The post Report calls for immediate action to mitigate snow decline in Hindu Kush Himalaya appeared first on The Source.
]]>The ‘2025 Snow Update Report’ published by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal, finds that the region experienced its third consecutive below-normal snow year in 2025, with snow persistence (the fraction of time snow is on the ground after snowfall) falling to a 23-year record low of -23.6%.
With nearly two billion people across 12 major river basins relying on seasonal snowmelt from the region, the report’s authors are calling for immediate targeted actions towards adaptive water resource management at basin-level to mitigate impacts on agriculture, hydropower generation, and other vital ecosystem services.
The report finds the most concerning declines in snow persistence impacting the Mekong (-51.9%) and Salween (-48.3%) basins, followed by the Tibetan Plateau (-29.1%), the Brahmaputra (-27.9%), Yangtze (-26.3%), and the Ganges (-24.1%) basins.
The report highlights the need for adaptive infrastructure, including seasonal storage systems, water efficiency measures, national preparedness and response plans, along with national water strategies for hydropower, agriculture, and allied sectors, and a strengthening of evidence-based decision-making and sectoral coordination.
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]]>The post UN report finds mountain environments changing at unprecedented rate appeared first on The Source.
]]>This 2025 edition of the United Nations (UN) World Water Development Report highlights the importance of mountain waters and alpine glaciers, which are vital for meeting basic human water supply and sanitation needs.
These water sources are also essential to ensure food and energy security for billions of people living in and around mountain regions and areas downstream, supporting economic growth through various water-reliant industries.
The report highlights that as the ‘water towers’ of the world, mountains are an essential source of freshwater, storing water in the form of ice and snow during cold seasons, and releasing it during warmer seasons as a major source of freshwater for users downstream. They play a unique and critical role in the global water cycle and affect atmospheric circulation, which drives weather and precipitation patterns.
While highlighting the concerning impact that climate change is having on mountain and glacial environments, the report offers solutions to help simultaneously mitigate and adapt to rapid changes in global frozen water resources. It provides a clear overview of current environmental conditions, along with recommendations of necessary response measures, including the urgent need to drastically reduce carbon emissions.
By detailing the connections between mountain freshwater, essential services and the natural world, the report highlights the critical importance of conserving the cryosphere and the potential consequences for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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]]>The post Rain Schools progress in Cambodia appeared first on The Source.
]]>The initiative has already set up five operational ‘Rain Schools’ in the Mekong River region, aided by financial support from the Mekong-Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF) and supported by the Mekong Institute (MI), creating a number of educational hubs to provide water management training and resources.
The Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), in collaboration with South Korea and Seoul National University (SNU).
Rain Schools focus on the construction of rainwater storage facilities and filtration systems in schools, enabling student access to clean water and promoting student education in effective rainwater management.
The first Rain School to be established in Southeast Asia was located at the Nguyen Binh Khiem School in Ha Long City, Vietnam, in 2022. The rainwater collection system installed there consists of a single storage tank incorporating a special film that treats the water as it flows down from the roof. The system also incorporates multiple treatment stages that avoids the failure of the whole system if failure of one stage should occur. There are now Rain Schools operating in Cambodia, South Korea and Vietnam.
The Cambodian Rain School Initiative also aims to establish community-based rainwater harvesting systems, sharing relevant knowledge with Korea by establishing a water management network with SNU.
MoEYS, RAC and SNU are seeking support from the United Nations (UN) with the aim of extending the initiative across 1,000 primary schools across Cambodia. This will be a careful step-by-step process, implemented in phases with MoEYS prioritising public primary schools as these schools are particularly vulnerable to drought. Cambodia is also discussing potential partnerships with international organisations such as the UN, WHO and UNICEF, focused on training.
The innovative Rainwater for Drinking (RFD) systems installed at Rain Schools are based on a deep understanding of the value of rainwater, reflecting local and historical cultural traditions. Each RFD provides 500 litres of safe drinking water per day, providing enough purified drinking water to meet demand at schools all year round.
The initiative is endorsed by the UN Water Action Agenda, promoting awareness and collaboration across the region by engaging students in addressing global water challenges through educational activities. The initiative also aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the water-related targets of UN SDG 6.1.
