Theres a reason why water is one of the four essential elements on this planet. And the Asian Development Banks report Asian Water Development Outlook 2013 (AWDO 2013) highlights this reason even more.
Two problems are highlighted in particular by the report: first, that there is inequitable distribution of water amongst rich and poor households in urban and rural areas; and secondly, that 80 percent rivers in Asia are in poor health, thanks to ineffective resource management.
For water security on a national level, the ADB highlights five dimensions where adequate supply and water management are required. These five areas are household water security, economic water security (in terms of industrial usage of water), urban water security, environmental water security and resilience to water-related disasters.
Needless to say, Pakistan ranks quite low on the ADBs National Water Security Indicator and governance parameter, with Afghanistan being the closest comparable country, and that alone says a lot.
In terms of water access inequality, the report estimates a 92 percent gap between rich and poor communities in urban areas in Pakistan. As rapid urbanisation and its consequent challenges materialise, there isn capacity to meet the demand for water in proliferating slum areas.
Further, Pakistan is amongst those Asian countries where groundwater levels are falling, and salinity is affecting agricultural productivity as well. Estimates say that 20 percent of irrigated soil in Pakistan is affected by salinity.
Besides, the dire state of affairs when it comes to natural disasters needs no further explanation than a look at destructions caused by floods over the last three years. On average, more than 100 million people are affected by water-related disasters in Pakistan every year.
Its about time that the problem is recognised as a serious one, before water issues, literally, go over the top. Investment into good water management systems and sanitation are necessary, since returns on the same could be quite bountiful.
The AWDO 2013 says: "Each dollar invested in water and sanitation is likely to return $5-$46 in reduced healthcare costs and increased economic productivity."
Without a well-managed water system and reduced equality in terms of water distribution, consequences will be debilitating in the long run. Its time to act sooner rather than later.