Water

World Water Day 2006
Water and Culture

World Water Day is our day to stop and think about what could be the worst public health issue of our time, the global scarcity of clean water. On this day, countries, communities and organizations work together to promote public awareness on water issues and initiatives, and help individuals realize that we can do our share to slow down, if not solve, the water crisis.

Water is central to human existence. It is also a key factor in reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and promoting economic growth. Yet, investments to provide people with safe drinking water and decent toilet facilities, to allocate and preserve water resources, and to properly manage wastewater have fallen seriously behind demands. In Asia alone, 1 in 5 people do not have access to safe drinking water, and 1 in 2 still do not have adequate sanitation facilities.

Despite this, there is much to celebrate on World Water Day. According to the Asia Water Watch 2015, between 1990 and 2002, 758 million people gained access to improved water supply, and 757 million experienced improved sanitation. Most countries are increasing their efforts to implement reforms, formulate water policies, and undertake initiatives to attain their water goals. While much work remains to be done, much can already be appreciated.

ADB joins the global community in commemorating World Water Day.

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ADB's actions in the past year have also contributed to the global community's efforts to manage the water crisis.

At the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico, ADB launched its new Water Financing Program, which is designed to reach more people through increased investments in rural, urban and basin water sector in the next five years.

ADB's water lending in 2005 amounted to $1.4 billion or 20% of total ADB loan approvals. The largest share went to urban water investments, followed by basin water, and rural water investments. Water lending in the private sector picked up from zero in 2004 to 20% of total private lending in 2005.

Water technical assistance (TA) approvals in 2005 amounted to $27.5 million. As with the loans, the largest share went to urban water investments, followed by basin water and rural water investments.

ADB has also pursued, and yielded positive results for, its commitments from the 3rd World Water Forum in 2003, which include the following programs: Water for The Poor-Partnerships For Action, Water for Asian Cities Program, Network of Asian River Basin Organizations, Gender In Water Partnership, and Supporting Initiatives.

Also in 2005, ADB developed innovative initiatives such as the implementation of pilot projects on small piped water networks in India, Viet Nam and the Philippines. It has also undertaken quick actions to improve water services. One example is the completion of a diagnostic water market assessment in Dhaka, which resulted in the Government of Bangladesh's decision to undertake zonal approach to water supply services.

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ADB's initiatives for the 2006 World Water Day focused on ADB's culture as an organization. Does water figure prominently enough in the minds of ADB staff and their households? Are we aware of how water conditions affect our daily lives? More importantly, are we ready to do our share to stop the water crisis, even if it is done one household at a time?

During World Water Day, ADB undertook simple activities designed to encourage ADB staff to think more extensively about the role of water in their lives. These included the following:

	Public Service Announcements Exhibition of four water-related public service announcements that highlight specific water issues, and viewer survey to test their effectiveness on how water issues affect individuals, communities and countries. Should Water Be Free? View video clip Sharing Water View video clip Community Water Action View video clip A Voice for Women View video clip
	Water Survey This survey brought water issues closer to the homes of ADB staff. The results of this survey were announced at a water event in April. The first 20 persons who filled out this survey on 22 March received free shirts.