Global Rain School activities were the subject of a presentation delivered to a side event at the UN Water Conference, attended by students from a number of countries and bringing together stakeholders to discuss the pivotal role of rainwater management and explore potential strategies for future broader implementation. An article in The Source helped to introduce the schools to water professionals resulting in a Rain School Camp taking place in South Korea.
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]]>The post Driving the standards of world-class wastewater treatment appeared first on The Source.
]]>What is the Expert Committee for China’s Concept Wastewater Treatment Plants (CCWC) and what are its aims and objectives?
In early 2014, six prominent Chinese environmental experts, Jiuhui Qu, Kaijun Wang, Hongchen Wang, Gang Yu, Bing Ke, and Hanqing Yu, proposed constructing a futuristic urban wastewater treatment concept plant for China. Aimed at 2030-2040, their goal was to incorporate global best practices and advanced technologies to achieve ‘sustainable water quality, energy self-sufficiency, resource recovery, and environmental friendliness’. To support this vision, they formed the ‘Concept Plant Expert Committee’, which expanded to include nine members: Jiuhui Qu (Chair), Hongqiang Ren, Hanqing Yu, Gang Yu, Kaijun Wang, Hongchen Wang, Bing Ke, Xingcan Zheng, and Ji Li. Their mission is to create a concept plant surpassing current global standards by 20 years, transitioning China from a follower to a leader in wastewater treatment.
What are the key challenges for the Chinese water and wastewater sectors?
China has a large total water volume, yet per capita availability is low, at only about a quarter of the global average. Northern regions, in particular, face severe water scarcity. With rapid urbanisation and industrialisation China’s wastewater output has surged, giving it the world’s highest wastewater treatment volume, straining facilities near their operational limits.
A further challenge is the uniformity of national wastewater standards, which limit flexibility, particularly for economically underdeveloped regions, imposing high operational costs and resource waste in areas not sensitive to water issues.
Facilities face significant technical and financial challenges in upgrading to meet stricter standards, especially with the emergence of pollutants like pharmaceuticals and microplastics. In addition, many plants focus solely on pollutant removal, overlooking the potential to recover valuable resources from wastewater and sludge.
Wastewater treatment plants, particularly those using traditional processes, consume a large amount of energy and produce significant carbon emissions. There is a need for urgent energy and carbon reduction solutions if China is to meet its ‘dual carbon’ goals.
What are the most noteworthy aspects of the Yixing Concept Water Resource Reclamation Facility?
The Yixing plant uses anaerobic digestion to produce 3000 m3 of biogas daily, converted into 6000 kWh of electricity, reducing external energy dependency and lowering emissions.
Advanced purification technologies, such as ozone-UV disinfection for emerging pollutants, allow flexible upgrades, including mainstream Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) technology, for future water quality requirements.
Unlike traditional plants, Yixing transforms organic waste into products like nutrient-rich organic soil, reducing disposal pressure and supporting sustainable agriculture.
Innovative odour control, eco-friendly building designs, and community integration, minimise pollution and enhance biodiversity. In addition, the plant has engaged more than 50,000 community members in environmental education, raising awareness of sustainable water management, and its architectural design won an international award in 2023 for innovative health design.
What have been the key outcomes of the project?
Based on the water-energy-material recycling relationship in wastewater treatment, the concept plant redefines the mission of future wastewater treatment facilities, transforming the public’s perception and understanding of these plants. It conveys the message that wastewater is a resource, and wastewater treatment plants are resource plants.
The concept plant initiative has built five key technical systems to achieve water-energy-material regeneration:
The concept plant marks a milestone in China’s wastewater treatment industry, receiving recognition and support from industry stakeholders and spurring ongoing exploration and collaboration among government, industry, academia, and research sectors.
The Three Gorges Group plans to replicate the concept plant model along the Yangtze River over the next five years, implementing a chain-network model to create a series of innovative plants that will serve as effective tools for ecological management in the Yangtze region.
This project is supported by national key research and development funding, with the first implementation under way at the Fenghuangqiao Water Purification Plant in Lu’an, Anhui Province.
What are the future ambitions of the CCWC?
