Group10_C | SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | The Global Goals

Authors: Jugal Dave-BJ20135 | Harsha Bhatia-BJ20139 | Kunjika Bhasin-BJ20146 | Pranaya Jain-BJ20156 |

Rachit Chandra-BJ20160 | Saloni Agrawal-BJ20183

Introduction

In 2015, 844 million, which is about 11% of the world's total population, lacked access to basic drinking water. About 2.3 billion people lacked basic sanitation, and 892 million people practiced open defecation. Water stress impacts 2 billion people, which is only bound to increase due to climate change.[1] An adequate supply of clean water and sanitation facilities is crucial as it directly affects people's health, well-being, and economic development, especially the poor.

To address this issue, one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly included "Clean Water and Sanitation for all" in 2015.

SDG 6 aims to combat the lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities and ensure that no one is deprived of these basic human rights. 8 targets and 11 indicators have been defined by the United Nations.[2] The 8 Targets are:

Target 6.1: Safe and affordable water for all by 2030
Target 6.2: Access to sanitation and hygiene and to end open defecation by 2030
Target 6.3: Improvement in water quality by reducing the proportion of wastewater and safe reuse of water by 2030
Target 6.4: Increase in water use efficiency and addressing water shortage issues by ensuring freshwater supplies by 2030
Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM) at all levels by 2030
Target 6.6: Protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems by 2020
Target 6.a: Expand international cooperation and water and sanitation support to developing countries by 2030
Target 6.b: Support and strengthen local engagement in water and sanitation management

SDG 6 does not work in isolation. For example, an improvement in water and sanitation facilities will lead to better health (SDG 3), economic development due to the creation of jobs (SDG 8), and social justice (SDG 16).

The current pandemic has demonstrated the significance of clean water and sanitation facilities, and we can only hope that adequate steps are taken to tackle the long-standing problem.

Relevance of SDG for India

India has the world's 2nd largest population, yet just 4% of potable water. According to government estimates, around 600 million face acute water shortage, i.e., almost half of India's population is facing water high to extreme water stress. The issue is crucial as the water available is not clean (infested with bacteria) and often saline and contaminated by Arsenic, Iron, Fluoride & Nitrates [3]. These are extremely harmful and at times deadly, with reports indicating seven deaths per day in 2018 alone due to water pollution and infecting 36,000 people every day [4]. The cost of water-borne diseases is estimated to be around 9 billion dollars annually [5].

Wastewater treatment is another important area where India needs improvement, as generally, these are emptied into the nearby rivers. Agriculture revenue gets reduced by 9% for farms in districts closer to Industrial bodies [5], which is a serious issue, given the fact that India is mostly agrarian.

Sanitation in India is gaining importance, with the government's famous toilet for each home scheme. Again, sanitation is essential as it stops the spread of diseases. Generally, people suffering from poor sanitation are the people from poor areas, and the additional cost of treatment dents their already low incomes. Thus, their large amount of time and resources are spent in just survival.

For a country that aims to double its economy in 5 years & its objectives to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, focusing on availably of Clean water & proper sanitization facilities becomes of paramount importance.

Business Implications

While the contribution of the private sector is essential for attaining the goal of clean water and sanitation, it is also true that these goals, in turn, contribute towards business growth and hold much more value than in a mere philanthropic sense. Firstly, the competition for water supply is increasing with the growing industries, and mismanagement of this scarce resource poses the risk of companies losing their social license to operate. Secondly, the contribution of the private sector towards goals like clean water and sanitation implies more public funds available for infrastructure, support governance, etc., thereby building a robust business environment. Thirdly, providing clean water can potentially increase the productivity of employees and reduce absenteeism by keeping people healthy and safe. As per the World Health Organisation, "for every $1 invested in sanitation, the economic benefits range from $3.10-$16.60". Further, making such services available to the common people opens a lot of market opportunities for companies and also increases consumer purchasing power in case of a developing economy. [6][7]

ITC

Under its WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) initiative, ITC has constructed toilets in various Anganwadi centers and government schools. WASH aims at inducing ownership and bringing about a change in outlook towards sanitation from a young age and has served over 87,000 in 1200 different schools. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the 'Swasth India Mission' has been solely aimed at raising awareness about sanitation and hygiene to help curb the spreading of infection. [8][9]

Nestle

In an effort to provide sustained access to clean drinking water, Nestle has constructed more than 250 water tanks in 6 Indian states that help 140,000 students. It has partnered with NGO' Enable Health Society' in regions where the groundwater is not fit for consumption. Together, they have set up water treatment plants and purification processes with RO (Reverse Osmosis) and UV (Ultraviolet) technology to provide safe and clean drinking water. The company also aims to raise awareness about sustainable water use and basic hygiene through workshops at the school level. Currently, their Water Awareness Program has a reach of over 104,000 students. [10]

