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/biefs.dupilat/

Increasing the Status of Water
It is imperative to increase the status of water in society and among politicians and policy makers. The meager and simplistic appearance of water issues on the high level global political agenda is nothing less than pathetic. It is imperative to generate in the political establishment a shift in thinking as regards water issues and how they may be challenged. Water's deep importance for development is a message of fundamental importance to be propagated at the highest possible political level - a major pedagogical task.

Downstream stakeholders are increasingly being left without usable water. In discussions of compromise building, mutual respect between different catchment stakeholders is essential. In this process, polluting industry and agriculture must contribute. While several major multinational firms have now entered such a process, the developing world's dynamic, small- to medium-sized industry remains extremely difficult to get on board. The link to poverty eradication and higher incomes through large-scale employment from a multitude of small-scale industries poses enormous problems, and there are examples of court decisions to close down such industries that cannot be enforced due to a lack of societal acceptance. The court decisions are counteracted by a soft political and regulatory system, and the industries reopens.

At the same time, a set of positive signals was reported in the developed world. A Global Compact Forum is being formed for multinational industry in cooperation with the United Nations. A European Water Framework Directive, constituting a new legal instrument, and prescribing clean water bodies and aquifers by 2015, was recently adopted by the EU Parliament and the EU Council.

Drinking water crisis is a present day’s problem especially for Republic of Moldova, mostly for the rural localities, which represents more than a half of country’s population. Only 17 of them have aqueducts 67% of which are in a miserable situation and don’t fit the hygiene standard. The populations in the rest of the rural localities make their water supply from wells and springs, the majority of which are polluted with pathological bacteria.
The first step to create The Moldovan Network of Rural Volunteering Centers for Water was done in 2003 (monitoring macro invertebrates; Youth Water Parliament etc). Mission - transferable because The Moldovan Network of Rural Volunteering Centers for Water can its activities can include other villages, countries on local, regional, national, European and International level.
Best regards,
Cortac Olga,
Coordinator of the MNRVCW;
Botnaru Petru,
Secretariat MNRVCW

"Competing for Change" article in the Stanford Social Innovation review: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/competing_for_a_change/

Tito Llantada
Changemakers.net
Competition Manager

Welcome to the "Tapping Local Innovation: Unclogging the Water and Sanitation Crisis" collaborative competition, in partnership with the Global Water Challenge. The competition is now open for entry, as well as the ongoing online discussion and collaboration. We look forward to your participation!

Tito Llantada
Changemakers.net
Competition Manager

WATER SECTOR PROBLEMS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES

Available documentation of water sector problems--both at the national and global levels--
does not present a rosy picture overall. Water resource development either has reached or
is fast approaching the limit of ultimate utilizations potential in most countries. Even in areas with undeveloped water resource potential, further resource development is con-
strained by environmental concerns, technical inadequacy, and budgetary limits. Mean-
while, the demand for water is on an ever-increasing spree due to the formidable effects of
population expansion, economic development, and life-style changes. The main result of a
growing demand-supply gap is the intensification of inter-sectoral and inter-regional water
conflicts. The growth in urban water demand has both quantitative and qualitative dimensions. Ironically, the quality dimension is subject to the contradictory influence of two
opposing effects. On the one hand, since urban groups have higher living standards and
greater political articulation, every increase in urban water quantity is likely to be accompanied by a higher demand for better water quality. On the other hand, since the growth
in urban water demand means more residential sewerage and industrial pollution, every increase in urban water consumption, if not addressed properly, could lead to a concurrent
deterioration in water quality. The unfavorable effects of water scarcity--both absolute
and relative--are magnified further by rapid deterioration in water quality that discounts
the utility of an already inadequate water supply.

Although, the scarcity value of water is increasing, the politically-rooted system of
public provision and subsidized water charges insulate the water economy from the influence of actual market forces. Low water charges and poor recovery rates risk the efficient
maintenance of existing water infrastructure as well as the additional investments on future
water development projects. Declining water sector investment and deteriorating physical
health of water infrastructure have raised questions about the unfavorable effects on the
quality and sustainability of water services. The growing recognition of the close linkages
among financial status, physical health, and service quality in the water sector remains the
motive force to prompt reforms in water pricing and cost recovery policies in most countries (see Dinar and Subramanian, 1997). While the water sector is gradually, but steadily,
emerging out of the grip of political and other myopic considerations, it has not yet
reached the stage where economic and sustainability considerations can have a dominant
role in guiding water sector decisions.

TO BE CONTINUED.

The crisis in the water sector has also made apparent the inherent limitations of the
existing institutions in dealing effectively with the new set of problems that are not related
to resource development but to resource allocation and management. Allocation and conflict resolution mechanisms have to be either created or strengthened/updated both in the
legal and policy spheres. Water users, who were customers or clients in the surplus era of
water development, have now become important players in the scarcity era of water sec-
tor. The water administration and water sector decision process have to accommodate
now an increasing role of user organizations, non-governmental agencies, and women, environmental, and other self-help groups as well as to explore the ways in which emerging
water and information technologies can be gainfully utilized. In short, as countries move
from a state of plenty to a state of scarcity, water institutions, that define the rules of water development, allocation, and utilization, have to be concurrently reoriented to reflect
the changing supply-demand and quantity-quality realities.