Chemical Technology JANUARY 2016 low res

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Chemical Technology • January 2016
PETROCHEMICALS
9
Responses
The dedicated goal for water and its five targets proposed
by UN-Water 2014 [7] as part of the post-2015 agenda for
sustainable development, are very relevant for the sustain-
able use of water in the urban context. The targets provide
an appropriate framework for responding to the challenges
of managing water in cities.
Pro-poor policies for safe water supply
and sanitation
Rapid urbanisation is outpacing public service provisions
in the developing world and the overall number of people
without access to safe water and sanitation in urban areas
is increasing. The proposed target on universal access to
safe water, sanitation and hygiene should stimulate action
to address this critical issue. Furthermore, as the target also
includes an element of progressively eliminating inequali-
ties in access, it would encourage policy-makers to address
the needs of the urban poor. In doing so, governments and
service providers can learn from experiences of successful
and innovative initiatives that focus on the needs of urban
poor and create an enabling environment for service deliv-
ery (Pro-poor policies in Kampala:
external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2014/02/
24/000442464_20140224140639/).
Integrated urban water management
The proposed target on sustainable use and develop-
ment of water resources can benefit from experiences of
integrated urban water management (IUWM) systems in
various countries. IUWM calls for the alignment of urban
development and basin management and brings together
water supply, sanitation, and stormwater and wastewater
management, and integrates these with land use planning
and economic development. Implementation of IUWM will
require appropriate institutional structures, policies, care-
ful planning, capacity-building and investment in systems
such as protection of upstream catchment areas, rainwater
harvesting and recharge, water demand management and
water reuse.
Urban water governance
The target on equitable, participatory and accountable
water governance will require strong political commitment,
appropriate policy and legal frameworks, effective insti-
tutional structures, efficient administrative systems and
capable human resources. It will also require investments
in water infrastructure, renewal, operations and mainte-
nance. A study estimates that one dollar of water and sewer
infrastructure investment increases private output (gross
domestic product) in the long-term by US$6,35 and yields a
further US$2,62 output in other industries. These benefits
accrue in terms of jobs created, final output and private
sector investment [8]. Experiences from cities around
the world have shown that it is possible to improve the
performance of urban water supply systems and increase
revenue and profits, while continuing to expand the system
and addressing the needs of the poor, provided that there
is strong leadership and good governance.
Urban poverty Phnom
Penh, Cambodia.
(Photo by Jonas Hansel,
2012, opendevelopment-
)
WA ER TREATMENT