REFERENCES

1. Hecht Alan D. International efforts to improving access to water and sanitation in the developing world: A good start, but more is needed. Water Policy. 2003 (in press)
2. Macy L, Quick R. World spotlight: The safe water system—A household-based water quality intervention program for the developing world. Water Conditioning and Purification Magazine. 2002 April;44(4)
3. UN WWAP (UN World Water Assessment Program). UN World Water Development Report: Water for People, Water for Life. Paris, New York, and Oxford: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and Berghahn Books; 2003. p. 576.
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis. Washington, DC: 2003. p. 50.
5. World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2002: Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2002. [PubMed: 14741909]
6. WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation. Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report. New York: UNICEF; 2000.

The World Water Forum

Jess Purl, of Chicago Chem Consultants, raised concerns about prospects for future international consensus addressing water issues. He referred back to the World Water Forum (held March 16-23, 2003, in Kyoto, Japan) mentioned earlier by Dr. Hecht and pointed out that among the very disparate groups that attended the forum in Kyoto, there was very little understanding of the basic fundamental issues of sanitation and human health. Mr. Purl was concerned that such inadequacies in the discussion decrease the likelihood for involvement of the current U.S. administration in future negotiations on water issues.

Dr. Hecht agreed that many of the groups weighing in on water issues at the forum lacked a balanced view of threat issues. For example, protests against privatization of water overwhelmed much of the discussion; and yet, he believes that ownership or management of water systems by private companies is not very prevalent throughout the world and is overall not a major issue. However, Dr. Hecht felt that the current administration is committed to water issues, and he is hopeful that it will stay engaged in any international agreements concerning water that come up in the future.

Dr. Hecht reiterated how this administration is looking at new ways to address environmental problems in general that would lead to improvements in water. Resource use and environmental health will be improved through U.S. development strategies to address fundamental infrastructure needs, political infrastructure, corruption, and overall good governance of developing countries. He was not clear on what form these efforts might take, but he believes that there would have to be increases in development aid to make this happen.

Dr. Hecht thinks that water and other resource and environmental issues must be addressed through capacity building, development of systems, and education. He spent a great deal of time at the World Water Forum in bilateral meetings explaining better ways of financing developing countries. However, Dr. Hecht believes that although the issues resonated with these countries, they will need an enormous amount of help from the United States and other development assistance efforts. He hopes that the current administration will support such efforts.

Need Versus Economic Reality

Denny Hjeresen, of the American Chemical Society, brought up a problem associated with addressing the needs of developing countries when there is no viable economic market to do so. He mentioned a meeting he attended several years ago for water ministers from across Africa at which the minister from Senegal stood up and said what they really needed was water treatment at the rate of $1 per person per year that would also be provided for free.

Dr. Hjeresen wanted to know, as the United States makes this commitment to water worldwide, how the economics of providing some of these solutions will be addressed. He talked about the very strong focus on the private sector market in the United States and said that at a dollar per person per year, there will not be many companies interested in working in this area. He pointed out that in looking at the sales growth chart Dr. Hecht presented, 22,000 units at 60 cents per unit is not much economic incentive for most businesses.

Dr. Hecht agreed that it is not likely that the private sector is going to invest heavily in this area because water is not profitable. He also pointed out that public funding is becoming less of an option as developed countries cut back on overseas development assistance. He said that France supports doubling the current $80 billion in overseas development assistance (ODA) provided by G8 countries, whereas the White House opposes any increased funding. Therefore, developing countries will have to look for other financing.

Dr. Hecht recommended that as long as the ODA exists, it should be spent on building capacity and training people to develop financing approaches. He said that there are several examples in which such efforts have been effective, such as in India and South Africa.

Water Quantity Versus Water Quality

Steve Cabaniss, of the University of New Mexico, wanted to know how much of the conflict over water between the United States and Mexico has to do with quantitative water transfer versus water quality and salination issues.

