Photo source: https://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/thirsty.html?sti=Ikdaorm8t7ecysr147-1-1

If the first fundamental right of citizen of any country is the right to live, and water is one of the basic needs for survival, then millions of people have been denied their first fundamental right – right to live. The importance of the supply of clean water by the government to the public can never be overstressed. Water supply and sanitation is a key sector in national development. The consumption of unclean and untreated water has led to the outbreak of diseases and also impaired the heath of many. The health status of any nation is directly proportional to the quality and quantity of water supplied to the public.

Due to the inadequate and poor supply of clean water in some countries, especially developing countries, many people have resolved into drinking water from any available source without considering the accompanying consequences. Since, the public lack basic knowledge about the nature and properties of water, many assume that a water is clean and fit for drinking as long as it is colourless, not knowing that the quality of water is far more than that. Those that are educated, influential and know the damnable consequence of consuming untreated water had no option than to purchase treated water which has serious financial implications. With all these problems associated with water supply and sanitation, it is painful to know that governments are yet to see this as a big issue. This really calls for immediate attention.

Water is of the natural resources that cover over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. It exists in 3 phases – Gaseous, solid and water. The quality of water is evaluated in its three (3) properties which are physical, chemical and biological properties. The most familiar property to most people is the physical property which can be determined by our sense organs- eyes (colour), Tongue (taste), Nose (odour). But the potability of water is far more than that, as the chemical and biological properties are very important. Some water sources, especially groundwater, might seem very clean with negligible taste but contain dangerous dissolved nutrients or materials which cannot be detected by sense organs but by devices.  Some may contain E- Coli and Faecal counts which render any water extremely poisonous. Lack of such sound knowledge has made the public think any seemly clean water is drinkable, and as for some who want to embark on household/domestic treatment, they eventually treat the water partially.

With the pressing issues around water supply and sanitation, here are my recommendations.

i.                     I strongly recommend that public education and awareness on the danger of consuming unclean water both to the individual and the nation should be conducted

ii.                   Regional government should rise to their responsibilities of providing and monitoring the supply of clean water to their citizens as this is their fundamental right.

iii.                  Provision of water should really be made available to everyone.

iv.                 Complete overhaul of existing associated ministries and agencies in the region should be done and checks should be put to their activities for proper implementation and execution of projects while where none exist, they should be established.

ACCESS TO WATER IS EVERYBODY’S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT!

Photo source: water.org