SECURING SAFE DRINKING WATER IN SOUTH ASIA: FROM SOURCE TO MARKET AND COMMUNITY

Access to safe drinking-water is one of the primary sustainable development goals. In South Asia, the exponentially growth in population, unplanned urbanization and irresponsible industrial activities have resulted in a sharp decline of the availability of surface water sources and presently the demand for drinking water supplies is mostly covered from groundwater resources. However, there are critical challenges due to the presence of geogenic contaminants such as arsenic, fluoride, manganese and others like uranium among others which are mobilized in different groundwater sources. Drinking water quality is also impacted due to microbial contamination and a number of other anthropogenic contaminants, the so called emerging contaminants (ECs) – pesticides, pharmaceutical and antibiotic residues and several other chemicals like the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface and groundwater systems. Drinking water management encompasses an integrated process involves the source water, quality, the treatment systems and its efficiency, the distribution and storage system as well as the consumer system. Ensuring the safety of a drinking-water supply most effectively and consistently necessitates a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that encompasses all steps in water supply from catchment to consumer.There is a growing need for technology innovation for drinking water programs which involve on those ideas and frames the business case for water technology innovation; identifies “market opportunities” specifically for solving the drinking water challenges through developing tools for assessment and monitoring of water quality, and robust set of actions for technology innovation for clean and safe water. Community supply of safe drinking water needs a paradigm shift in groundwater management by integrating the knowledge base, expertise and experience in developing, implementing and scaling-up focused solutions through partnerships.