An article titled “Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink” published in the Business Daily on May 14 caught my attention due to the absolute absurdity of this calamitous situation facing our country at this Covid-19 moment when we especially need copious flows of adequately treated water to maintain the highest levels of hygiene. The question that went through my mind was why should such a situation persist in a country that has been independent for close to 60 years yet cannot seem to effectively plan for the most basic of human needs? Water is life and the lack of water is a complete negation of the universal right to life enshrined in our hallowed constitution. As we lament our unfortunate lack of long term water infrastructure planning for a growing population, it is important to also understand the wider regional and global conundrum which is unfolding around us and the critical role that effective risk management coupled with innovation and collaboration can play to mitigate the risks we are experiencing.
Globally, there is a bleak outlook for billions of people in relation to sufficient access to clean water. According to the United Nation’s Water Development Report 2019, recently highlighted in the Business Daily, more than two billion people suffer “high water stress” while about four billion experience “… severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year.”
