By Rahmon Gbadamosi
Annually, on March 22, World Water Day is celebrated and a day people all over the world are reminded the significance of water. Indisputably. it is a natural substance that sustain all lives and non-living on earth . In other words it is very essential to life. '.
If you don't know water makes roughly 65%-70% of our body which our brain consumes largely of it. Medically, it helps body metabolism. Thus, it maintains ph level of the body; it aids digestion; it helps kidney to work in optimum normality;It dehydrates our body. These are the reasons you need to taking much water in a moderate volume in a day. Some say at least 8 glass cups of water per day is good for us. Considerably climate condition determines volume of water to drink. In hot weather we take more water than when the weather is briskly cold.
However, World Water Day is not only drinking water regularly but also for creating awareness clean water and its conservation for our betterment.World international community such as UN and international non governmental organisations do its celebration by devoting the day to implement and promote tangible programmes or activities related to water resources. Like these year's theme, it is tagged "Water and Jobs" . That is looking into ways in creating jobs either directly or indirectly through water resources management. Previous year its theme was " Water and Sustainable development " . All previous years were celebrated with a chosen theme respectively. The NGOs also organise event like educational seminar, theatrical show, inauguration of relevant projects and raising of funds for access to clean and affordable water.
Water occupies 70% of the earth, which composes 97% of salty water and fresh water. Fresh water is required by humans .It is highly used at home and in industry. From fresh water our drinkable water is sourced before purification. Though, some communities drink fresh water without being refined which amounts or classifies them among who do not have access to drinkable water which is also called portable water. This is because fresh water is widely available in Nigeria. Fresh water is available both on the surface like lake, stream, rivers, pond, and underground where we source our water through drilling of borehole and digging of well.
It is indispensable. In local saying " Water has no enemy". You can't be hostile with water. Virtually everything we do, requires water. It is for drinking, bathing, cleaning, washing, agriculture, medium of transportation, power generation etc.Ironically, Nigeria is endowed with water resources but unable to provide drinkable water or portable water. Politically, federal government, state government and local government have responsibilities to manage and provide water for the people.
According to Wikipedia - Globally, in 2012, 89% of people had access to water suitable for drinking. [1] Nearly 4 billion had access to tap water while another 2.3 billion had access to wells or public taps. [1] 1.8 billion people still use an unsafe drinking water source which may be contaminated by feces .[1] This can result in infectious diarrhea such as cholera and typhoid among" . In reality, even one doesn't necessary need statistics to know its nonavailability and prevalence of waterborne disease . Glaringly and in reality, most Nigerians have no access to clean drinkable water.
In my community, almost every home has borehole to provide for domestic uses. But most of these boreholes-water are not healthy for drinking.Even, killing of the germs in it by boiling does not make them suitable for drinking because they might be still contaminated by mineral substances, deposited in the soil which are toxic to the body. Nevertheless, that is what most people drink and cook. It makes them susceptible to having diseases. Those of who are wary of it's consequence, including someone like me , buy sachet water popularly known as "Pure Water". Some communities have no borehole or well which is pretty worse. They get water from flowing stream. that expose them to higher risk of contacting diseases. Often, cholera outbreak occurs in several parts of the country.
In the major cities like Lagos where state government provides water through its corporations. The water supply is to few parts of the state and still not stable . It is supplied through pipes, connected to houses and factories . Leakage of pipe is common which allows germs breeding and contamination due to lack of maintenance, vandalism and during construction activities. At the grassroots, some politicians and local government construct boreholes. Their constructions are shoddy, obsolete and substandard.
I think government should do more by providing water to all homes regardless of their location. Not just water , but a clean one.
Secondly, they must provide extensive assistance on how to have purified borehole owned by individual.
Thirdly, there must be guidelines or standard that should be meant before construction of borehole.
Moreover , government owned water corporations should have a new robust plans supported with viable course of actions directed at expanding and connecting more homes in order to deliver portable water.
Fourthly, government should stop channeling of waste water from houses to main public drainage. One of the means to conserve natural water, to eliminate mosquito breeding and avert disease. They should ensure that every house has septic tank
Fourthly, government should stop channeling of waste water from houses to main public drainage. One of the means to conserve natural water, to eliminate mosquito breeding and avert disease. They should ensure that every house has septic tank
Lastly, proper maintenance and monitoring of pipeline through technology to detect quickly damage m should be employed.
Remember, try to drink clean water and preserve water.
Happy World Water Day
Photo:from Waterpiks
No comments:
Post a Comment