China’s concept plants will aim to meet stricter environmental requirements, focusing on new pollutants such as microplastics and pharmaceuticals. Further expansion of resource recovery will transform plants into resource producers rather than focusing solely on pollution control, and by advancing biomass energy technologies and reducing emissions, Yixing aims to support China’s ‘carbon peak’ and ‘carbon neutrality’ goals.
Future plants will increasingly rely on intelligent digital technologies to optimise resource use and energy efficiency. Our ambition is for China’s concept plant model and expertise to extend globally, aiding other regions in managing water resources and environmental protection challenges.
Future plants will integrate with their surroundings, incorporating eco-friendly architecture, green infrastructure, and community interaction, creating high-acceptance and environmentally friendly facilities.
Centred on a production-based R&D hub, it will bring together leading research talent to drive breakthroughs in core technologies, establishing itself as an incubator and prime site for cutting-edge applications, and through the demonstration of innovative technologies, the concept plant will continually enhance its treatment efficiency and resource recovery capabilities while also exporting advanced technological achievements across China and globally. This will further solidify its role as a benchmark technology demonstration base leading the future development of the industry.
Responses provided by Yifei Zhang, chairman of CSD Water Service Co, Changmin Wu, general manager of the Yixing Concept Plant, and Jifang Zhang, vice-general manager of the Yixing Concept Plant.
Read more about the IWA Project Innovation Awards at:
Global best in water projects announced at IWA 2024 Project Innovation Awards
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]]>The post Water’s balancing act appeared first on The Source.
]]>One is the article on p14 exploring the reuse of wastewater – or, more accurately, used water – in agriculture. Concerns about the pressures on water resources are forever increasing, not least because of climate change. Planned reuse of wastewater then becomes a policy option to pursue in response, with a need to find agriculture’s place in that planned reuse.
The potential here is clear. As the article highlights, less than 20% of wastewater is treated to a usable level. Of this treated water, 2-15% is reused for irrigation.
At the same time, this issue’s article on the ‘slow pandemic’ of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlights the dilemmas of trying to provide solutions. On the one hand, wastewater in this instance is the interface where microbes are exposed to antimicrobials – so is seemingly part of the problem. But the article signals that wastewater treatment tends to improve prospects around dealing with AMR – and so is also seemingly part of the solution.
Climate change is compounding the challenges of balancing multiple interests and factors around water. The Analysis article opposite summarises the findings of a report drawing attention to the plight of the most vulnerable section of global society – refugees.
Climate change is just part of the fragility that underpins this vulnerability. Conflict and, within that wider picture, forcible displacement have complex roots. But the climate dimension is there – in terms of the fact that a very high proportion of people fleeing their homes do so in countries where there is exposure to climate-related hazards, and also in terms of the more specific evidence for climate-related hazards being a driver for displacement.
A more recent report, The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and global aridity trends and future projections, published by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification for its COP16 meeting in December, raises a wider-reaching concern. The report states that 77.6% of Earth’s land experienced drier conditions during the three decades leading up to 2020 compared with the previous 30-year period. Drylands expanded by about 4.3 million km2 and, as the planet continues to warm, the report’s worst-case scenario projections suggest up to 5 billion people could live in drylands by the end of the century.
This all emphasises the need for cohesive water sector strategies that have the buy-in of stakeholders.
In the article on p25, we see how Fiji, one of IWA’s newer Governing Members, is embarking on implementation of its 2050 water sector strategy. The strategy is built on a national collective planning exercise and we can see that IWA’s scope is of clear relevance to priorities highlighted. This includes core concerns such as addressing non-revenue water and regulatory matters such as tariffs. So too for the task of combining use of both centralised and decentralised approaches to wastewater treatment.
The water community around the world faces challenges in advancing sector strategies, especially given the scale of the task of balancing multiple interests and factors. Given such prospects, the need for solidarity and sharing of experiences is greater than ever.
Keith Hayward, Editor
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]]>The post The natural home for water utilities appeared first on The Source.
]]>The Utility Leaders Forum, in Toronto, Canada, in August 2024, provided a unique opportunity for utility leaders to exchange views, network, and access insights in a setting designed by utility leaders for utility leaders. The forum was an overwhelming success and focused on three key topics: building water security and resilience; utility breakthroughs on climate adaptation; and utilities working to improve the circular economy.
