1. Water is women’s businessWater is women’s business
Lesha Witmer,Lesha Witmer,
UN delegate BPWIUN delegate BPWI

2. History BPW and “water”History BPW and “water”
Resolution world congress Melbourne 2002, Lucerne
2006 and Mexico
Presidential appointment: Chair taskforce
taskforce: (at least) one member in every region and
Link with members standing committee on
environment and regional coordinators
“women for water ambassadors”
Define issues and projects: different subjects
(founding) member of Women for water Partnership
(2003)
Member of World Water Council (2006)
Founding Member of the Butterfly Effect NGO
Coalition (2011)

3. Why a women’s issueWhy a women’s issue
Majority of the users (domestic, agriculture,Majority of the users (domestic, agriculture,
food, business, health care)food, business, health care)
Main consumers > influence quality,Main consumers > influence quality,
regulations (tap; bottle)regulations (tap; bottle)
Main suppliers in many parts of the worldMain suppliers in many parts of the world
(Easy) access to safe water; prerequisite for(Easy) access to safe water; prerequisite for
health, education and economic activity/health, education and economic activity/
independencyindependency
Sanitation is about health, dignity and safetySanitation is about health, dignity and safety
motivate and educate; take actionmotivate and educate; take action

4. Why is it a BPW issueWhy is it a BPW issue??
More and more women have professionalMore and more women have professional
education in the fieldeducation in the field
Are experts / professionals – but rarely inAre experts / professionals – but rarely in
decision-making positionsdecision-making positions
Hold positions were they can influence waterHold positions were they can influence water
useuse
Work as health care workers, facilityWork as health care workers, facility
management, educators, etc.management, educators, etc.
manage and own (small) businessesmanage and own (small) businesses

5. • (founding) member of Women for water
Partnership > official partner UN Water
• Member of world water council > influence
the world water forum
• Member of the Butterfly Effect >
cooperation
• Working with major group women and
caucus for the HLPF SD
Working together:Working together:

6. 6
ContextContext
 More water insecurity and food supply issues
 More and more water-related disasters: floods, draught,
pollution
 demand is projected to outstrip supply by 40 percent by
2030,
 an estimated half of the world’s population is likely to
live in areas of high water stress by the same year
 80% of the waste water is discharged without treatment
 Climate change makes it worse, but not the “only”
cause.. population growth, other diets (more meat)

7. context
 Water Footprint:
http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/NationalWaterA
 biggest net virtual water importers are North
Africa and the Middle East, Mexico, Europe,
Japan and South Korea (10.3 trillion gallons)10.3 trillion gallons).
 use of water has increasing policy relevance
 European Commission: flagship initiative on resource
efficiency under the Europe 2020 strategy: “Blueprint
for Safeguarding Europe’s Water” (2012)

8. 8
Attention needed for:Attention needed for:
 Behavioral changesBehavioral changes
 Waste water management: 5 R’s: redesign, reduce, reuse,Waste water management: 5 R’s: redesign, reduce, reuse,
re-cycle, re-allocatere-cycle, re-allocate
 Water storage & MUS (multiple usage)Water storage & MUS (multiple usage)
 Capacity development: awareness about use and pollutionCapacity development: awareness about use and pollution
 (lack of) access to safe sanitation
 Water & energyWater & energy
 river basin management: IWRM and transboundaryriver basin management: IWRM and transboundary
 Restoration of infra structureRestoration of infra structure
 Water stewardshipWater stewardship

9. 9
In generalIn general
 Water needs a common voice.
 Water needs sustainable solutions.
 Water needs joint action
 Water needs local and global solutions

10. Do you knowDo you know
• How much water you use per day?How much water you use per day?
• How high is your water bill?How high is your water bill?
• How much do you pay for waste waterHow much do you pay for waste water
treatment?treatment?
• Whether there is a (water) disaster Plan?Whether there is a (water) disaster Plan?

11. Do you know
• Private users: annually 800 million m³ water =
24% of total use, they pay 84% of the cost.
• Industry uses 300 million m³ (8%) and pay 15%
of the cost
• Farmers use 2,4 billion m³ (68%) but only pay
only 4% of the cost.
• Who is responsible for water in your town?Who is responsible for water in your town?

12. 12
What can womenWhat can women
/ you do?/ you do?
• Reduce use of water: shower, cooking, cleaning ,Reduce use of water: shower, cooking, cleaning ,
garden wateringgarden watering
• Multiple use of water: household cycle; e.g.Multiple use of water: household cycle; e.g.
Irrigation, household use or e.g dry sanitation andIrrigation, household use or e.g dry sanitation and
compostingcomposting
• Collect rain – and waste water; re-cycle, re-useCollect rain – and waste water; re-cycle, re-use

13. 13
What can women / youWhat can women / you
do?do?
• Use “old fashioned” airconditioningUse “old fashioned” airconditioning
• Water stewardship / water management plans inWater stewardship / water management plans in
businessesbusinesses
• Raise awareness on water use and water asRaise awareness on water use and water as
limited resourcelimited resource
• Lobby for legislation changesLobby for legislation changes
• Lobby for hygiene and water “management” inLobby for hygiene and water “management” in
educationeducation
• Make sure there will be a SDG on waterMake sure there will be a SDG on water
• ????????

14. I wish..I wish..

15. 15
What can / should womenWhat can / should women
support >> SDG?support >> SDG?
• universal access to safe water supply anduniversal access to safe water supply and
gender-responsive sanitation and hygienegender-responsive sanitation and hygiene
• access to proper hygiene (education)access to proper hygiene (education)
• front- line service delivery by womenfront- line service delivery by women
• involvement of women in water managementinvolvement of women in water management
at all levelsat all levels
• (support resolution nr. E-8)(support resolution nr. E-8)