Did you know that sustainable water management is one of the pillars of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? The protection and preservation of water is extremely important to enable more people around the world to access it safely and for longer.
After all, water is a threatened resource on our planet. Since 2012, the United Nations (UN) has warned about the potential 40% water deficit that we may experience by 2030, if serious economic measures are not taken.
In addition to being indispensable for human life and all biodiversity, water is still the basis for various commercial, industrial and agricultural activities. Therefore, it is not only up to the population to see its preservation as a duty, but also on the engagement of governments and companies.
Read on and learn more about what is considered sustainable water management, its importance and how it can be applied in practice!
So, do you know what it means to manage water sustainably? This is related to the adoption of measures aimed at protecting the sources of water resources and their ecosystems, such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
Managing this input sustainably also has to do with ensuring its availability in a safe manner (free of dirt and toxicity) and in quantity for personal use and the various human activities that require it. In short, sustainable water management is linked to actions aimed at maintaining its quality, preservation and correct distribution.
In this struggle, Brazil plays an important role, since it is one of the nations with the highest concentration of water resources in the world. Despite having plenty of water, there are people in the country who still do not have regular access to this input or consume low quality water, which results in a series of problems for the population, including public health.
To give you an idea, according to data from the 14th edition of the Sanitation Ranking, published by Instituto Trata Brasil, in partnership with GO Associados, there are almost 35 million Brazilians living without treated water and about 100 million without access to sewage collection.
As mentioned before, sustainable water management is essential to use it efficiently, without waste, in addition to promoting its equal distribution, expanding access among all socioeconomic groups and, of course, helping to protect the ecosystems that depend on its preservation.
No wonder it is said that water is a source of life. In addition to depending on it for our physical survival, its lack directly impacts a city's economy, affecting agricultural activities, raising the price of food and reducing the purchasing power of families, for example.
The lack of sewerage and treated water supply still:
It is worth noting that water is a finite resource and scarcer than one can imagine. Although just over 70% of the Earth's surface consists of water, only 2.5% of it is fresh, that is, suitable for human consumption. That's why it's so important to approach it responsibly.
Dealing with water resources in an integrated manner is the first step in adopting sustainable water management, guaranteeing the supply of the population and the preservation of nature. In this sense, there are three fundamental activities:
Much of the water consumed in human activities is transformed into sewage, which concentrates a significant amount of pollutants and microorganisms harmful to health and that can harm springs. Thus, it is essential that it be collected and treated properly.
Yes, garbage also interferes with water quality and preservation. When disposed of incorrectly, they can harm groundwater and surface water with slurry and other contaminants, which also affect aquatic life.
This is a very important action to avoid overloading the sewers. In addition, drainage contributes to the reduction of the impacts of rain on the environment and of waterborne diseases.
Within companies, investing in an internal treatment plant is a positive action to reduce the concentration of pollutants in the water and thus reduce the impacts on nature. Having this support also favors the reuse of this feature in some situations.
