UN envoy: Pressure on urban water resources to increase by 2030

By 2030, pressure on water resources in cities worldwide will continue to increase, the UN Secretary-General"s Special Envoy for Water Retno Marsudi said at the Assembly of the Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) within the 13th session of the World Urban Forum 13.

Report quotes her as saying global access to water and sanitation remains a major challenge. "In the world, 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, and 3.5 billion people lack access to safe sanitation services," she said.

However, she also pointed to progress in the sector: "Since 2015, 961 million people have gained access to safe drinking water, 1.2 billion to safe sanitation, and 1.6 billion to basic hygiene services."

Marsudi added that urbanization is increasing pressure on water resources.

"Half of the world's 100 largest cities are already facing high levels of water scarcity. By 2030, more than 60% of the world's population will live in cities, creating additional pressure on urban water resources. In this context, water operators and utility services play a key role as the foundation of collective efforts in the water sector," she emphasized.