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Discussion 2 Timeline
DISCUSSION TIMELINE
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First Day
June 01
Week 2
June 15
Week 4
June 29
Week 6
July 13
Week 8
July 27
Week 10
Aug. 10
Brazilia, Brazil
Mar 18-23rd
Mar 18-23rd
Providing global access to safe water and sanitation – and thus increasing human health and dignity particularly of poorest populations – requires strong capacities and good governance structures and mechanisms, as well as the ability to share experiences, practices and knowledge. Any action should consider long-term sustainability.
The 8th World Water Forum will host focused discussions on these cross-cutting subjects – capacity, governance, sharing and sustainability – in order to identify the main hindrances and actions required to overcome difficulties that are common to the 6 core themes (climate, people, development, urban, ecosystems and financing).
Past Subjects
- How can education and capacity building for water be enhanced to provide adequate water, sanitation and health of people?
- In relation to the provision of water, sanitation and health of people, what opportunities do new technologies offer for the improvement of water monitoring? What about for information communication technology (ICT) and decision/policy making?
- How do international cooperation initiatives enhance water capacity development for water, sanitation and health of people?
- How do you, or could you, contribute to designing and implementing integrated water resources management (IWRM) policies or projects for water, sanitation and health of people?
- How do you foster transboundary co-operation for water, sanitation and health of people?
- How do you ensure multi-level governance, engage stakeholders and assess the results of policies for water, sanitation and health of people?
- How to better share solutions and good practices for the implementation of water, sanitation and health related SDGs Who must be involved?
- How to involve all in water management and governance related to water, sanitation and health of people: public, private, civil society - women and men - young and old - in bottom up and top down approaches?
- How to ensure respect for cultural diversity, justice and equity in the water sector, while sharing science and traditional knowledge, from the water, sanitation and health perspective?
- How can People – water, sanitation and health help mainstream sustainability issues related to water to the center of decision-making and strategy definition by governments and business?
- How can People – water, sanitation and health help improving society resilience to water issues, giving that water availability is reducing in most countries and the consumption is increasing?
- Water issues are regional, hard to be solved individually by local governments or companies. How can People – water, sanitation and health stimulate collaborative actions that will lead to a sustainable use of water resources?
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Diana Iskreva said:
Dear Colleagues,...Read more
Diana Iskreva said:
Dear Colleagues,...Read more
Hassan Aboelnga said:
Dear All,
...Read moreGloria Águeda G... said:
En 2013 y 2014 nuestra organización obtuvo un financiamiento de Fundación Merced y Fundación Bancomer, para un programa de saneamiento ambiental en la comunidad de Palzoquiticpan, municipio de Cosautlán de Carvajal, Veracruz, comunidad con un grado demarginación alto. El proyecto respondía a un problema en la comunidad en la que no se contaba con almacenamiento de agua, no había drenaje, no había sanitarios adecuados. Fue un proyecto cuyo impacto se reflejo de inmediato, en cada módulo de servicio construído,el beneficio final fue para 33 familias que mejoraron sus condiciones sanitarias y disminuyeron la contaminación del suelo y subsuelo.
...Read moreMasroor Ahmad replied:
Dear Gloria
...Read moreCarolina Semrau said:
Sem água não há vida. A existência de água em quantidades e qualidade adequadas é um dos principais elementos para que o desenvolvimento possa ocorrer. Sabemos da importância de preservar esse precioso recurso, no entanto, não é algo que indivíduos, empresas e governos façam espontaneamente, pois isso requer conhecimento, consciência, cuidados, leis, fiscalização, investimentos e ação conjunta e coordenada. Dessa forma, a água é questão essencial ligada à sustentabilidade e que deve ser elemento central ligado a políticas de desenvolvime...Read more
Diana Iskreva replied:
Dear Carolina,
Thank you immensely for the excellent argumentation for the need and benefit of involving and empowering the citizens! These are arguments thechnical experts but especially politicians have to hear!
Please, follow the Forum website for the opportunity to participate in the 8th World Water Forum. At the moment there is an open call for speakers at the website.
Diana Iskreva replied:
Dear Carolina,
Thank you very much for your contribution!
Actually, there are opportunities for citizens to present their project ideas and projects. Please, follow the Forum website for additional information. Wish you success!
Carolina Semrau said:
Mara Lúcia Carn... said:
Estimada Diana
É muito importante que busquemos propostas para garantir a sustentabilidade dos serviços em área rural e pequenas comunidades.É também um desafio garantir a operação e manutenção dos serviços, considerando que muitos ficam sob a responsavilidade da propria comunidade.
Saif Khan said:
Well, that’s a quiet big discussion. In Pakistan, the progress towards SGD 6 is quite slow and we are far behind the targets. Pakistan lacks appropriate water & sanitation policies, laws and regulations and wherever it exists, the implementation is a challenge. The access to clean drinking water was not a big challenge before but with continuous extraction of the ground water, polluting the surface water and no proper regulations on industrial waste disposal are the biggest challenges for access to clean drinking water.
