WaterAid featured in the Economist Special Report on Water Scarcity
March 1, 2019 — The Economist’s international editor Simon Long travelled to two WaterAid projects in India last month and has published a special report on water scarcity.
"Thirsty World" is a six-part series which takes a look at how climate change, population growth and poor management are bringing the global water crisis to a breaking point.
WaterAid is excited to be a part of this comprehensive look at the global water crisis. We are encouraged to see the water and sanitation crisis is increasingly seen as a major threat to human and economic development.
Poisoned by drinking water
WaterAid India CEO V.K. Madhavan discusses the dangers of drinking water being contaminated by arsenic, nitrates, salinity and fluoride.
Read moreThere is need for greater political will, financing and local capacity building to ensure that progress is sustainable.
The article describes how the causes of water scarcity are multiple and vary across the world.
But the solutions are similar.
Addressing the crisis and building water, sanitation and hygiene services for communities, cities and countries requires political leadership. Stakeholders need to put water, sanitation and hygiene at the center of their development plans.
A political choice
Hundreds of millions of people do not yet have access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Water management—however sustainable, progressive and integrated—has first to concentrate on access, says Jonathan Farr, WaterAid senior policy analyst.
Read moreWe want to hear from you! Share your reactions to The Economist report online using the hashtag #ThirstyWorld.
