Waterblog - SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT

Results of a study on the governance of water and sanitation services in Europe

Editorial staff — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:47:31 +0000

In the framework of its partnership with UNESCO, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT is supporting a study conducted by the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science on the governance of water and sanitation services in Europe. This study was completed at the beginning of 2011 and will be published shortly.

For this purpose, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT launched a comparative study three years ago on the governance of water and sanitation services in Europe. Objective: to take stock of the legal framework and practices of public and private water operators in Europe, and to determine whether and to what extent the regulatory framework in these fields provides a guarantee of good governance of the service.

Conducted by Monica Garcia Quesada, a researcher at the Centre of Water Law, Policy and Science, the study highlighted 3 main criteria of good governance:

Access to information
User involvement in decision-making
Recourse to justice in the event of a dispute

6 countries were examined in total, representing a range of European legislations: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland and Spain. In addition to good governance criteria, the study also focused on the way in which price schedules and conditions of service for water are established. European standards were also examined, given that, in addition to specific legislation, each country is required to comply with European Union directives. The researchers identified 14 main indicators, which refer to the key features of governance in terms of water supply services.

The results of the study, which illustrate the great diversity of regulatory practices in terms of supply in Europe, also allowed three types of recurring models to be identified in the countries examined:

The regulatory agency model
The delegated model
The self-regulatory model

The complete study will be published on the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science website in summer 2011.

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Water, a heightened priority in India

Editorial staff — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:07:11 +0000

On Tuesday, 19 April 2011, the Indian government announced its intention to establish a national water policy by next year. The intention is to stop water being wasted and to encourage waste water recycling. This plan will aim to preserve the country’s water resources, particularly by granting tax cuts to industries that save water.

India is especially concerned about challenges connected with access to water: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad are among the cities most exposed to water stress. The emerging power therefore organised the first Indian water forum, held in New Delhi on 13-15 April, to remind everyone of the importance of preserving this resource.

Organised by the Indian Energy and Resources Institute, in partnership with the ministry of water, this first edition had the theme “Water security and climate change: challenges and opportunities”. In his opening address, Vice President Shri M. Hamid Ansari focused on the challenges that water represents in India. He also stressed the need to innovate in the field of technology while respecting the environment. The forum organised meetings between industrial, environmentalists, scientists, academics, students and the public at large in order to create a discussion platform. The German Adelphi think tank led a round table on the need to build sustainable partnerships between countries for the management of water resources.

During the forum, the attending companies and experts decided to create the Indian Water Tool (IWT). Inspired by the "Global Water Tool" (developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development), this tool calculates the water consumption and productivity of companies. The data are compared to a standard developed by the FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation) Aquastat system, the UNICEF and WHO (World Health Organisation) joint monitoring programme, the University of New Hampshire, the World Resources Institute and the International Water Management Institute.

This event builds on the second edition of the water conclave organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry. Organised in Kolkata, the central theme was “Preparing for a Turbulent Future”. Industry professionals debated issues related to water resources and sanitation, and the challenges associated with irrigation and conservation. India has 4% of the planet’s spring water resources, but according to a number of climate change assumptions both the quantity and quality of these resources may be reduced to a level that would create severe water stress in the country.

Attendees therefore agreed on the need to optimise water resources. In particular, this will require better management on the part of companies as well as the population.

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Rio 2012: an Earth summit for green governance of the world

Editorial staff — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:13:47 +0000

20 years since the Rio Summit of 1992, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), more commonly known as Rio +20, is due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012.

The main objective of this conference will be to establish a world view of the green economy. Government, company and civil society leaders from across the world will gather to adopt approaches for the coming two decades and deal with challenges such as water security.

In this respect, the United Nations (UN) emphasized in a Resolution adopted on 11th February this year that water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and the eradication of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well-being and central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The UN also declared in this Resolution that 2013 will be the international year of cooperation for water and sanitation.

According to the UN report entitled “Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication” the policies that will lead to sustainable development and poverty eradication, which will be discussed during the Summit, include:

The establishment of fair prices: the aim is to remove the subsidies unfairly received by some companies and to impose taxes on activities that harm the environment, particularly in order to encourage companies to make green choices;
Public contracting policies that promote green companies and markets;
An environmental tax reform to shift the tax base from the "good" factors (such as work) to the "bad" factors (such as pollution). The aim is to "correct environmental costs" while relaunching employment;
Public investment in sustainable infrastructure (transport, renewable energy, etc.), allowing reserves of natural capital to be restored, maintained and, if possible, improved;
Social policies to reconcile social objectives with existing or proposed economic policies.

