www.unhabitat.org

Dr. Kulwant SinghDr. Kulwant SinghRegional AdvisorRegional AdvisorUrban Basic Services Branch, UN-HabitatUrban Basic Services Branch, UN-Habitat

Sustaining Progress on the Sustaining Progress on the MDG for Access to Safe MDG for Access to Safe Drinking WaterDrinking Water

International Symposium on Sustainable Cities:International Symposium on Sustainable Cities:Empowering Local Governments through Capacity Building Empowering Local Governments through Capacity Building

and Knowledge Sharingand Knowledge Sharing

26-28 September 2013, Incheon, Republic of Korea26-28 September 2013, Incheon, Republic of Korea

World Population Growth (in billion)

Urbanization in the world

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• Today, one in two people on the planet is an urban dweller

• Urbanization is happening mostly in developing countries (93%)

• Cities are growing because of: - natural increase in urban population (50%)

- reclassification of rural areas as urban areas (25%)

- rural-to-urban migration (25%)

More developed regions

7%

Lessdeveloped

regions

93%

PERCENTAGE GROWTH OF URBAN POPULATION BY REGION (2005-2020)

URBAN POPULATION BY REGION (2005)

More developed regions

29%

Less developed regions

71%

Worldwide, urban population is growing 20x faster; 57% of world’s population will be in urban areas by 2025

Percentage of population urbanized

Share of urbanized population over total population

Urban PopulationPercent

Source: UN

Regional Character of Urbanization

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Need for:•Adequate shelter for all•Sustainable urban development needs sustainable water and sanitation services

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Challenges of Rapid Urbanisation

Cities – opportunities and challenges

• General wealth• Enhance social Development• Provide employment• Incubators of innovation and

creativity

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• Pockets of poverty• Exclusion and

marginalization• Environmental degradation • Decay

As urbanisation intensifies cities become more important

The slum challenge: past, present, future

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Unprecedented slum growth: 18 million new slum dwellers per year during 1990-2001

Projected growth: 27 million people a year (2005/20)

Slum growth = 38% of the world’s urban growth

38% Slum Growth 62%

World Urban Growth

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Urbanisation & Water Challenges

Major water problems:

1. Lack of access to water & sanitation

2. Increasing water related disasters such as floods, droughts, tsunamis, windstorms, landslides, water borne diseases & epidemics

3. Climate variability & change also affecting water resources and their management.

• MDGs – Agreed by Global leaders in 2000

• Target 7c - Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities

With only 2 more years to go, there is a need to:•Review progress, •Intensify efforts and •Plan for beyond 2015

MDG Targets for Water & Sanitation

Over 2 billion people gained access to improved drinking

water during the period 1990-2010

1.8 billion people gained access to improved sanitation during

the period 1990-2010

Water & Sanitation Coverage – Progress during 1990-2010

PEOPLE WITHOUT IMPROVED SANITATION

• An estimated, 2.5 billion people are still without improved sanitation.

• In South Asia, 41%, or 692 million people still practice open defecation

• Among the 2.5 billion people in the world, not using improved sanitation facilities, greatest numbers are in South Asia, but there are also large numbers in East Asia.

• Between 1990-2010 number of people without improved sanitation has increased from 531 to 714 million.

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In 2010 63 percent of global population used improved sanitation facilities

More than half of the 2.5 billion people without improved sanitation live in

India or China

Regional distribution of the 2.5 billion people not using improved sanitation facilities in 2010, population (million)

Four out of 10 people gaining access to improved sanitation in 1990-2010 live in China and India

PEOPLE WITHOUT IMPROVED SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER

• More than 780 million people in the world still do not get their drinking-water from improved sources, almost all of them in developing regions.

• The use of improved sources of drinking-water is high globally, with 89% of the world population and 86% of the people in developing regions getting their drinking-water from such sources.

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In 2010 89% of global population used improvedwater source

India, China & Bangladesh among Ten countries that are home to two

thirds of the global population

without an improved drinking water

source

Globally 780 million people not using improved sources of drinking-water in 2010 – Regional Distribution

Almost half of world population gaining access to improved sources of drinking-water in 1990-2010 live in China and India

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TARGETSustainable Urban Water

Supply and Improved Environmental Sanitation in

the World’s Cities

Water & Urbanisation

Climate ChangeImpacts

RapidlyIncreasing Urban

Growth

Aging, deteriorated and absent

infrastructure

GovernanceTransparencyAccountability

EquityCapacity

Political Will

Public Awareness

Ethics and Values

Finances andInvestments

Comprehensive City Planning, Integrated Urban Water and Solid

Waste Management

Right Based Approaches, Reduce Corruption and

Fraud, Community Driven

User/Polluter payPrinciple ($), Innovative

financingIncrease Budgetary

Support

Advocacy, Awareness Raising, Education

(HVWSHE)

Self sustaining urban environments; Resource recovery, Water Demand

Management; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Strengthened Capacity for Improved Service Delivery

Issues

Factors

Solution Strategies

Technology

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Sustainable Water Supply : Institutional Issues

• Urban areas of different sizes need different approaches.

