Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene January - February 2016 vol.11 no.1 | Page 39

January

Water security is the capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to
adequate quantities of acceptable quality water, while ensuring protection against water
borne pollution and water related disasters.

March

Global population and economic growth are placing unprecedented stress on water quantity
and quality. Competition among different freshwater users such as agriculture, industry and
households may become fiercer, which will require better, more proactive water resources
management.

February

Every year, more than 32 billion cubic meters (m3) of treated water–roughly the equivalent of 13 million
Olympic¬ size swimming pools–leak from urban water supply systems before reaching the consumer,
while 16 billion m3 are delivered to consumers for zero revenue. Half are in developing countries, where
public water services are starving for additional revenues to finance expansion of services and where most
connected customers suffer from intermittent supply and poor water quality.

April

Without decisive actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change, its effects could push
more than 100 million additional people back into poverty by 2030.

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