Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene September 2018 Vol.13 No.4 | Page 21

enhancements can ensure a more
sustainable water supply. Suez, meanwhile,
is incorporating wetland restoration into
its practices to improve water quality and
reduce operating costs. In addition, there are
many examples of visionary local utilities
actively investing in both green and grey
infrastructure to deliver sustainable water to
the communities and cities they serve.
An aerial view of the Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana. Image:
Carlton Ward Jr
Of course, it is agriculture and industry,
not domestic use, that represents the vast
majority of water consumption. Businesses
with high water needs have an enormous
the most effective ways to improve water
quality and quantity for urban areas. A study
by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) estimated
that four out of five cities could improve
water quality using nature-based solutions,
and potentially 1,000 cities globally would
see a positive return on investment based
on reductions in total utility expenditures.
Furthermore, these solutions often deliver
other forms of value, such as increased
agricultural yields, improved community health
and carbon sequestration.
One example is the Upper Tana Nairobi
Water Fund, which addressed the challenge
of severe erosion and nutrient runoff into
Nairobi’s water supplies by helping upstream
farmers implement practices that both reduce
erosion and increase agricultural yields. Today,
such activities in the watershed help sustain
the water supply for 9.3 million people and
will generate an estimated $21.5 million in
long-term benefits for local communities and
businesses.
The future of water security
Since TNC launched its first water fund in
Quito, Ecuador, in 2000, we’ve established 34
water funds around the world, with 30 more
in development throughout Latin America,
North America, Africa and Asia. But this is
not enough. By 2025, at least two-thirds of
the world’s population will likely be living in
water-stressed areas. The question we face now
is: how do we implement these solutions at
the scale needed to truly make a dent in global
water insecurity?
It’s not enough for TNC to keep developing
water funds, though we will. We also need
more partners in the public and private sectors
to invest in these practices.
Utilities are one of those key partners –
especially companies such Veolia and Suez,
with an international presence. Veolia,
for example, is exploring how changing
agricultural practices and ecosystem
The Upper Tana Watershed, Kenya. Image: Nick Hall
interest in ensuring they have stable water
supplies, and can have an equally enormous
impact on global water security. Consider the
example of PepsiCo. All along its supply chain
and production processes, PepsiCo depends
on reliable water supplies, and the company
has accordingly established an integrated
approach to watershed management, including
partnerships with TNC to restore watersheds
in Latin America and the United States.
To date, more than 100 corporations have
invested more than $38m in water funds.
Having more private-sector actors invest
seriously in nature-based solutions – and
having city and state regulators realize the
benefits of these solutions and incorporate
them into government oversight – can help us
move the needle on these challenges. On top
of that, we can protect ecosystems that deliver
a range of other functions, including climate
mitigation, increased agricultural yields and
improved community health. This goes beyond
providing clean water – it’s about making
human development fundamentally more
sustainable around the world.
Nature can deliver better water security for
more than a billion people. It’s an ambitious
goal – but with the right partnerships
and stakeholders involved, we can have a
measurable, positive influence on planetary
health overall.