Foreword

Water is life. The importance of water to all facets of this world’s day to day existence is often ignored or taken for granted. Projects, which examine the value of water, its conservation, its distribution and its reuse, are essential for communicating the value of this misunderstood commodity. I live in the driest continent on earth (apart from Antarctica). More than 93% of Australia receives an average annual rainfall of less than 40 inches (1000mm). 70% of my country receives less than half that amount. Better harvesting, conservation and reuse of water has taken place over the last decades to improve the way we use water for industry, agriculture and everyday consumption.

But what happens in the other dry areas of the world that are more heavily populated, where droughts are common, harvests are poor and people starve, basically because of a lack of water? The world is recognising that without proper water supplies life cannot be sustained. The United Nations has declared the year 2003 as the UN International Year of Freshwater. This decision has been stimulated by reports on many aspects of water supply and sanitation needs and the effects of climate change, destruction of wetlands, pollution of existing supplies and our patterns of usage.

Without action, it has been suggested that in 2025, two thirds of the world’s population will be trying to survive in water stressed areas.

One of the actions necessary to help avert this crisis is to educate people as to the value of this precious resource. This is one of the objectives of this project.

Peter J Michel

Retired Chief Engineer Hunter Water Australia
Member of International Governing Board of (now) International Water Association
(1988-1999)