• Trickle-down of national policies and legislation and how these work at the local level.

• Need for Integrated Water Resource Management.

• Need for Water Demand Management.

• Improved focus on serving the poor – Critical Role of Local Authorities.

• Community/Local Authority interface needing more attention.

• Clustering of utilities & local authority management.

• Closer synergy between urban infrastructure planners & urban planners.

Sustainable Water Supply: Financial Issues

• Estimated investment towards the MDG targets for water supply & sanitation: $15 billion per year.

• Need to raise local capital

• Need to build competent, efficient, business-like & service oriented institutions.

• Covering the cost of operation & maintenance a pre-requisite for sustainable service provision.

• Bigger role of large & small scale private sector providers & financiers.

• Flexible policy & legal frameworks for strengthening local jurisdiction and reducing financial dependence on higher tier funds.

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Sustainable Water Supply: Other Barriers

Barriers to sustainable access of the poor to water supply & sanitation in slum areas as well as at relocation and redeveloped sites:

a)High levels of Non-Revenue and unaccounted for water; and

b)Failure to use community systems for management of water supply and sanitation assets and systems.

Development options  not responsive to the context.

Formal large-scale redevelopment initiatives obstruct participation of the poor and community based organisations.

Pitfalls in reclassifying the poor (as the poorest of the poor).

Disparities in the conditions of the poor and slum residents within medium sized and metropolitan cities, and amongst countries and regions.

Sustainable Water & Sanitation: Challenge for the poor

Inadequate water supply to the poor

The poor pay exorbitant rates for access to water through vendors and tankers.

Technological options like septic tanks in urban areas not appropriate solutions–both environmentally and technologically.

Monitoring of access to water supply and sanitation does not reflect the actual functional access to these services, but it does influence the commitments for investment for improving the situation.

• Data for Coverage Access or usage

• Data on Urban Inequities

• Data for decision making

• Incorporating water & wastewater quality monitoring

• Information from formal & informal sources

Lack of information and data needed for tracking Water & Sanitation coverage access & City

Planning

Water investment requires a holistic approach: Links between pricing, financing and stakeholders

Recommendations & Policy Options

The principle challenge is not so much in technological aspects but in soft components, especially:

• Leadership & commitment

• Need for an appropriate policy environment & legal & regulatory framework (including local government financing)

• Capacity development of service providers

• Innovative financing mechanisms attractive to potential investors especially to private sector

Access to Water for All and the Right to Water: The Backdrop for Action

Worsening Water and Sanitation in urban areas; due to rapid population growth and urbanisation :

Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water; 2010 update ( WHO/UNICEF JMP)

Asia- Global Sanitation “Hot Spot” 72% of people lacking sanitation live in Asia (largest nos. in Southern Asia, followed by Eastern Asia);

Sanitation essential for ensuring Access to Water for All.

Year/Parameter 2000 2008

Urban Population Without Access to Sanitation (millions)

662 800

Urban Population Without Access to Water (millions)

115 135

A Rights Based Target and Action Framework

2010 General Assembly Resolution- A Landmark: The right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation declared a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights;

Proposed Target as agreed during Sixth WWF in Marseille : “Universal and Sustainable Access to Water and Sanitation in all Regions by 2025”

More than mere “Access”: Sufficient and Safe water: An adequate quantity of safe water supply (acceptable

quality) must be available for personal and domestic uses;

Accessible water and sanitation: Water and sanitation services and facilities functional and must be within safe physical reach;

Affordable water and sanitation: Water and sanitation must be affordable, without reducing the individuals or household’s capacity to acquire other essential goods and services;

• Water availability, allocation and sustainability: Allocation of water resources must give priority to essential personal and domestic uses; Water sources must be protected against degradation and pollution to ensure safe water for present and future generations;

Common Misconceptions: Right to Water and Sanitation

Misconception ClarificationThe right entitles people to free water Water and sanitation services need to be

affordable to all; people expected to contribute financially or otherwise to the extent they can do so.