I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the forum’s organising committee for its commitment and dedication in delivering a valuable event, and providing a great opportunity for engagement, networking and collaboration. This is the hallmark of our globally respected IWA brand. Utility leaders in Toronto also had the opportunity to express their views on their needs and expectations of IWA. Sincere thanks and appreciation to all delegates who shared their thoughts, which will form the foundation of new offerings from IWA to satisfy the needs of all utility members.
Water utilities face many challenges, while customer and consumer expectations are increasing. Customers and consumers expect utilities to be properly governed, managed, and staffed with the best expertise for them to rise to the challenges and impacts of climate change – and any other risks to sustainable service delivery. Therefore, utilities are expected to mitigate all conceivable risks to satisfy customers’ needs.
To this end, utilities need to embrace digitalisation, mobilise innovative technology, review planning and strategic asset management, drive efficiencies, and reduce the carbon footprint of their operations. The circular economy is a socio-economic paradigm to which water utilities must adapt if ambitions to achieve global climate goals are to be achieved. The water sector needs to play a leading role through increased reuse and recycling, and the creation of new products for the market.
Water scarcity is not a new phenomenon for large parts of the world. Through the decades, water utilities have adapted successfully with access only to minimal resources. Climate change and population increases have created additional challenges for sustainable water and sanitation provision. During the past decade, countries such as the Netherlands and the UK have experienced unprecedented water scarcity and are now engaging in innovative projects to address this risk. Many leading utilities are focused on proactive interventions to assure water security by reducing leaks, recycling water for reuse, transforming waste into value added products, and adopting technologies such as water efficient sanitation systems.
The role of IWA is to inspire change and create impact by ensuring water utilities have access to the latest knowledge and technologies, by sharing information to the benefit of utilities and their stakeholders. Utility leaders need to interact, connect and engage with their peers and colleagues across the globe to gain access to best practices that will empower them to improve their utilities.
IWA recognises the leading role it needs to play as a membership organisation for utility members, and is in the process of reviewing and improving to enhance value propositions and services for utilities. This is an exciting time for IWA and water utilities. I am confident that, together, we can build resilient and sustainable water utilities that will inspire the confidence of customers and consumers across the world.
Hamanth Kasan, President, IWA
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]]>The post Initiative, innovation, inclusion: India’s formula for success appeared first on The Source.
]]>Emerging economies across Latin America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa are making bold investments in water supply, sanitation, and wastewater treatment, driven by the pressing demands of water security and sustainable development. Recognising wastewater as a valuable resource, these nations are embracing circular economy and decentralisation principles to build systems that are both resilient and financially sustainable.
Unlike the Global North, where it has taken decades of incremental progress to transform carbon-intensive systems into more efficient ones, the Global South has the unique opportunity to leapfrog directly to advanced solutions. By incorporating integrated urban water management and circular economy principles from the outset, these countries are reconstructing thinking around water infrastructure, so that it becomes a cornerstone of a sustainable, low-carbon future. In doing so, they are not only addressing their immediate needs but also positioning themselves as global leaders in innovative, climate conscious water solutions, setting new benchmarks for the world to follow.
Such innovative advancements in water management by emerging economies resonate strongly with the ambitious efforts of India to address its pressing water and sanitation challenges. During my recent visit to the country, including participation in the latest edition of India Water Week, I saw first-hand how the country is leveraging global collaborations and innovative approaches to transform its water systems. India stands out as a powerful example of how international partnerships are driving progress towards sustainable, resilient, future-fit water and sanitation solutions.
Challenges, progress, and global leadership
With only 4% of the world’s water resources – but home to 18% of its population – India faces severe water scarcity, where more than 100 million urban residents live with perennial shortages and another 125 million experience seasonal scarcity. The rapid depletion of groundwater – which supplies more than 80% of domestic needs – coupled with pollution affecting 70% of surface water resources highlights the complexity of the issues to be addressed to deliver sustainable, equitable supplies.
