World Water Day 2015: Urban Waters - Challenges in the Americas

IANAS, the InterAmerican Network of Academies of Sciences  announces the release of a comprehensive volume on Urban Water Challenges as part of the recognition of World Water Day, March 22, 2015. The 682 page volume includes chapters evaluating urban water issues for 20 countries of the Americas. The book, which had 120 contributing authors, is available in both English and Spanish. The publication can be downloaded for free on the IANAS web site HERE. Major financial support has been provided by IAP, the International Hydrological Program of UNESCO and the IANAS member academies

Also to mark World Water Day, Scidevnet reports online that across the globe, 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation. One billion have to defecate in the open, 748 million lack access to improved drinking water and 1.8 billion use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces. These are some of the statistics that highlight the enormity of the challenge facing the world if the draft Sustainable Development Goal of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for all is to be achieved by 2030. 

Goal 6 includes a 2030 target to “achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations”.

A set of photographs, which illustrate some of these issues, were taken in Africa and India by Jon Spaull on assignment for charity WaterAid over the course of several years. They are published to mark World Water Day on 22 March. Follow the link HERE.