SDG Mondays: Water and Sanitation

Good morning!  Today we focus on the sixth of the United Nations' new Sustainable Development Goals:
  
"Ensure access to water and sanitation for all."

This goal has eight associated targets:

• "By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

• By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations

• By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

• By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity

• By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate

• By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes

• By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies

• Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management."

What do you think of this goal and its associated targets?

What can you do to help reach this goal?

It is embarrassing, but my own modern, American, "developed" city somewhat regularly has days when it fails to provide its citizens with clean drinking water and we have boil water alerts.  One thing I want to do is keep putting pressure on our local government to prioritize our infrastructure rather than new development so that this stops happening.

I also think it is important to keep an eye on corporate entities that wish to privatize water, such as the evil Nestle, and make sure they do not get to do that.