Doubling down on improving water resilience
This year has already seen a cascade of extreme weather events—from devastating floods in Pakistan to scorching heatwaves in the Sahel and West Africa—leaving an indelible mark on many parts of the world. The increasing number of lives (now already in the tens of millions) affected by extreme weather events further reminds us how vulnerable we are in the face of an increasingly volatile climate and water system.
With climate change supercharging these extreme events, it will only further exacerbate the existing water crisis we are facing today. Despite the efforts that have been set in motion, water remains a growing concern, posing a significant threat to our future.
This World Environment Day serves as a stark reminder: To weather the coming storms and droughts, we must double down on our efforts to improve water resilience through innovation, local adaptation, and collaboration.
The past two decades have seen a surge in innovative water technologies. One good example is how on-demand water supply has been made possible with Internet-of-Things technologies. With remote sensors, the system can monitor real-time water demand and automatically adjust water flow, reducing excessive pressure in the water pipes. This, in turn, limits water leakages and losses in a city’s water infrastructure, minimizing cost and energy.
However, these advancements are just the beginning. The escalating climate change demands more. We need to double down on innovation and push the boundaries further to accelerate the change we need. Take flood control as an example—there are diverse solutions targeted at mitigating the impact of flooding. However, due to aging infrastructure, more frequent extreme weather events, and capacity limitations amidst rapid urbanization, flooding is still wreaking havoc in many cities.
In 2023, extreme weather, climate, and water-related hazards affected over nine million people in Asia, with a death toll of over 2,000. More than 80 percent of the reported hydrometeorological hazards in Asia were flood and storm events. Early this year, 1.12 million people were affected by deadly floods and landslides resulting from days of torrential rains in parts of southern Philippines.
Embracing an innovative and proactive approach to flood control, researchers and businesses are now looking at using real-time data and artificial intelligence to predict where and when a flood may happen, and how a city’s water infrastructure can work collaboratively to minimize its impact. This includes leveraging new sensor and telemetry technologies to predict and prevent spillages and overflow to enhance a city’s sewer security.
Water crisis manifests differently across the globe. Depending on the country’s land area, water challenges experienced by one city can be extreme opposites to another. While floods ravaged parts of southern Philippines at the start of 2024, eight provinces in the Philippines’ Luzon were experiencing drought.
It is vital to apply a local lens when tackling water challenges. Doubling down on local adaptation helps sharpen our focus to maximize the benefits. The solar pump is a good example of innovation tailored to local conditions, offering a sustainable and reliable solution by utilizing the abundant solar energy available in some regions to power water supply systems.
“A team is only as strong as its weakest link,” and this holds true for global water security. To date, a staggering two billion people still lack basic access to safe drinking water. True water resilience demands doubling down on collaboration—a collective effort by the governments, businesses, and communities is what we need to amplify impact.
The 2030 Water Resources Group (2030 WRG) is a key example of the impact that collaboration can create. A global public-private-civil society partnership, 2030 WRG works with governments, private sector companies, and civil society organizations to identify and implement solutions that improve water security. As of today, it has secured $993 million in financing facilitated for water-related programs in 14 countries, leading to improved water governance and increased investment in water infrastructure.
SafeWater, a strategic business unit of Grundfos, embodies the same spirit of collaboration. We aim to provide sustainable water solutions to the world’s most water-challenged communities and improve their quality of life.
The future we inherit is the consequence of the choices we make today. By doubling down on our efforts to innovate, improve, and collaborate, we can transform challenges like drought and desertification into opportunities for progress. Weathering the storms helps us get through the present, but it is the relentless pursuit of improvement that propels us toward a more water-secure future.
—————-
Rick Holland is regional managing director of Apac-Water Utility and executive director of Grundfos Australia.
