SAFE DRINKING WATER

🔹CONTEXT:- 

The Union Budget 2022-23 has allocated ₹60,000 crore to extend tapped water coverage to 38 million households in 2022-23.

🔹ENSURING SAFE WATER SUPPLY FOR ALL

▪️The Government of India has made tremendous progress in providing drinking water to its people.

▪️More than 93 % of the population has access to basic drinking water as of 2019.

▪️After the successful implementation of swachh Bharat Abhiyan the government has launched a new mission to provide safe and adequate water to every household in rural areas by 2024 through its Jal Jeevan Mission, 6 year ahead of SDGs which is commendable.

▪️The national health policy 2017, recognises access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a cross-sectoral goal and emphasizes on the need to eliminate water and sanitation related diseases.

🔹SAFE, ADEQUATE AND SUSTAINABLE DRINKING WATER

▪️Alma-Ata declaration: The Alma-ata declaration on Primary Health Care in 1978 identified the availability of safe water and basic sanitation as essential to achieve the ‘Health for All’ goals by 2000.

▪️SDG 6: Though countries have not yet received this ambitious goal, water, sanitation and hygiene remain high on the international agenda, having been secured as targets under the SDG 6. 

Target 6.1 aims to achieve Universal and equitable access to safe and affordable water for all.

Due to the direct impact it has on health, countries have pledged two targets on water under the health SDG:

▪️to combat water borne diseases by 2030

▪️to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from water pollution and contamination.

▪️Water , a basic necessity: Water is life saving yet it is also a carrier of pathogens and toxic chemicals which will cause diseases and deaths.

Diarrhoeal diseases, cholera, typhoid, polio, hepatitis A and E are water borne diseases.

Water is necessary for personal hygiene and allows for hand hygiene which are key factors in preventing the spread of respiratory diseases and trachoma which is yet to be eliminated in India.

▪️WASH (water, sanitation & hygiene):The covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to accelerate water goals as hand washing is the key to preventing covid-19 both in communities and healthcare facilities.

Many vectors which transmit diseases like lymphatic filariasis, dengue, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, breed in water bodies.

▪️Harmful impacts of unsafe water: Water is essential for morbidity management and disability prevention for lymphedema patients (lymphatic filariasis).

🔹There are around 396000 lymphedema patients in the 8 Highly endemic states in India requiring water in the home to keep their effective legs clean and prevent further deterioration.

🔹In arsenic and fluoride affected areas, drinking water can expose people to these Chemicals, and prolonged exposure could lead to arsenicosis and fluorosis.

🔹Also, safe drinking water has a positive impact on the nutritional status of children and prevents financial loss in the household and contributes to the overall economy of the country.