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dear Saif Khan,
Thank you immensely for the excelently structured and detailed response.
Wish you full success in your efforts for better water policy and practices in Pakistan!
Diana Iskreva said:
Dear Water Colleagues,
There are a couple of days left - until the end of this week, before this cycle of discussions will be closed.
Let us concentrate on the conclusions and summary of the work done during the latest couple of months in this e-room.
Please, feel free to give suggestions for the key messages that you believe have to enter into this e-room final summary on the cross-cutting issues: Capacity, Governance, Sharing, Sustainability.
Ian Davey IAH said:
The high quality of most groundwaters, resulting from the self-purification capacity of soils and underlying rocks, has long been a key factor in human health and wellbeing. More than 50% of the world’s population now rely on groundwater for their supply of drinking water. Aquifers used for drinking water supplies should be assessed and monitored for pollution risks. In most cases a properly located and soundly-engineered water-well that prevents direct entry of pollutants, such as pathogenic organisms, fuels or other contaminants, represents a low-cost, reliable and safe source. Collaborative actions by a range of water-users will help protect this vital resource....Read more
Diana Iskreva replied:
Dear Ian,
Welcome to this e-room!
The issue of low-cost, reliable and safe source for drinking water is of high importance. How do you see this reflected by the targets under SDGs and mainly under SDG 6 (water and sanitation) and SDG 3 (health)?
Ian Davey IAH replied:
Hi Diana
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dear Ian,
Thanks immensely for your feed-back! The reference is extremely interesting - I hope, many people from this e-room will read it.
Gloria Águeda G... said:
Llegando al foro, me interesa mucho el tema de saneamiento rural, y me gustaría compartir la experiencia en una comunidad del estado de Veracruz, México.
Mara Lúcia Carn... replied:
Estimada Gloria. Por favor es de grand importancia para nosotros conocer su experiencia en el tema de saneamiento rural. Uno de los mayores problemas aca en Brasil es garantizar la operacion y mantenimiento de los servicios, especilamente cuando la responsabilidad de la operacion es de la comunidad.
Diana Iskreva replied:
Dear Gloria,
You are most welcome to share your experience on rural sanitation in this e-room.
Rural sanitation is also my favorite topic. How do you see the sustainable solution for safe rural sanitation?
Mara Lúcia Carn... said:
Prezados participantes deste importante debate. Lembramos que a discussão do tema "Sustentabilidade" terminará em 13 de agosto e que todos devem deixar, o quanto antes, seus comentários finais para este assunto.
Paula said:
Dear all,
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dear Paula,
Thank you very much for the information!
Would you present to us in a couple of paragraphs the Thirst Zero concept? How do you see its role for the more efficient approach for the implementation of the SDGs for water and other sectors?
Saif Khan said:
Water is becoming a scarce commodity in the country. The per capita water availability is decreased from 5,650 cubic meters to 990 cubic meters from 1947 to 2013. There is no planning at national or provincial level for water safety and water resources conservation. The ground water is brutally exploited by people, agriculture and industrial sector. There are more than 1.1 million tube wells used for agriculture purposes where 37 MAF water is extracted from ground against 35 MAF recharge capacity.
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dear Saif Khan,
Thank you for sharing with us the amaising work you are doing!
In the context of SDGs, what would be the greatest challenge according to you that Pakistan will face; and what would be the most effective measures that have to be taken as soon as possible?
Saif Khan replied:
Well, that’s a quiet big discussion. In Pakistan, the progress towards SGD 6 is quite slow and we are far behind the targets. Pakistan lacks appropriate water & sanitation policies, laws and regulations and wherever it exists, the implementation is a challenge. The access to clean drinking water was not a big challenge before but with continuous extraction of the ground water, polluting the surface water and no proper regulations on industrial waste disposal are the biggest challenges for access to clean drinking water.
...Read moreSyed Semab Haider said:
Hello
I am working in Pakistan on safe drinking water and Health. It is great opportunity to share the knowledge and experience related to safe water and its impact on economy. I would like to suggest that we have to share our concepts and experience regarding safe drinking water and its direct affect on health and economy.
Hassan Aboelnga replied:
Hello Mr. Sayed, thank you for your contribution. It would be great if you share with us your experience and insights in Pakistan and How can People – water, sanitation and health stimulate collaborative actions that will lead to a sustainable use of water resources in Pakistan
Naomi Tobita said:
Hello, this is Naomi from Japan. Water issues in this archipelago is not that much recognized as regional issues as we do not share directly the source with other nations. Though I guess that is one reason why there still remains rather too relaxed approach about the matter especially for urban planning. As this is a country of Confucian tradition, the decision makers in governments are often over 60 years old and it is not rare to find them without sufficient knowledge of sustainability and water ......Read more
Hassan Aboelnga replied:
Thanks so much Mr. Naomi for your contribution. I do agree with you, putting water at the top of the agenda has a crucial part of tackling water challenges and implementation of IWRM approach. Water connects, it doesn’t separate – what manifests itself as a regional or local crisis quickly becomes a global problem. Water crises affect economies of all sizes.