Drawing on global best practice through active engagement with international organisations, including IWA, India’s response to these challenges is multifaceted and collaborative. This exchange enables India to gain from successful global strategies while sharing its own innovative solutions with other emerging economies. Initiatives like Odisha’s Drink from Tap Mission, which aims to provide 24/7 potable water to urban households, reflects the scale and ambition of India’s vision. National programmes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) further underscore India’s commitment to ensuring universal access to sanitation and safe drinking water.
By fostering global partnerships and embracing knowledge exchange, India is both reshaping its water management strategies and at the same time establishing itself as a model for sustainable solutions within the global water community.
IWA and India
India’s growing involvement in IWA highlights its commitment to engaging with global best practice and sharing its own innovative solutions. Since the establishment of IWA’s India Chapter in 2018, India has significantly increased its presence in global water discussions, contributing to major IWA events, from the 2019 Water and Development Congress through to subsequent editions of the IWA World Water Congresses and Specialist Group Conferences. With the second-largest membership in the IWA network, the country’s participation reflects its strategy to merge international expertise with localised solutions.
At the 2024 World Water Congress and Exhibition in Toronto, India’s first-ever country pavilion, organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), showcased the transformation of the River Ganga and India’s leadership in sustainable water management.
Further cementing its role, India invited IWA to actively participate in the 8th India Water Week 2024, focusing on ‘Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management’.
This growing collaboration with IWA and the country’s active participation in global water discussions have laid a strong foundation for India to transform its water supply, sanitation, and wastewater systems.
A new vision for water and sanitation
India is embracing a new vision for water supply, sanitation, and wastewater management, guided by the principles of Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM). This approach emphasises a diversified portfolio of solutions, combining conventional and non-conventional water sources to build resilience and adapt to evolving needs.
Inspired by models like Singapore’s Four National Taps, India is pioneering an ambitious approach. One example is the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), which has adopted the ‘Six Kudam (Pot) Approach’, integrating reclaimed water through tertiary sewage treatment, community-level rainwater harvesting, demand-side management, desalination, surface water reservoirs, and inter-basin transfers, The reclaimed water, used for non-potable industrial applications and indirect potable reuse with lakes as environmental buffers, highlights the potential for circular economy principles in urban water management. In addition, initiatives in Chennai such as the utilisation of abandoned quarries for stormwater storage demonstrate creativity in addressing water scarcity.
India’s water management strategy extends beyond urban areas, deeply rooted in its cultural and spiritual reverence for rivers. With more than half of its rivers polluted, this perspective has driven transformative efforts, including the NMCG.
This flagship initiative aims to restore the River Ganga as a vibrant ecosystem, respecting its sacred and ecological importance. Guided by a river-centric approach, the NMCG prioritises the river’s health in every decision, adopting a metaphorical ‘guardian lens’ to ensure that all actions and activities align with sustaining the river’s wellbeing. This commitment has led to the construction of more than 150 sewage treatment plants (STPs), significantly reducing untreated wastewater discharge while enhancing the integrity of the surrounding ecosystem. Importantly, the mission integrates lessons from past shortcomings to ensure sustainable and impactful outcomes. As this model expands to other river basins, India is redefining its rivers as essential lifelines and guardians of ecosystems.
By reimagining its sanitation systems, India is advancing a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that combine non-sewered sanitation (NSS), decentralised systems, and large-scale infrastructure. More than 1000 faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) address land and water pollution challenges, while states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Odisha are integrating NSS with existing sewage systems to create scalable sanitation models.
With respect to decentralisation, the State of Karnataka, of which Bengaluru is part, has introduced legislation allowing apartment complexes to sell 50% of their treated wastewater for non-potable uses, in turn creating a market for reclaimed water and providing an incentive for the efficient operation of 2500 on-site STPs in the city, highlighting the potential of policy innovation and market-driven solutions.
Alongside this, the city is transferring treated wastewater to rejuvenate more than 125 rural lakes for agriculture use, while advancing sludge processing to produce Class A biosolids and biogas production at centralised STPs, and exploring carbon credit opportunities for captured methane emissions.
Digital technology is increasingly becoming a key enabler in this transformation, with mature startups like SmartTerra and Solinas Integrity using AI, IoT, and robotics to improve system efficiency, detect leaks, and provide predictive maintenance. Forward-looking utilities in Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Cochin, Trivandrum, Mumbai and Kolkata are engaging their services to better understand their underground assets, and in turn improve their services.
