By Khulile Thwala
To increase access to potable water and improve sanitation issues, several river gauging stations have been installed with real-time monitoring gadgets by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
These help in ensuring the water sources contain potable water and are safe for use and consumption. The government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, shared this as part of its World Water Day commemoration. World Water Day is commemorated worldwide on March 22.
Automated and real-time water quality monitoring gadgets provide timely information about water quality by directly processing the data collected from distributed monitoring mechanisms, thereby enabling quick responses to address potential leakages and water pollution incidents.
The Ministry of Natural Resource has further ensured that selected boreholes in the Komati basin accelerate improved water quality and waste management.
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These boreholes have been installed to accelerate reducing water-borne diseases and halt the loss of aquatic biodiversity and invasive species in water ecosystems. Furthermore, they will strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change and water-related disasters.
Through these installations, the government aims to accelerate building capacity on water harvesting techniques and storage. Country Director of Thirst Project Eswatini Sibusiso Shiba says that it is time to spread education about the significance of clean drinking water and the need to manage it sustainably.
He said World Water Day was a significant time to empower Emaswati on the crucial importance of water to all living things.
“We are therefore reminded to accelerate change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. Let us all take action, use water sparingly and not wait for a water crisis to erupt before acting,” says Shiba.
He emphasised that by doing this, Emaswati would be saving blue and living green for future generations to enjoy the very natural resources available today.
“We cannot experience development if we cannot save water and there will be totally nothing green if water is not properly managed and utilised,” asserted the Thirst Project country director.
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“Life on earth would be impossible without a sufficient and reliable supply of water,” Shiba emphasised.
The theme for this year’s World Water Day was “Accelerating Change to solve the water and sanitation crisis”. The theme seeks to urge policy and decision-makers, inside and outside the water community, to intensify efforts to ensure universal access to water. The global campaign, called “Be the change”, encourages people to take action in their own lives to change the way they use, consume and manage water.
World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the people living without access to safe drinking water. The UN says it is crucial to take action to ensure that countries tackle the global water crisis and aim to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: “water and sanitation for all by 2030.”
