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National Science Foundation (NSF) Expert Highlights Looming Water Crisis: Solutions to be Proposed at Upcoming NSF Water Forum
March, 2008
Women and children queue for water on a dusty road in Sri Lanka
Women and children queue for water on a dusty road in Sri Lanka
© Photo Peter Coles, UNESCO


The lack of clean, freshwater in much of the developing world has long been recognized as a major problem. A recent article in the March 20th issue of Nature, co-authored by Prof. Mark Shannon, highlights key water issues, and focuses on several new approaches in disinfection, desalination, reuse, and reclamation. Prof. Shannon heads a National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Technology Center (STC) focusing on water purification at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Cutting-edge technologies to increase supplies of freshwater will be the focus of an NSF-sponsored Water Forum to be held on June 27th at the Department of State, and Prof. Shannon will be one of the keynote speakers highlighting several of these technologies. Prof. Shannon and other technical experts participating in the Forum will consider a mix of solutions including purification, assessment, and management. The importance of freshwater is one of the key areas underscored during the International Year of Planet Earth kickoff meeting held at UNESCO on February 11-12. At that meeting Dr. Mark Myers, Director of the US Geological Survey, highlighted key water issues and announced plans for the Water Forum. (Read more about the presentation)

Ambassador Louise Oliver from the US Mission to UNESCO, the UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura, and other US agency representatives plan to outline the roles of US and international organizations in dealing with the chronic lack of freshwater in many parts of the world. The US Congress has recognized the importance of this issue through the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 “to provide affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries.” One outcome of the Forum will be to propose measures to move in this direction.

The US Mission to UNESCO is working with the NSF to focus attention on the international dimensions of inadequate water supplies, which lead to millions of deaths each year. The Mission is collaborating with the STC on an African Water Initiative, beginning with a series of regional workshops, and leading to plans to increase freshwater supplies. Other US and international organizations will be included. The International Hydrological Program at UNESCO plays a key role in helping to solve water problems and promotes capacity-building in developing countries. Clearly, a coordinated, multi-faceted approach is needed to deal with complex water issues and provide increased supplies of clean freshwater.

Links of interest

Read the complete text of the article by Professor Mark Shannon

Read the latest news on the National Science Foundation website

 
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