Nationally, IWA’s Digital Water Programme, through its India sub-group, brings together experts and stakeholders to promote knowledge exchange and the adoption of digital tools suited to local contexts. These initiatives highlight India’s commitment to using technology as an enabler to address water challenges, optimise resources, and build climate-resilient infrastructure. By combining innovative technology, traditional wisdom, and global partnerships, India is transforming water and sanitation delivery, ensuring equitable access, preserving rivers, and sustaining ecosystems. This change is fuelled by a dynamic hub of research institutions, startups, and utilities driving local innovation with global reach.
Harnessing local strengths for global impact
India has established a robust, dynamic and agile system that is facilitating a transformation of its water and sanitation infrastructure. This ecosystem is built on three foundational pillars: research and development (R&D) centres generating groundbreaking ideas, incubation hubs and startups commercialising these innovations, and forward-thinking utilities eager to transform their operations. Together, these elements create a synergy that is paving the way for a future where India’s water and sanitation systems are efficient, resilient, and adaptable to emerging challenges.
Academic institutions are at the heart of this transformation, serving as hubs for innovation, experimentation, and education. Renowned institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, IIT Madras, BITS Pilani, TERI University, and CEPT University are not only training the next generation of water professionals but also advancing solutions that align with global sustainable development objectives.
Institutions like CEPT University’s Centre for Water and Sanitation (C-WAS) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), as part of the National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance, are at the forefront of advancing NSS in India. They work with urban local bodies on capacity building, documenting successful case studies, and shaping policies, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). CSE has launched platforms like Menu on Un-Networked Technologies (MOUNT) to disseminate knowledge and drive innovation, while C-WAS pilots NSS approaches in Maharashtra, serving as a model for more than 300 urban local bodies.
As India’s regional hub for the Global Sanitation Graduate School, CEPT University integrates city-wide inclusive sanitation (CWIS) into academic curricula, working with institutions like BITS Pilani Goa, IIT Roorkee, IIT Palakkad, Pune University, and Manipal University, alongside partners such as BORDA South Asia and NIUA, to expand the reach of best practice and implementation models.
Institutions like IIT Madras are driving innovation in water reclamation and reuse, exemplified by its collaboration with the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) on a celebrated 10 mld tertiary treatment plant in Nesapakkam, which adopts Porur Lake as an environmental buffer.
At IIT Bombay, Pradip Kalbar is focused on improving intermittent water supply systems and optimising networks, particularly in resource-limited regions of Maharashtra and West Bengal. His research offers cost-effective, practical engineering solutions like multi-outlet storage tanks, shafts, and manifolds that can be integrated in existing infrastructure to enhance quality of water access, emphasising the optimisation of existing systems, rather than pursuing 24/7 water supply. These institutions demonstrate how research can lead to practical, scalable solutions capable of transforming India’s water and sanitation landscape.
This environment facilitates incubators and innovation hubs that play a critical role in bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation. The Administrative Staff College of India’s (ASCI) WASH Innovation Hub collaborates with more than 600 startups, accelerating innovation in wastewater treatment, lake management, and geospatial technologies, while platforms like INK@WASH showcase innovative solutions and educate decision-makers about practical applications. The International Centre for Clean Water (ICCW), associated with IIT Madras, supports startups from conception to implementation, with alumni like Solinas and SmartTerra, mentioned above, gaining international recognition for their contributions. Similarly, the Global Sanitation Centre of Excellence (GSCOE), IIT Palakkad, focuses on advancing non-biological wastewater treatment solutions, IoT solutions, and nurturing innovative ventures like Haricken Process Intensification and T-CON UNIFLOW.
India’s progressive utilities, such as those in Chennai, Bengaluru and Bhubaneshwar, are transforming water and sanitation systems by embracing innovation in water reclamation, sludge processing, asset management, and NRW reduction, by collaborating with R&D institutions, capacity-building organisations, and startups. By adopting cutting-edge technologies and exploring new business models, such as carbon financing, they are addressing the need for sustainable, inclusive infrastructure in the face of rapid urbanisation.
