Global Efforts To End Water Pollution

Water pollution is a pressing issue that many countries are actively working to address. The lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities has led to various social, economic, and health issues, particularly in developing nations. According to the United Nations, water-related disasters have been the most common type of natural disaster in the last 50 years, and they account for 70% of all deaths related to natural disasters. Countries are implementing various measures to combat water pollution and improve access to clean water, such as investing in water-use efficiency, promoting sustainable water management practices, and providing funding and support for global health initiatives. These collective efforts are crucial in ensuring the availability of clean water and sanitation for all, which is a fundamental human right recognized by the United Nations.

Canada's support for sustainable water management in developing countries

Clean, accessible water is critical to human health, a healthy environment, poverty reduction, gender equality, a sustainable economy, and peace and security. However, over 40% of the global population does not have access to sufficient clean water. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, according to UN-Water. Developing countries are most affected by water shortages, flooding, and poor water quality.

Canada is actively supporting sustainable water management in developing countries. As part of its Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada supports sustainable water resources management and governance in developing countries, with a focus on women and girls. Women and girls are often the primary managers of natural resources, particularly for household use and small-scale agriculture. They are key change agents in sustainable water management practices, yet they are excluded from the decision-making on the location, management, and maintenance of water points. Canada's water programming contributes to health, education, food security, and economic growth outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable.

Canada has provided significant financial support to various initiatives and organizations to promote sustainable water management in developing countries. For instance, Canada provided $155 million to the World Health Organization for health systems strengthening efforts that included WASH during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Canada has committed $12.5 million through the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in the Americas (2019-2044) to support irrigation and water management systems in Nicaragua. Canada also provided $10 million (2020-2025) to the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health (UNU-INWEH) to improve global water governance in developing countries through research, education, and training. Furthermore, the Government of Canada is providing $6 million to WaterAid for a project in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Pakistan, which aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and adolescent girls by addressing their menstrual health and hygiene needs through improved WASH facilities.

Canada also supports innovative approaches to water management in developing countries. For example, the GENTU project aims to improve nutrition outcomes through a multi-sector approach that includes WASH interventions. Additionally, Canada provides institutional support to Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) to promote global health and humanitarian innovations in low and middle-income countries. Through its international assistance envelope, Canada helps developing countries address water management issues and the increasing threats to water security due to climate change and biodiversity loss.

World Vision's work in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the world's third-largest island country, and the largest and most populous Pacific Island nation. It is also one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, with frequent cyclones and flooding events that damage and destroy infrastructure, homes, and crops.

World Vision supports work in Papua New Guinea that focuses on boosting health systems and building up resilience in families and communities. This includes improving access to water and sanitation, along with promoting hygiene behaviour change. For example, World Vision uses rainwater catchment systems and tanks to provide clean water access in Papua New Guinea.

World Vision's WASH projects promote good hygiene practices like handwashing in communities and help them improve access to safe water and improved sanitation. In the targeted areas, 44% of households still practice open defecation, which pollutes environments, contaminates waterways, and poses serious threats to community health and well-being. World Vision is working to reduce this number and improve overall sanitation in the country.

In addition to its work on water and sanitation, World Vision also aims to improve the health of women and children through programs that promote breastfeeding, eating locally available nutritious foods, immunizations, malaria prevention, family planning, and improved access to healthcare services. Education for children and adults is also an important part of World Vision's work in Papua New Guinea, as only 56% of the population in PNG are literate. World Vision's projects work with men and women to improve their literacy skills and provide opportunities for vulnerable children to develop basic literacy, numeracy, and life skills to prepare them for primary school.

World Vision's work in Somalia

World Vision has been working to improve the lives of children and communities in Somalia since 2005. The organisation's key interventions encompass food security, agricultural recovery, health and nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene, education, advocacy, and emergency response.

In 2019, World Vision helped about 82,000 people in Somalia gain access to clean water by building boreholes and rehabilitating shallow wells. They also constructed rainwater-harvesting dams, an innovation in Somalia, and increased access to sustainable and safe water supplies for 56,130 people, including 30,872 children.