Dr. Hecht responded that both issues are important, however, the water quantity problem is more serious politically because it has its basis in treaty. Under the 1944 Boundary Water Treating Act, water is exchanged between the United States and Mexico. He said that in the last number of years, Mexico has fallen behind its transfers of water to the United States because of a long-term drought. Before the Iraq war, this issue had reached very high political levels and was discussed many times by Presidents Fox and Bush.

Dr. Hecht said that this point of contention continues to be a significant issue, given that there are farmers in Texas managing an approximate $3 billion agricultural industry that remains relatively dependent on Mexican water. Even the National Security Council became involved in U.S.-Mexico water issues and helped facilitate agreement on a transfer of Mexican water to Texas. The problem continues because Mexico still suffers from drought conditions and poor water management. Dr. Hecht said that regardless of the details, the amount of water that has been transferred between these two countries has not met the treaty obligation. This has kept water, along with immigration and other issues, festering and will potentially become a more serious problem in the future.

Water Profitability

Fareed Salem, with ConocoPhillip, said that he has been involved in the water business for a long time and has not earned much money from it. He has observed, however, that technology innovation is a key factor to water and profitability.

Mr. Salem also said that the role of government in sustainability efforts should be facilitation rather than leadership. He thought that a business approach should be taken where communities set up water sustainability business councils. He felt that sustainability efforts should be community driven because the priorities for each community are different.

Dr. Hecht responded by saying that the role of government is very important because someone has to pay for clean water. Water treatment, storage, and transfer must be fairly priced. He brought up the fact that the current pricing of clean water does not reflect these costs and addressing this is essential for solving the looming water problems. Dr. Hecht also expressed concerns that were raised at the talks in Kyoto that the poor will not be well served if governments do not play a role in providing clean water sources. Dr. Hecht agreed that the private sector should play a big role in sustainability efforts together with communities, but major hurdles exist to provide fairly priced water sources that are also profitable.

Water Trouble Spots and Global Impacts

Jan Dell, of CH2M Hill, posed questions dealing with how the effects of poor sanitation or water issues in one region can have global impacts. She wanted to know about water issues that might be analogous to those posed by the movement of air pollution from one region to another. Ms. Dell also commented on her experience working for multinationals and their water supply chains. She asked about the potential link between sanitary treatment in southern China and the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

In response, Dr. Hecht talked about industry's role in addressing global pollution issues. He mentioned a group at the Commerce Department called the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee that is working with industries developing facilities overseas to get them to think more broadly about their capability as a service to the communities. Dr. Hecht said that great potential exists for these plants—whether they manufacture soda pop, pharmaceuticals, or computer chips—as they process water for their own needs and expand operations to provide water supplies for the local community.

On the issues of treatment, sanitation in China, and the SARS outbreak, Dr. Hecht was not aware of a link. He did highlight the CDC's efforts on international environmental health and sanitation issues and the success of the safe drinking verification programs around the world (www.cdc.gov/safewater). He also pointed out that, surprisingly, China was not part of the bilateral negotiations at the World Water Forum in Kyoto and that most of the focus there was on Africa and Central America.

Population and Water Supply

Don Phipps, of the Orange County Water District, felt that there are inconsistencies in discussing sustainable water supplies when the consuming organism is not a sustainable resource—that is, its population is not constant.

Mr. Phipps mentioned how for years technology has enabled water supplies to be provided in areas with growing populations, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to continue doing this. He expressed concern that if the world population does not stabilize, it will be impossible to meet water supply needs.

Dr. Hecht agreed that improved use of resources is critical. He went on to say that population impacts water supplies most significantly in areas that are urbanizing rapidly. Currently, he said, Africa is the continent that has the highest rate of urbanization and is the least equipped to deal with it. Finally, Dr. Hecht and Mr. Phipps agreed that addressing the issue of population in some form is a part of the holistic approach necessary to solve the world's water supply needs.