These instruments would allow a more consistent and coordinated approach to be taken, particularly on all the water-related issues. The principle of a green economy requires the sustainable management of fresh water, in order to guarantee that there is enough for us all to drink and ensure our health and hygiene, that food producers can satisfy the demand of growing populations and that industries can cover their requirements.

According to Sha Zukang, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, this conference will represent "a historic opportunity" for the international community, allowing "safer routes" to be established to move "towards a cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all".

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22 March: World Water Day

Editorial staff — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:58:42 +0000

Every year, 22 March celebrates water and reminds us all of its importance. Established by the United Nations (UN) after the Rio Summit in 1992, World Water Day motivates all players, individuals and organisations across the world to take action.

This year, the UN is inviting us to reflect in particular on the urban management of water. The centre of festivities will be Cape Town in South Africa. The actions carried out are therefore intended to highlight and encourage governments, organisations, communities and individuals to actively engage in the struggle to meet the challenge of urban water management.

The water crisis in cities is increasingly the subject of specific attention in all international dialogue on water. Rapid urbanisation, population growth and development are undermining traditional water management practices. Safe water in urban areas is therefore one of the health concerns of the coming years because it would allow many illnesses and epidemics like cholera and malaria to be prevented.

On the occasion of World Water Day, events and activities will be organised in the biggest cities in the world to raise awareness and educate people to preserve this valuable natural resource and remind them that 1/4 of the urban population in the world still lack access to safe drinking water.

Today, over one human being in two lives in cities of 10 million inhabitants or more. The rate of urban growth is consequently staggering. Among the other even more significant facts that are indicative of the urgency of protecting urban water: 93% of urbanisation is happening in poor or developing countries and shanty towns account for 38% of this population growth.

Africa and Asia have the highest rate of urbanisation and the urban population is expected to double on these two continents between 2000 and 2030. With every second that passes, the urban population grows by 2 people.

The objective of World Water Day 2011 is therefore to focus global attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialisation and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on the management of water in urban environments.

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Interview with Céline Hervé-Bazin on the role of women in water management

Céline Herve-Bazin — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:16:52 +0000

Marking the occasion of the 100th International Women’s Day, we interviewed Céline Hervé-Bazin, Liaison Officer for WssTP, on the role of women in water management. She analysed this subject whilst completing her doctorate in Information and Communication Sciences at CELSA and in a comparative study between France and Morocco after 5 years’ experience at Lyonnaise des Eaux and Lydec.

With regard to managing the resource, the relationship between women and water has been recognised since 1992, when the Dublin Declaration affirmed the “central role of women in the provision, management and safeguarding of water”. This conference was the first step towards promoting a dialogue that had existed since the diffusion of theories regarding the integration of women in development. In 2009, women’s associations and the gender approach were known and recognised. Following their strong presence at the last World Water Forum in Istanbul, they are expected in Marseilles.

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Access to water, a priority for the Chinese government

Editorial staff — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:00:20 +0000

The Chinese government has made water a real national priority for 2011. The publication of an initial working document (known as document number 1), which describes the government’s priorities, makes access to water and preserving the resource a primary concern. Within 10 years, the government is intending to allocate 779 billion dollars to conserving the resource and providing access to good quality drinking water. 225 billion will be invested over the next five years. The Chinese water resources minister, Chen Lei, also announced that stricter water regulations will be adopted.

This new water legislation will pursue two objectives:

to protect water resources and
to combat the severe water shortage currently affecting the country.

According to the Chinese government’s working document, future water regulations will focus on three key areas:

sustainable use of the resource,
effective use of water,
combating water pollution.

The document establishes several objectives for improving the situation over the next five to 10 years. Water consumption will therefore be more strictly controlled in order to avoid exceeding 670 billion m3 between now and 2020. Furthermore, the Minister pointed out that sanitation problems could be resolved in rural areas by 2013. As of the end of 2011, 77% of rural inhabitants in China will have access to good quality drinking water.

The current situation in the country indeed requires a rapid response. On average, China suffers from a shortage of 40 million m3 of water every year. Two thirds of Chinese towns regularly face water shortages. The drought currently affecting northern China is the most severe for 60 years. If the water shortage lasts until March, it may have serious economic consequences — in particular a fall in wheat production of 1.7 million tonnes, which represents 2% of China’s total production.