Alberto said:
Me gustaría poner a disposición un reciente estudio de Gestión, desde un enfoque legal... saludos a todos
Diana Iskreva replied:
Welcome Alberto,
Maybe you can make here a summary of the study of half a page and put a link for those who would be interested to study it in details?
Ana Alice De Carli said:
A correlação feita entre água, saneamento e saúde é perfeita, uma vez que são questões tão imbricadas que não dá para pensar de forma estanque sobre cada uma.
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dear Ana Alice,
You - Brazilians, are very lucky that your Constitution gives you the right of access to water and sanitation!
It is not like this in many other countries.
Will you bring some more details on the legislative background that guarantees access to water and sanitation in Brazil? Are the standards similar for various states and for various types of settlements? What is the efficiency of enforcement?
Boniface Aleobua said:
Dear Water Colleagues, great to be on this platform. My name is Boniface Aleobua, working for the African Development Bank, and currently based in Mozambique in Southern Africa.
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dear Boniface Aleobua,
Thank you immensely for your contribution!
Of course, the issues you raise are so important as sustainable approach is in its foundations a long-run approach. Capacity and motivation to maintain the introduced infrastructure is crucial, so is the cultural acceptability of the facilities/services.
That's why the development projects have to involve all stakeholders at the earliest phase - with the beginning of the planning and design, and keep all stakeholders involved through the whole period of project implementation. This approach would avoid general mistakes usually done. It also builds ownership in the community in long-run.
Wang Zhihui said:
Water issues are regional, and in the Pearl River Basin, we have the basin agency to coordinate the water users in the different locations of the river and to formate the unified targets of the water, sanitation and health. Collaborative actions can be organized by many ways, and the administrative calls and orders given by the river basin agency is one of the working ways, as it is operating in the Pearl River Basin in South China.
Diana Iskreva replied:
Dear Wang Zhihui,
Thank you so much for sharing your administrative and management approach for the sharng of water in the Pearl River Basin in South China.
Maybe, you would share some more details or some online links for these who would like to learn more.
Diana Iskreva said:
Dear Water Colleagues,
...Read moreLUIZ ALBERTO RO... said:
A contribuição para implementação de políticas ou projetos de gestão integrada de recursos hídricos (GIRH) considerando aspectos de água, saneamento e saúde das pessoas pressupõe oportunidades de participação nos Colegiados Hídricos detentores de recursos e que implantaram os seus instrumentos. Com a bagagem amealhada ao longo de multifárias capacitações e participações diretas, trazendo todo o cabedal de conhecimentos e vivências. Assim tem sido feitro no âmbito dos Comitês da Bahia e do Rio São Francisco, colaborando e participando na confecção de projetos hidroambientais e de saneamento, eleitos como prioritários, além da devida fiscalização.
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dear Luiz Alberto,
Thank you very much for your contribution.
Integrated Water Resource Management is really a concept of sharing.
Will you share with us in this e-room some more details of your experience in dos Comitês da Bahia e do Rio São Francisco, and how you will be able to contribute for the 8th World Water Forum in March 2018?
Fan Qunfang said:
In order to better share solutions and good practices about water, sanitation and health, a public information platform should be construct to publish water quality, water management policy, water withdrawal allowance, and etc.. Through this platform, the public can comment on the water quality, sanitation and water pollution, the water management can in time publish the newest water management policy or institution. Good practices can be shared and solutions of emergency incident can be also provided through this platform. The forms of the platform can be website, we-chat, or other forms. Maybe we-chat is a popular form.
Diana Iskreva replied:
Dear Fan Qunfang,
Thank you very much for the excellent proposal.
Paulo Roberto said:
When I read cooperation between countries brings me concern with my location that has a sewage network or the open sky or being dumped in the rivers. How something that reaches the nation can reach the place?
Diana Iskreva replied:
Dear Paulo,
Your concern is very much understandable.
Please, will you share your vision for sustainable management of sewage for your community and for Brazil.
RICARDO ALBA ALDANA said:
Ok, thanks Diana for your comments and your sincere message,
We hope to see you in Brazil
Best regards
RICARDO ALBA ALDANA said:
Hello Diana, I'm very happy to greet you again. Thank you for your comments on our modest work. Casually, I remembered our last meeting at the International Water Week in Korea, KIWW 2016. Last week we registered our participation in KIWW 2017 with a project called "Ekoducha H2O+ Reuse of gray water and circular economy, which will complement the Rainwater collecting systems in dry seasons.
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dear Ricardo,
You are doing really great job! Thank you immensely for sharing so many details with all of us participating in this e-room.
Wish you the greatest success again at the International Korean Water Week later this year! And hope to meet you this time in Brasilia for the 8th World Water Forum with another exciting soluion!
Nathalia Link P... said:
Olá!
...Read moreDiana Iskreva replied:
Dearest Nathalia!
...Read moreMariana Paal Fe... said:
Dear all,
...Read more