The right allows for unlimited use of water Entitles everyone to sufficient water for personal and domestic use and is to be realised in a sustainable manner for present and future generations.

The right entitles everyone to a household connection

Water and sanitation facilities need to be within, or close to households; can comprise facilities like wells and pit latrines.

The right entitles people to water resources in other countries

People cannot claim water from other countries. But international customary law requires such water courses to be shared equitably with priority given to human needs.

A country is in violation of the right if not all its people have access to water and sanitation

The right requires that States take steps to the maximum of available resources to progressively realise the right.

Actions: What can Cities Do? Some Examples

Increasing Costs

Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Education;Good Governance

(Pro-poor); Participatory

Monitoring including use of e-media

(social/open network)

Planning in Advance of

growth;IWRM

Promote “Closed Loop “ Systems e.g.

Rain Harvesting, Waste water

reuse

Water Demand Management;

Revolving Funds;

Community Based Water

and Sanitation

Rehabilitation andExpansion of

infrastructure

Asian Best Examples on WASH systems Need to replicate them

Cities such as Singapore have shown how water can be effectively conserved and managed

Asian Best examples on WASH systems Need to learn from them and replicate them

Pnom Penh has a world class water authority that has received the Stockholm Industry Water Award 2010

Private sector can be a good partner

Private Sector - a valuable partner

Key to address the problem of global water and sanitation lies in effective LEADERSHIP and PARTNERSHIP

Lions Clubs have helped bringing clean water to 120 villages in Mali

“Never doubt that a small, highly committed group of individuals can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

– Margaret Meade

Source: http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-impact/lions-in-action/lions-in-action-archives/health_wellness_projects/clean-water.php

• Significant Achievements: MDG relating to access to water has been achieved three years before the end period. However, most vulnerable sections particularly the urban poor, women and children are still left out.

• The battle for sanitation is quite long which will need nearly trebling of the effort by the governments at national and local levels and enhancement of support by the international community

• The Right to Water and Sanitation should not be misconstrued that the right entitles people to free water, allows them unlimited use of water, entitles everyone to a household connection and it entitles people to water resources in other countries.

Messages for Local Governments

• Urban Sanitation is about a chain of services

• Urban sanitation must be poor-inclusive & implemented within a citywide framework : To be cost effective, urban sanitation services must be planned to serve all those who need them – rich and poor alike.

• Urban sanitation cannot be tackled in isolation : It requires effective land-use control, good solid waste management and better drainage system

• Urban sanitation requires a strong enabling environment Clear policy frameworks, legislation, and standards help ensure coherence and consistency among stakeholders along the service chain

• Urban sanitation needs clear accountability: If the multiple service providers are to perform their essential roles, day in, day out, they must be held accountable through specific and effective accountability mechanisms.

Sanitation is more than building a toilet : Five Reasons to Improve Urban Sanitation

• Progress in relation to access to basic sanitation in particular is insufficient to achieve the Millennium Development Goal target to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking-water and basic sanitation. The following are the major steps to reach the goal:

• Recognize the people’s right to safe drinking water and basic sanitation as a basic human right and a fundamental aspect of human security;

• Accord highest priority to water and sanitation in economic development plans and agendas and to substantially increase allocation of resources to the water and sanitation sectors so as to aim at universal access to water and sanitation by 2025, through the adoption of new and innovative sanitation systems that are not as water reliant as current methods;

• Improve governance, efficiency, transparency and equity in all aspects related to the management of urban water, particularly as it impacts the poor communities the most.

Meeting the WATSAN MDGs: The Way Forward

• Identification of a community of ‘good practice’ models from the urban centres in different regions and countries that have made remarkable progress in providing clean water and wastewater management services in recent years.

• Think out of the water box: leaders in water supply should make the decisions on development objectives and the allocation of human and financial resources to meet them. These decisions should be made or influenced by leaders in government, the private sector and civil society. Water and sanitation should be included into national socio-economic development policies.

• Mobilize finance: (a) From national budget: This requires political will and commitment to invest in water and sanitation (b) external finance: create a conducive environment (institutions, laws & regulation, governance, capacity development, transparency) to attract private finance and external aid.

• Decision makers need to recognize the central role of water and sanitation for sustainable urbanization. Properly managed water resources can ensure equity and security in water and sanitation.

• Harnessing local and national experiences to consolidate regional cooperation and the challenges to be overcome.

The Way Forward …. Contd.

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