This stand taken by the second most powerful economy in the world to improve access to water and conserve the resource is to be commended.

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The 6th World Water Forum, a forum for solutions?

Editorial staff — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:21:26 +0000

On 17 January this year, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing, set the course for the 6^th World Water Forum during the second stakeholders’ consultation meeting in Paris. Held in Marseilles in March 2012, it will be the “forum for solutions”. Its ambitious goal will therefore be to arrive at concrete solutions to ensure that access to water is not only a recognised right, but a reality as well. The challenge is huge because almost a billion human beings currently have no access to drinking water, and almost 2.5 billion have no access to water treatment. 8 million people (including 2 million children) die every year of diseases associated with unsafe drinking water.

A few months after the Rio+20 conference (marking 20 years since the Earth Summit in 1992), the World Water Forum will bring together tens of thousands of stakeholders from every continent - local councillors, experts, companies, NGOs, etc. As a foretaste to the Forum, on 17 January this year, in the presence of over 400 stakeholders from 55 different countries (governments, local authorities, international institutions, companies, NGOs and research institutes), Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet established four priority objectives:

To promote access to water and sanitation: the minister noted that "while new impetus has been given through the recognition of water and sanitation as a right [by the UN General Assembly in July 2010], the 6th World Water Forum must enable another corner to be turned".
To ensure that undertakings are monitored: the Forum will be an opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved in providing access to water and sanitation. The establishment of a permanent monitoring procedure will also be discussed.
To increase cross-border cooperation: in this context, France will endeavour, both at the Forum and beyond if necessary, to promote the United Nations convention aimed at making water a factor of cooperation between countries.
To develop the role of local authorities in water management: building on the achievements of the last World Water Forum (held in Istanbul in March 2009), the Marseilles Forum must enable the highest possible number of local authorities to sign up to the “Istanbul Pact”, which aims to improve the local governance of water.

Concluding these two days of preparation, Henri de Raincourt, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, in charge of cooperation, highlighted the "major diplomatic issue" that access to water represents: "By taking action for water, we are acting for the stability of the most fragile regions and contributing to international security".

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The European network of protected natural areas is set to expand by 27 000 km2

Editorial staff — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:41:24 +0000

The European Commission has announced a 27 000 km² expansion of the European network of protected natural areas, called Natura 2000, which will enable better protection for many species, especially those in marine environments. An area of 17 500 km² of seas and oceans has been added to Natura 2000, and these marine ecosystems have been further expanded by wetlands, river basins and also natural forests.

A cornerstone of the European Union’s instruments to preserve biodiversity, Natura 2000 now includes 739 new "Sites of Community Importance" representing 18% of Europe’s landmass, and a marine area of over 130 000 km².

The French government has added 6 national sites, of which four are marine areas. Among these are the Loire Estuary, a 680-km² veritable ecosystem that supplies a vital shelter for the nursery of numerous species of fish, and a fundamental stopping-off point in the migration of certain species such as the Atlantic salmon.

Denmark has also massively contributed to extending the protected areas by adding 4000 km² of marine areas, particularly in the area of Sydlige Nordsø. This area is highly favoured by porpoises, a species whose numbers have declined significantly over recent years due to accidental fishing (the porpoises are inadvertently caught in nets).

Spain made the third largest addition to Natura 2000 through the inclusion of the El Cachucho marine network. This extensive offshore bank and its seamount located in the Cantabrian Sea constitutes a crucial staging post in the migration of certain birds, and provides a haven for many species.

The new "Sites of Community Importance" added to the list of Natura 2000 sites include 459 new Polish sites. Covering a total area of 8 900 km², they include several wetland areas and freshwater lakes such as Ostoja Napiwodzko-Ramucka in the great lakes area of Masuria, as well as river systems and adjacent forests.

The areas protected by Natura 2000 therefore cover extremely diverse environments. In general, the sites are chosen by the States in partnership with the European Commission and may include a range of habitats such as cave systems, lagoons, marshlands and forests. The element they all share in common is the desire of the States where they are located to protect them and ensure their ecosystems and biodiversity are preserved. For the European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potočnik, “Natura 2000 is like a life insurance policy, safeguarding nature’s resilience, and ensuring that we have a sustainable relationship with the natural world we depend on.”

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2010: a turning point year for water

Editorial staff — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:03:34 +0000

Recognition of the right to water, international meetings, progress and new updated challenges, etc. To begin the year, Waterblog looks back at the key events of 2010.

