The availability of a water source is a critical dimension of human security. Clean water is essential for many necessities of life, which include drinking, cooking, sanitation and hygiene. For farmers in rural areas, for example, water supply is a matter of food security and income. Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of the world’s freshwater resources, and the ability to save even a fraction of rainwater can go a long way in helping to reduce water stress.
As the effects of climate change continue to increase, the Caribbean faces more frequent and intense weather events, such as droughts, hurricanes and floods, which create more inconsistency in the availability of water. Piped water supply only reaches approximately 70 percent of Jamaicans living in Utility Service Areas. With average annual rainfall expected to decrease in the region between 30 to 50% in the coming years, and the demand for fresh water predicted to increase steadily, water supply is particularly at risk for island States in the Caribbean. In order to secure a relatively constant water supply and improve resilience to extreme shocks, it has become critical to implement small-scale water management solutions, which can be maintained by communities .
As part of its action on water security, the Cartagena Convention Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has developed a digital guide to water harvesting for non-experts in the Wider Caribbean, entitled “Hello Water”. This tool was developed as part of the Joint UN Human Security programme “Strengthening human resilience in Northern Clarendon and West Kingston”, the first initiative of its kind in Jamaica to mainstream the human security approach among multiple United Nations agencies working in the country. The UN Joint Team is comprised of UNEP, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, lead agency), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and UN Women. UN agencies combine their areas of expertise to address multiple human vulnerabilities and foster human development and resilience. Water security, in the form of a reliable access to water supply in safe hygiene conditions including in the context of climate change and extreme weather events, is an essential part of human resilience. The Cartagena Convention Secretariat’s intervention under this project is focused on improving water security for urban and rural communities and particularly among vulnerable groups (women, youth, persons with disabilities). With dedicated modules, this Rainwater Harvesting Manual dubbed “Hello Water” targets homeowners, farmers and school staff, each with their own needs and specificities, as well as agencies implementing similar projects. This initiative directly supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 6 which aims to support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management, as well as equitable access to safe water.
What will you learn from use of the training tool?
“Hello Water” aims at showing non-experts how water storage and rainwater harvesting can improve water security, food security, and hygiene. It offers an understanding of how to estimate water needs and the capacity for water harvesting of a given household or area, and how to choose the appropriate catchment method, storage facility, and sanitation system.
You will learn the economics of choosing the adapted water harvesting method for your specific case and ensure long-term sustainability. The tool also guides users on how to choose, install and maintain water harvesting units. At the community level, “Hello Water” provides a basis for understanding collective water management structures such as rain gardens and ponds.
Click here to access the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat Hello Water Training Course.