This dynamic ecosystem of research, commercialisation, and implementation positions India as a leader in water management, blending local innovation with global best practices to tackle critical challenges. Additionally, the growing involvement of universities and young professionals connecting with global networks, including IWA, is advancing knowledge and driving sustainable solutions in the sector.
Establishment of student chapters
India’s water sector is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by young professionals and forward-thinking academic institutions eager to connect with global networks. IWA’s Young Water Professionals (YWP) India Chapter, established in 2022, is central to this change, offering mentorship, networking, and knowledge-sharing platforms to build a future-ready workforce for the country’s water challenges.
Universities from smaller cities, such as the Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology, NICMAR University and the Puducherry Technological University, are also joining this movement by establishing IWA Student Clubs. These clubs encourage discussion, leverage IWA’s global network, accessing experts and innovation, and enhance collaboration on water sector trends and challenges. This broad engagement reflects India’s commitment to inclusive development in the water sector.
Young professionals in India are also making their mark through active engagement in key IWA initiatives. Programmes such as the LeaP leadership programme for YWPs and the IWA-Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship are providing invaluable global exposure and practical insights. These opportunities not only enhance the professional capacity of YWPs but also empower them to contribute meaningfully towards achieving critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Engagement with the international community
India’s growing collaboration with IWA exemplifies its commitment to advancing water management through shared knowledge and innovation. By engaging with global expertise and contributing its own solutions, India is fostering a meaningful exchange that strengthens domestic initiatives while enriching the broader water community.
This is a dynamic partnership – one that is supporting India in its mission to adopt cutting-edge practice, address its pressing water challenges, and position itself as a leader in sustainable water management. Aided by immersion in the IWA network, we see that India provides a beacon of how countries in the Global South can transform water management in an agile environment, unhindered by traditional, inflexible, engineered solutions, and lead the way towards a sustainable, equitable, and resilient water future.
The author:
Kala Vairavamoorthy is the CEO of the International Water Association
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]]>The post Global study finds climate change is disrupting the Earth’s water cycle appeared first on The Source.
]]>The 2024 Global Water Monitor Report, produced by an international team of researchers from universities in Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany and elsewhere, used data from thousands of ground stations and satellites to assess critical water variables such as rainfall, soil moisture, river flows, and flooding.
The researchers warn that global heating is changing the way water moves around the Earth, with water disasters in 2024 – the hottest year on record – resulting in the death of at least 8,700 people, driving 40 million from their homes and causing economic damage of more than £445bn.
Rising temperatures caused by the continued use of fossil fuels can disrupt the water cycle in multiple ways, with warmer air holding more water vapour, leading to more intense downpours; warmer seas providing more energy to hurricanes and typhoons; and global heating increasing drought due to greater evaporation of water from soil, in addition to disrupting rainfall patterns.
The report’s authors warn that seasonal climate forecasts for 2025, assessed alongside current environmental conditions, suggest droughts could worsen in northern South America, southern Africa, and parts of Asia, with wetter regions such as Sahel (a biogeographical region in Africa) and Europe potentially exposed to elevated flood risk.
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]]>The post The human cost of the climate crisis appeared first on The Source.
]]>The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report, No Escape: On the frontlines of Climate Change, Conflict and Forced Displacement, published ahead of COP29, held in November 2024 in Azerbaijan, reports on the impact that climate change has on those displaced and in places of conflict.
Making sober reading, in addition to providing analysis of the current impact of climate change on the most vulnerable, it warns of the acceleration of conflict and displacement as a result of unfettered climate change and tells the stories of refugees tackling the devastation caused by extreme weather events and conflict today.
By putting faces to the statistics, this report challenges the notion that climate change is a problem of the future and urges decision-makers to adopt the recommendations of the report to help support those in need and avoid an escalation of conflict and displacement exacerbated by climate change.
The report finds that 75% of people forced to flee their homes live in countries with high-to-extreme exposure to climate-related hazards. And whilst billions of dollars are going into climate finance to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, little is being invested in the countries facing the harshest impacts of climate change, many of which are countries hosting the majority of forcibly displaced people. According to the report, regions considered ‘extremely fragile’ receive on average around $2 per person in annual adaptation funding, compared to $161 per person in non-fragile states.
As the world becomes increasingly volatile, so the number of people forcibly displaced in the world due to violence, conflict and climate-related hazards has accelerated, doubling to more than 120 million people over the past 10 years, with 90 million displaced people living in countries with high-to-extreme exposure to climate-related hazards and nearly half of all forcibly displaced people faced with the challenges of both conflict and the impact of climate change.
According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), over the past 10 years, weather-related disasters have caused 220 million internal displacements – equivalent to approximately 60,000 displacements per day. The report states that by 2040 the number of countries facing ‘extreme climate-related hazards’ is expected to rise from three to 65, the vast majority of which are already hosting displaced populations. Extreme heat is also predicted to rise significantly, with most refugee settlements and camps projected to experience twice as many days of dangerous heat by 2050.
The report finds that although conflict remains the primary cause of cross-border displacement, the impacts of climate change can aggravate tensions and weaken social cohesion, with climate change deepening existing inequalities. And the effect of rising temperatures on the availability of natural resources such as fresh water and productive land can further exacerbate social tensions.
Whilst the situation is dire, the UNHCR sets out a roadmap for a multi-faceted response, based both on evidence-based science and the lived experience of those who are being most affected by the impacts of conflict and climate extremes. The report demonstrates sustainable solutions to avoid worst case scenarios through integrated approaches that are ‘climate-smart, protection- and gender-centred, human rights-based, conflict-sensitive, and peace-responsive’, and explores the complex and multidimensional relationships between conflict, climate change and forced displacement and the prevailing dynamics of socio-economic and political conditions.
The report suggests approaches to help strengthen the resilience and inclusion of displaced people and their hosts and close the gaps in available resources by guiding financing decisions through a needs-based approach, concluding with recommendations for improving policies and prioritising financing for climate action and the protection of refugees.
The UNHCR’s call for action concludes with four recommendations. The first is to protect displaced people fleeing in the context of climate change impacts and disasters by applying and adapting existing legal tools, ensuring that international refugee and human rights laws, international humanitarian laws and regional mechanisms apply when the need for international protection arises in cases of displacement in the context of climate change impacts and disasters, including in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. It also urges for national and local policy frameworks to address climate change with National Adaptation Plans and National Development Plans that incorporate provisions for the protection of displaced people.
The second recommendation is for the voices and needs of displaced populations and host communities to be included in climate finance and policy decisions. The report calls for COP to recognise displacement and the protection of displaced people who are in climate vulnerable situations and enable vulnerable countries and communities to participate meaningfully in policy discussions, helping host countries to include refugees in their climate action policies and plans as a basis for funding national priorities, including national adaptation plans, nationally determined contributions, disaster risk reduction strategies and early warning systems.
The third recommendation is to invest in building climate resilience where needs are greatest, especially in fragile and conflict affected settings by ensuring that funding windows and mechanisms are available.
UNHCR calls for the mobilisation of technical assistance and institutional capacity to enable readiness to absorb, access and implement climate action finance, and ensure accountability to refugees, host countries and local communities to ensure a greater proportion of climate-sensitive and peace-responsive climate finance reaches those living on the frontlines of the climate crisis, especially in fragile and conflict-affected areas.
Finally, the report calls for an acceleration in the reduction of carbon emissions to prevent climate disaster and to avert and minimise further displacement.
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]]>The authors of State of Global Water Resources, report that the year 2023 was the driest year for global rivers in over three decades. The last five consecutive years have recorded widespread below-normal conditions for river flows, with reservoir inflows following a similar pattern. The year was the hottest on record, with elevated temperatures and widespread dry conditions contributing to prolonged droughts, reducing water supplies for communities, agriculture and the environment. Global heating has also seen glaciers suffer the largest mass loss in 50 years, with 2023 marking the second consecutive year in which all regions of the world with glaciers reported ice loss.
The report finds that the year’s extreme hydrological events, including extreme flooding, were influenced by naturally occurring climate conditions – the transition from La Niña to El Niño in mid-2023 – as well as human-induced climate change which saw rising temperatures accelerating the hydrological cycle.
Recognising the challenges of these changes in an era of growing demand for water resources, WMO calls for better monitoring and data sharing, and early warning systems to tackle water-related hazards.
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