Let’s do our part because every drop counts!

An Environmentalist, Mr John Ekoko advocated the provision of safe drinking water in high-density areas in urban centres.

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The UN set aside March 22 every year for the celebration of the Day with the 2018 theme: “Nature for Water’’ aimed at exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges in the 21st Century.

According to Ekoko, many people in high-density areas in urban centres still drink untreated water causing exposure and spread of all kinds of water-borne diseases.

“Access to safe drinking water is a basic need and it is the responsibility of good government to provide this basic necessity of life to its citizenry.

A woman arrives with empty jars to fill water from the traditional stone tap in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 22, 2018, the World Water Day. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

“There are a lot of unplanned structures in high-density areas and there is a need for governments to step in and plan the areas.

“In doing this, the government will be taking care of so many issues concerning water challenges in those areas.

“The toilet systems and disposal of faeces in those areas are nothing to write home about and all these combine to contaminate boreholes which are their means of water supply.

A man fetches water from a lake at Dala Township on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar, March 22, 2018. World Water Day is observed annually on March 22. (Xinhua/U Aung)

“We all know that water from boreholes is not good and when unregulated, it poses a lot of hazards to underground water,” he said.

Ekoko said the commemoration of the Day provided a good opportunity to remind governments of their water responsibilities to the people.

He said it was also a celebration to tell people that all hands must be on deck to ensure safe drinking water for all.

According to him, individuals, communities and governments must come together to provide a solution to lack of safe drinking water in settlement areas.

Ekoko said in the 60s governments provided potable water to their citizens, adding that this should be emulated rather than commissioning wells and impure water in 2018.