Topic: Ensuring Access to Potable Water
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Grace Ackerman
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Thailand position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Even though over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, most of it is either saltwater or it is not potable. Unfortunately, billions of people throughout the world do not have access to a clean water source; this often results in many victims of waterborne illnesses that they do not have the resources to treat. In 2012, 1.5 million people died from diarrhoeal diseases spread through contaminated water (www.who.org). The World Health Organization has major concerns on this particular issue because of the health risks contaminated water, or lack of water presents. The United Nations passed a resolution in 2010 to define the sufficient access to clean drinking water as: “between 50 and 100 liters of water per person, per day, which must be safe, acceptable and affordable, and physically accessible,” (www.who.org). Thailand’s economic development in the past three decades has increased demand in water for power, irrigation and domestic and industrial usage, especially because Thailand is agriculture-based. The Thai government has devoted a substantial amount of money to meet its citizens demands, and has developed a course of action on water management. Thailand is a peninsula, therefore the maintenance of the waters surrounding them is crucial for their fishing industry. It joined the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 2011 and supports conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity (www.thaiembassy.org).
Although most of the citizens in Thailand have access to potable water, the government is still committed to managing its water effectively and preventing further water pollution. Of the urban population 80% have access to potable drinking water, and potentially 91% of the population will in 2017; however of the rural population 70% have pipeline water, rainwater jars and tube wells, but they also have to rely on other sources (www.fao.org). In the past, management efforts have been canal digging, building reservoirs, and expanding irrigation areas. However, as the Thai economy (mainly agriculture) developed the demand for water increased, as 71% of water usage is from agriculture (www.fao.org). A new approach includes actions such as adopting a basin water management strategy, sophisticated tax system, water-saving technology, water quality management, flood management, etc. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has partnered with Thailand on issues such as reducing farm runoff (2006), watershed management (2007 and 2008), the reduction of exposure to toxic chemicals (2012, 2013 and 2014), and the EPA helped sponsor the Thachin River Basin Restoration Partnership Workshop (2002) (www.epa.gov). Thailand supports the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the resolution on the human right to water and sanitation. Thailand is party to: Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation and Wetlands (www.cia.gov). Thailand’s efforts have been successful for awhile, but they were only temporarily fixing the issue. Currently, access to potable water is becoming more difficult and more cost worthy.
In the past, there was ample clean water for Thailand to use, but as the economy developed and water pollution increased so did the demand for potable water. The Thai government has taken measures in the past such as canal digging or reservoir building but a more effective approach has become necessary. The depleting water table and droughts are becoming more apparent. Thailand encourages advancement in water-technology such as desalination process or other innovative ways to manage and purify water. Thailand’s main strategy currently is to establish the systematic management of water resources, especially at river basin level, including the provision of clean drinking water and the supervision of water quality, pollution control, and drainage. By adhering to the aforementioned guidelines, Thailand hopes to achieve a sufficient level of potable water, and a legal/organizational system that will ensure equitable and sustainable use of water resources.