World Vision collaborates with federal and state governments to strengthen health systems, improve infrastructure, and provide medical supplies. They also work with other stakeholders to address diverse health and nutrition challenges, with a focus on child well-being. To achieve this, they aim to protect children from infection and disease while ensuring they are well-nourished.

World Vision is also dedicated to improving children's access to clean water and promoting hygiene practices. They collaborate with Education Ministries, local community groups, and education committees to ensure clean water and toilets are available in schools. Their initiatives have helped increase the number of children attending school and improved academic performance.

World Vision's work in Africa

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation that works across nearly 100 countries to help tackle the causes of poverty and injustice. It is the leading non-governmental provider of clean water in the developing world, and its work includes addressing a full range of human needs, such as education, health, and economic development.

World Vision has also received significant funding from philanthropists Dana and Dave Dornsife, who have pledged $40 million over five years to support World Vision's water, sanitation, and hygiene programs (WASH) in Africa. This follows their previous donation of $35 million, which enabled World Vision to develop high-quality WASH programs in 10 African countries. World Vision's commitment to providing clean water is further demonstrated by its goal to provide clean water to one new person every 10 seconds by 2020 and to ensure universal water coverage everywhere it works by 2030.

World Vision's impact in Africa is evident in various countries. For example, in Somalia, the organisation helped approximately 82,000 people gain access to clean water by building boreholes and rehabilitating shallow wells in 2019. In East Africa, Eritrea has seen improvements in water access and sanitation due to the combined efforts of the government, non-governmental organisations, and private companies working with communities. World Vision's work in Papua New Guinea focuses on improving access to water and sanitation and promoting hygiene behaviour change, utilising innovative methods such as rainwater catchment systems and tanks.

Clean Water Action's work in the United States

Clean water is critical to human health, a healthy environment, poverty reduction, gender equality, a sustainable economy, and peace and security. However, over 40% of the global population does not have access to clean water. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity.

The United States has taken several steps to address water pollution and promote clean water access, both domestically and internationally. Here are some key Clean Water Actions being undertaken in the United States:

The Clean Water Act (CWA):

The CWA is a fundamental piece of legislation in the United States that establishes a framework for regulating pollutant discharges into US waters and setting quality standards for surface waters. The Act was initially enacted in 1948 as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and underwent significant expansion in 1972, when it gained its common name, the Clean Water Act. Under the CWA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented various pollution control programs, such as setting wastewater standards for industries and developing national water quality criteria for surface water pollutants. The CWA also made it illegal to discharge pollutants from a point source into navigable waters without a permit, which is controlled by the EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.

Office of Water (OW):

The OW is a government body that ensures safe drinking water and works to restore and maintain oceans, watersheds, and aquatic ecosystems. Their efforts protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitats for various species. The EPA Watershed Academy offers training courses on statutes, watershed protection, and other resources related to the Clean Water Act.

White House Action Plan on Global Water Security:

The Biden-Harris Administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to water security and sanitation, both domestically and globally. In June 2022, they launched the White House Action Plan on Global Water Security, which includes investments in water conservation, resilience planning, water storage, watershed health, and drought resilience. The plan aims to address decades of underinvestment in disadvantaged communities and promote environmental justice. Through USAID, the United States has mobilized $142 million in new finance for water security and sanitation, with a focus on reaching more people with basic services and safeguarding freshwater resources.

Global Water Initiatives:

The United States has made significant contributions to global water security and sanitation efforts. Since the launch of the White House Action Plan, the United States has committed $49 billion in domestic and global actions to ensure equitable access to climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure. This includes providing water to 5.4 million people and sanitation to 6.3 million people worldwide, with a focus on reaching marginalized communities.

These actions by the United States demonstrate a recognition of the importance of global water security and a commitment to addressing water pollution and access issues through legislation, investment, and international cooperation.

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