“SUSTAINABLE WATER: THE KEYSTONE FOR ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SECURITY”
In Southeast Asia, water resources are under strain due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. The situation is made worse by water-related disasters, climate change and lack of governance in the region.
Water resource issues include inadequate drinking-water supply and sanitation facilities, water pollution, floods, the siltation of river systems, and the management of rivers and large dams present special management challenges. Barriers to addressing these issues include poverty, illiteracy, rapid population growth, and ineffective institutions and policies for developing, distributing, pricing, and conserving water resources. The complex patterns of these issues are shaped by differences in wealth, environment, and political systems.
The Global Water Conference 2016 supported by Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development, Myanmar (MLFRD) and Southeast Asian Water Utilities Network (SEAWUN) with the theme of “Sustainable Water: The Keystone for Economy, Environment, Health and Security” is designed to facilitate the implementation of the water management policies and encouraging collaboration between those working on water resources management and water technologies, and those working on environmental, public health, economic growth and other issues. This is also an unparalleled platform to get updated on the market direction and explore investment opportunities in the water industry in ASEAN.
THE OBJECTIVES OF GLOBAL WATER CONFERENCE 2016
• To raise awareness on the importance of water resource management that contributing to a more sustainable water security in developing countries.
• To identify challenges and opportunities in improving water efficiency under the prevailing socio-economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions in the developing countries.
• To facilitate an open scientific discussion platform to share knowledge and experiences between researchers, executives, decision and policy makers, private sector, and other stakeholders, on improving water efficiency in the various water supply and consuming sectors.
• To identify scientific and technological research needs and priorities in the field of water efficiency to aid the process of policies formulation and decision making.
• To identify key trends and issues confronting the sustainable accessibility of clean water.
• To provide networking and build business opportunities whilst engaged in discussion on pertinent issues with industry experts.
• To build a research and experience exchange network between individuals, institutes, civil society/NGOs and private sector in the field of water efficiency.
FACTS ABOUT WATER IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
1. 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water.
2. 3.4 million people die each year from water-related disease.
3. 400 million children (1 in 5 from the developing world) have no access to safe water.
4. 1.4 million children will die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.
5. Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%.
6. Almost 2 in 3 people who need safe drinking water survive on less than $2 a day.
7. In many developing countries, women and girls walk on average over 3.5 miles each day to fetch water. Women often spend more than 15 hours per week gathering water.
8. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of child death in the world today, and the top cause of child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. This diarrhea is caused by poor sanitation, hygiene, or dirty drinking water.
9. More than 1/2 of all primary schools in developing countries don't have adequate water facilities and nearly 2/3 lack adequate sanitation.
10. Clean water is one aspect of improving sustainable food production in order to reduce poverty and hunger.
11. More than 80% of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
12. By 2025, the proportion of the world’s population living in water-stressed countries is set to increase by 2/3.
