Veolia Water Technologies by GineersNow Engineering Magazine GineersNow Engineering Magazine September 2016 | Page 68

The challenge of bringing clean
water to people is immense,
and the role of engineers who
understand social, political and
economic constraints as well as the
opportunities is critical
and sanitation through advocacy
with the governments and decision-
makers, through support for
municipal and national departments
working in water and sanitation, and
through work with local partners to
deliver water and sanitation services.
In one innovative example, we
conducted studies in Maputo,
Lagos, Kinshasa and Lusaka to
improve city-wide planning for
water and sanitation services that
would reach poor communities as
well as the better-off. In another,
we organized menstrual hygiene
training for schools, women’s groups
and government employees across
14 countries including Bangladesh,
Ethiopia and India, to combat the
existing taboos which become more
entrenched in the absence of clean
water and sanitation.
THE CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS
GineersNow: What are the greatest
challenges in the water industry?
What do you think should the
government, private companies and
NGOs of each country do to get rid
of these? How do we provide water
accessibility to more than 7 billion
people?
Vincent: Some of the main challenges
that exist in the countries where
WaterAid works include:
• Insufficient political will to
improve water supply services and
management of water resources
• Insufficient investment in water
supply services and management of
water resources
• Insufficient skills to manage water
supply services and water resources
• Insufficient human capital to
manage water supply services and
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SEPTEMBER 2016
Clean Water Technologies
water resources
• Exclusion of certain groups,
because of inability to pay, political
affiliation,
disability, race, caste, gender, age or
social status. around equality, sustainable services,
integration and hygiene; working
with the smallest communities to the
largest governmental organizations
to ensure everyone has the right to
clean water.
In many places, water industries are
also coping with rapid urbanization,
population growth and economic
development
which
increase
demands for water, and with
balancing domestic needs against
those of agriculture, energy and
industry.
Another key challenge is sustaining
water and sanitation services
because of the lack of funding.
To deal with these challenges,
first and foremost, governments,
private sectors and NGOs need
to work together to strengthen
institutions tasked with delivery
and management of services, to
ensure they can fulfil their roles and
responsibilities.
Governments need to play a lead
role in ensuring equitable access
to domestic water in the face
of competing demands; both
governments and service providers
need to pay more attention to skilled
management and maintenance
of facilities that are appropriate,
affordable and accessible, so that
services continue to function.
The UN Global Goals on Sustainable
Development call for universal
access to water and sanitation by
2030. To achieve this, developing
countries need effective leadership
that prioritizes water and sanitation,
and to finance these programmes
accordingly.
Our strategic aims are centered Continued support from our
cooperate
partners,
public
fundraising and donations play a vital
role in realizing the potential to get
clean, safe water and sanitation to
everyone and everywhere by 2030.
ADVICE TO THE YOUNG
ENGINEERS
GineersNow: Please give advice and
words of wisdom about the clean
water campaign to our young global
audience. What would you like to
tell to the millennials? Any inspiring
words that you can share.
Vincent: The challenge of bringing
clean water to people is immense,
and the role of engineers who
understand social, political and
economic constraints as well as
the opportunities is critical. The
Sustainable Development Goals
places an emphasis on “sustainable
management” of services. This is
where the greatest challenges exist
and where the greatest need for
innovation is required. Even the most
basic technology requires some level
of management and maintenance.
Without
viable
management
arrangements, technologies would
frequently fail or offer sub-standard
service levels (poor water quality,
unreliable supplies). More can be
done to resolve these challenges,
this makes the role of engineers
important.