Topic: Ensuring Access to Potable Water
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Alex Padfield
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Germany position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
The majority of water on Earth is not potable . This creates a global crisis of health issues. The amount of potable water available globally is threatened by the growing populations in developed and developing countries. Along with a growing population comes a sizable amount of contaminated water that often carries diseases. Developing countries are affected most by the issue of potable water nonavailability. With healthcare being a leading industry in Germany, the issue of potable water availability is viewed as pressing. Various types of water legislation are implemented in Germany. The Federal Water Act and The Waste Water Charges Act outline water pollution control in Germany. The Drinking Water Ordinance regulates, or governs the quality of drinking water.
A core question that needs to be addressed is, how many citizens globally do not have access to potable water? About 780 million people do not have access to sanitary drinking water. The access to safe and sanitary water affects public health in the aspect of food production, domestic use, and use for drinking. Without the sanitary water needed to complete many tasks, the success of multiple nations, primarily developing nations, is hindered. This poses another question: How many countries globally have the means to implement essential reforms to water systems? The majority of the countries that cannot provide these means are developing countries, because of monetary issues.
Germany strongly favors a resolution including the restoration of superior ecological quality to bodies of water. This can be achieved in a multitude of ways such as larger amounts of legislation on water pollution regulations being implemented. This would be especially prevalent in developing countries that do not have the monetary means to necessarily reform their natural bodies of water. The German delegation finds it vital that there is an adequate supply of quality drinking and process water available. In order to help developing nations with the issue of supply, Germany believes that water consumption should be reduced. The nation of Germany has cut down water usage to about 122 liters per person per day. This is a relatively low amount compared to other nations.
The delegation of Germany looks forward to creating a resolution that outlines the previously stated concerns. Germany is hopeful to resolve issues faced with many nations today. More details about Germany’s plan on ensuring access to potable water will be addressed during committee.
Sources used:
http://www.un.org/press/en/2010/ga10967.doc.htm
http://www.bmub.bund.de/en/topics/water-waste-soil/water-management/drinking-water/
http://www.who.int/en/
http://www.who.int/countries/en/
