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an opportunity to establish a level playing field from the start, rather than playing catchup, although navigating bureaucracy can take time. But we also need to remember that our rivers are polluted not only because of poor wastewater systems but also due to inadequate land use planning and decisions. Well-articulated guidelines, frameworks, or regulations are crucial. However, we cannot forget the importance of capacity building in government agencies so they can also be well enforced. The textile industry in Bangladesh is an excellent example. There is a huge influx of private sector factories because it is cheaper to produce textiles there. Unfortunately, these factories are often located along riverbanks. Bangladesh has guidelines for this, but they are not enforced due to a lack of capacity. With the support of international financing, we are seeing significant improvement over the years in the effectiveness of enforcing the guidelines and regulations, resulting in an improving water quality in the affected rivers. The water sector is also conservative as the stake is very high. Public utilities typically prefer tried-and-tested methods due to the high reputation risk when something goes wrong. However, we should also be optimistic as technology development has advanced beyond what is currently in use. In rural Asia-Pacific or large urban cities like Jakarta or Delhi, there is much good technology available to optimise water management and avoid crises like ‘day zero’ — when a city’s water supply is nearly depleted, leaving taps dry and communities in crisis, as nearly happened in Chennai and Cape Town.
In my view, everyone has a role to play. Regionally, there is growth. Some countries in certain regions have done better than others. Singapore and Korea are examples of good governance structures. There are many lessons to be learned. It is about the willingness to take them up and implement them. There are lessons and good experiences that can be shared if there is a willingness to do so. It boils down to championing and setting those targets.
What are the challenges and opportunities in building climate resilience in water infrastructures today? Hariram: The key is to view these challenges as opportunities. The main ones are the basic know-how. Much of this resilience building has occurred in the global north due to various events or incidents, and it is often in the aftermath. They have invested significantly to build resilience, address the aftermath and prevent future impacts. We should learn from these experiences. We see this across the board because we work in a diverse region with different governance structures and political appetite. Having a clear vision is crucial, otherwise it will be hard to get started. However, we also need to bear in mind that even with a clear vision in mind, the changes will not take place overnight. Having a long-term vision, long-term planning, financing, how budgets are allocated, recycled or reinvested are also important to achieving success. The biggest challenges are those beyond our control, such as climate change impacts. While we can still mitigate climate change, adapting to the damage that is already done needs to be accelerated. We need to have a more robust and real-time
AASCTF – Baguio (Image: Ramboll)
Drinking water is a public good because it is a human right.
However, the privatisation or a public private partnership arrangement in its operation can result in structured performance targets and payment terms tied to performance. For example, Manila Water, which had difficulties in the early years of the organisation, has become one of the star performers in providing water for their people in the region. They built trust with their customers through targeted programmes. One cannot undermine the role of governments and agencies in such success stories, as they have a massive role to play in creating a conducive environment to implement and operate such modalities.
Water & Wastewater Asia | September-October 2024 23
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