Water Resources in Peril: A Discussion of Challenges and Opportunities

Water resources around the world are increasingly stressed. Over-abstraction of surface and groundwater is impacting economic activity, harming biodiversity, and leaving communities without access to reliable and adequate water supplies to meet their basic needs. Meanwhile, agricultural runoff, industrial effluent, and municipal waste degrade water resources with pathogenic and chemical contaminants that pose environmental and public health risks. Climate change and rising temperatures are changing seasonality and precipitation patterns, causing more frequent and intense droughts and floods, and a rise of sea levels. These collectively are affecting recharge of groundwater and surface water replenishment as well as exposing communities around the world to more damaging climatic events, localized contaminations and increased saline water intrusion in aquifers, and conflicts over resources. Technical capacity, human resources, and financial constraints along with inadequate monitoring and management systems have compounded these water risks. These are among the many challenges identified in water resources management profiles of USAID’s high priority countries prepared by USAID’s Sustainable Water Partnership (SWP).

During this webinar, SWP will elaborate on the findings of the country profile assessments and take a deep dive into one of the high-priority countries. The webinar will also include a panel discussion focusing on opportunities and tools to address some of the risks highlighted in the profiles.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, July 21, 9:00 am -10:30 am (EST).