2010 witnessed major progress in the area of water - first and foremost, the recognition by the United Nations of the right to water and sanitation. On 28 July last year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to recognise this right. On 30 September 2010, the Human Rights Council endorsed the resolution and the "right to water and sanitation" is now recognised as a human right.

Other positive changes have also occurred in the year that has just ended: several States are on track to reach the Millennium Development Goals – namely Morocco, Senegal and Nigeria. The UN Conference on climate change in Cancun (Mexico) also took place in 2010 with the strong participation of several States, from all parts of the world, which allowed an in-depth examination of the problems associated with water.

Similarly, the World Water Day on 22 March and theWorld Water Week, from 5 to 11 September in Stockholm, focused on the problem of water quality, which is currently an issue for all continents. This challenge is now even greater, as over 80% of the world’s population lives near to eroded watercourses.

Declared as the International Year of Biodiversity by the UN, 2010 placed a spotlight on the current threats to fauna and flora, especially aquatic, under the combined effect of climatic change and human activity. The twelve-day International Conference in Nagoya brought together representatives of 193 countries and the United Nations Environment Programme, pleaded for an "ecosystemic" approach to preserve aquifer resources threatened by overfishing and environmental damage. The problems involved in protecting oceans also united around one hundred scientists, government and non-governmental officials at the 5^th Global Conference of the UNESCO, held in Paris from 3 to 7 May. This issue has also affected the European Union as virtually all the European fishing quotas had already been attained by 9 July due to inadequate natural replenishment.

In November 2010, "the Ateliers de la Terre" (Planet Workshops) organised a "Global Conference", which is an annual event allowing economists, the media, politicians and members of strategic departments within major groups involved in sustainable development to come together and discuss issues collectively and multinationally.

However, 2010 also witnessed an increase in the effects of climate change, especially in terms of water resources. A striking illustration of the consequences of this upheaval is the gigantic 250-km² iceberg, christened Petermann Island by the National Ice Centre, which became detached from the glacier of the same name, to the north of Greenland.

Water still remains a symbol of hope, as emphasised by the UN Water Centre. In February 2010, it estimated that water resources represented a significant potential for cooperation between the States even despite some complex diplomatic relations, as can be seen by the case of India and Pakistan who have reached an agreement on the management of the River Indus.

In general, 2010 confirmed the fact that everyone has gained a greater awareness of the essential importance of water for all societies. In this sense, the "CEO Water Mandate" of the UN Global Compact recently published a practical guide for responsible corporate water management, while the "2030 Water Resources Group", a group that brings together several private companies from all sectors, decreed in February that the increasing lack of water posed a major "economic threat".

2011 will be marked by the preparations for the World Water Forum to be held in Marseilles in 2012. In anticipation of this event, the "Berlin Wasser International" 2011 International Trade Fair and Congress for Water, to be held from 2 to 5 May in Berlin, will focus on discussions with international experts surrounding a range of water-related topics and will provide a foretaste of the future of water governance.

Access to water: a new Human Right

Editorial staff — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:08:52 +0000

Access to drinking water and sanitation is now a Human Right. At the end of September 2010, the UN Human Rights Council declared that access to water was included in the "right to an adequate standard of living", as recognized by several international treaties.

This is a major recognition of the fact that four billion men, women and children currently have no access to drinking water and sanitation. Even though these changes will not be implemented immediately and represent long-term goals, this declaration will motivate public authorities to act and mobilise their institutional, human and financial resources. The target is now to exceed the Millennium Development Goals and offer populations a universal service.

In conjunction with this declaration, the United Nations also endorsed a certain number of issues associated with the right to water: "Water must be drinkable, accessible, available and affordable, and supplied without any discrimination." Water therefore comes at a price: the price must be affordable and public authorities must pay particular attention to ensuring this.
Another official decision decreed that public authorities are entitled to entrust the provision of water services to private companies under the scope of Public-Private Partnerships, or to public companies or NGOs.

To implement this right universally for all, two further stages are still required:

Each State must appoint a local public authority and determine its remit and resources.
This authority will then designate an operator to put its instructions into action.

It will be important check the correct application of this right to guarantee its universality.

In France, this right has been recognized via the Law in 2006. However, a few particularly difficult specific cases are still outstanding. A discussion on the effective implementation of this right will be tackled during the World Water Forum in Marseilles in March 2012.

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