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered has adopted the WASHE program and worked towards driving a multiplier effect on the society and economy by providing girls in backward areas as an incentive to stay in school. Their initiatives include providing clean drinking water points in school, re-modeling washrooms to make them gender-specific, water quality testing, and teaching the importance of clean water and hygienic practices. Their efforts have helped reduce absenteeism, with more than 70% of girls attending school regularly in the areas they have carried out the program. In addition to this, they also impart knowledge regarding water harvesting and waste disposal techniques in order to increase water retention capacity and reduce water wastage. They also partnered with WaterAid India, a part of the State Swachh Bharat Mission, which works with the "State Water and Sanitation Mission and District Water and Sanitation" to extend technical support and quality assistance. [11]

Aditya Birla Group

Birla Carbon signed the WASH pledge in 2015 and fulfilled the same in 2018 while improving their WASH rating to 1.94/2 in 2019 from 1.77/2 in 2015. During this time, the company conducted 143 awareness campaigns and supported the Clean India campaign. Another company from the Birla family, Birla Cellulose, has promised to reduce water intensity by 50% by the year 2025 (taking 2015 as the base year). New technologies around the idea of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) will be implemented, and best practices of water management will be adopted. [12][13]

Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the paramount importance of sanitation and hygiene with ample access to clean water for the prevention of diseases. Washing hands with soap for a minimum of 20 seconds is one of the most effective and commonly accessible precautions one can take to reduce the spread of the virus. However, this becomes a challenge when access to clean water and sanitation is limited. Due to this, the impact of COVID-19 is much higher in areas with poor living conditions, of living, such as slums.

In India, according to NITI Aayog (2019), 75% of households do not have access to drinking water at home, and 84% of rural households do not have a piped connection.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan claimed to have built over 100 million toilets and transformed 700 districts as open-defecation free across India.

The flagship program of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Namami-Gange in 2014 had a budget outlay of INR 200 billion. With the focus on the implementation of SDG 6 on maintaining adequate water supply from the River Ganga and its tributaries. It managed to create a sewage treatment plant with adequate capacity, clean the river surface, develop the riverfront, and increase public awareness. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with different central ministries to create synergies between different government schemes.

The flagship program of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Namami-Gange, in 2014 had a budget outlay of INR 200 billion. With the focus on implementing SDG 6 on maintaining adequate water supply from the River Ganga and its tributaries. It managed to create a sewage treatment plant with adequate capacity, clean the river surface, develop the riverfront, and increase public awareness. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with different central ministries to create synergies between different government schemes.

Despite these efforts, COVID-19 has added to the burden of clean water scarcity, and those without access to sanitation and clean water are at high risk of infection. Dry sanitation measures such as the use of sanitizers and masks is still a distant thought, and more proactive steps need to be taken to ensure that nobody has to take the risk of infection from a dirty faucet or contaminated water supply. [14]

Suggested Path

There has been a considerable improvement in access to drinking water over the years. However, a large chunk of the population is under the threat of experiencing absolute water scarcity in the near future. The progress on sanitation has been uneven and slow. A lack of a proper database serves as a significant roadblock in achieving the goals.[15]

Determine the availability of water resources – To effectively plan and allocate water across different sectors, it is essential to reach a consensus on the water available with reasonable accuracy. Thus, the first step should be to determine a mechanism for measuring and subsequently reaching an agreement on the resource available.
Increase the water use efficiency – Technologies like sustainable rice intensification, drip irrigation, soil sensors (for measuring soil moisture before irrigation), and crop planning should be strongly encouraged. Industries should measure their water footprint and adopt production methods that are the most efficient. Water audits can also be conducted from time to time to improve performance.
Engage the community and uphold equity – Participation by the community is necessary for proper water management and adequate sanitation levels. Once people are aware, they will act and bring about change. For ensuring equity, there needs to be clear water and financial resource allocation programs in place. A change in people's mindset is also required to bring about a difference at the grass-root level.[16]
Technological breakthroughs and innovation – Investment in Research & Development and infrastructure can help in achieving some technological breakthroughs, such as the Omni processor, which can turn faeces into drinking water. [17] Inspiration can be taken from Israel for its exemplary innovation on the water management front.
Technological breakthroughs and innovation – Investment in Research & Development and infrastructure can help achieve some technological breakthroughs, such as the Omniprocessor, which can turn feces into drinking water. [17] Inspiration can be taken from Israel for its exemplary innovation on the water management front.
Create Water Banks – The instances of erratic monsoon are increasing, and water banks can help alleviate their repercussions. An optimum balance can be achieved by capturing rainwater when there is excess rainfall and releasing this capacity as and when the need arises.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) – Government bodies are usually marked by low efficiency and productivity. The PPP model can help overcome the government's weaknesses and reach a broader population base.[18]

Although many measures are being undertaken at both the state and the central level, it is important that these models be scaled up to levels that have lasting impacts.

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Group10_C | SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

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