Making a splash on World Water Day

Published On Thu 17 Mar 2016 by Grant Hill

Specialist practitioners from the University of Dundee will join with experts from a wide range of institutions next week for a conference marking World Water Day 2016.

‘Water and Sustainability: A Hydro Nation Approach’ takes place at the University’s Dalhousie Building on Monday, 22^nd March. Delegates will examine the impact of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the water sector.

The world water crisis is often mentioned, usually in the context of drinking water and sanitation. Nearly a billion people are still without an ‘improved’ water supply and 2.5billion do not have adequate sanitation. Globally, states have now agreed to the Sustainable Development Goal on Water but provision of water services, and management of water resources, also cut across many other SDGs.

The Dundee event will ask what Scotland can do to help achieve the SDGs related to water. The contributions of Scotland’s Hydro Nation programme and other global initiatives toward achieving the SDGs will be highlighted as cutting edge solutions involving technical innovation, effective governance and regulation, and pioneering research across the water sciences, will be explored.

The event will be led by staff from Dundee’s UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, and is being organised in collaboration with Scottish Government, the University of Strathclyde and the International Water Resources Association.

Dr Alistair Rieu-Clarke, a co-organiser of the event, said, “We are delighted to be hosting this event to mark this year’s World Water Day and to discuss the hugely important issues that must be resolved if we are to ensure access to safe and clean water for all and aid the development of impoverished people across the globe.

“Participants will exchange perspectives and predictions regarding the impact of the UN’s new SDGs on the water sector. They will also evaluate the successes of various projects that improve Integrated Water Resources Management and availability of water and sanitation services across the world. The event will close with a panel of Hydro Nation Scholars who will describe their research across a broad spectrum of social and hard sciences.”

In 2012, the Scottish Government launched its Hydro Nation strategy to showcase Scottish expertise and better develop the multiple values of the country’s abundant water resources. Different dimensions of the Hydro Nation include international activities to support the delivery of water and sanitation in developing countries, and now to support the water SDG.

The Hydro Nation initiative promotes Scotland’s extensive research capabilities in water, including at the University, and works with the water industry to develop innovative solutions for use at home and abroad. Dundee staff have been actively involved in dimensions of the Hydro Nation including the export of Scotland’s water governance model through their research.

World Water Day was inaugurated in 1993, since when it has been a focus globally for action on water issues, including promoting fair and equitable access to transboundary watercourse and groundwater resources of freshwater. 

The Dundee event can be followed via the hashtag #HydroNation, while global activities will use #WorldWaterDay.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384768
Mobile: 07854 953277
Email: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk