Accessibility Tools

Clean water and sanitation. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

There is enough freshwater on Earth to allow all its inhabitants to access water of sufficient quality and quantity needed to lead a decent life. However, its current distribution is unequal and unfair. Millions of people are forced to live their everyday lives in conditions of extreme deprivation of this essential resource or to consume contaminated water and water of bad quality. It is predicted that in 2050, at least 25 % of the world population will face long-term water shortages.

This situation directly affects people’s health and subsequently also their possibilities for development. It causes malnutrition and diseases, especially in the most vulnerable groups of people such as minors and the elderly. Finally, it is a great obstacle for personal development and autonomous and decent life. The access to water under fair and safe conditions represents, therefore, a universal human right which needs to be respected and protected as such by all individuals and institutions.

The problem of water shortages and contamination is escalated by the climate change which continues to change more and more areas of the planet into practically uninhabitable deserts. This is reinforced by the lack of sanitary infrastructures and proliferation of a predatory and contaminating business system, which monopolises not only water but natural resources in general. This robs the closest communities of the most basic possibility of livelihood. It is also important to remember that it is women and children who are responsible for supplying their communities with water. However, this essential task takes their important time needed for the development of other aspects of life, such as education.

It is crucial for us, in the privileged position, to be aware of the enormous value of water and our responsibility to protect it and use it sustainably. Water cannot be manufactured. Our planet has a limited amount of water and we are all responsible for its use and distribution.

Action Area

  • Water efficiency

    Water efficiency

    We all use many litres of water every day, often without being aware of it. We use these litres for our daily consumption, to drink, to take showers and brush our teeth; but also for appliances in our homes, companies and schools. Fortunately, there is a growing environmental awareness, at least on the outside, which provoked the production of home appliances more effective in water saving. There is also a practically generalised environmental education which contributes to saving this resource in daily consumption. The objective of this area is to measure the capacity for saving water and for its rational consumption in our everyday lives in our homes, workplaces and free time.
  • Water contamination

    Water contamination

    Our way of consumption leaves behind a large quantity of pollution and contamination which are being dumped into water sources and the sea. This situation directly affects our health because it influences the quality of food we eat and healthiness of the environment in which we live. Moreover, it affects the health of our whole planet. For this reason, it is crucial to identify the most pollution-producing habits and try to reduce them. Thus, knowing the origin of certain products and the effects of their residue on the environment (detergents, dishwashers, gels, etc.), we can analyse the consumption of these products. This adds to already a huge quantity of plastic we use daily and pre-existing pollution of many industries.
  • Water footprint (water consumption)

    Water footprint (water consumption)

    Water is essential for the life of animals, plants and humans, but also for the production and manufacturing of absolutely everything we consume. We propose to research how much water is required for the production of certain foods (such as bread, vegetables or meat) and other products (clothing, electronics…). We will be surprised to see the enormous number of litres of water needed to manufacture everything we use. This “water footprint” created by all products, directly affects the lack of this recourse and its unfair distribution and use in the world. It is important to reflect on this “hidden” water in our consumption which allows for an unsustainable and irrational system affecting the most vulnerable people and regions on our planet.
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