UN World Water Day Summit gets underway in Durban
On this World Water Day, scientists are encouraging us to consider re-using waste water as a way of addressing shortages of the precious resource.
They've gathered at the Durban ICC for the International World Water Day Summit - which was officially opened by President Jacob Zuma this morning.
Getachew Engida from UNESCO says more than half of the world's population live in areas with water scarcity.
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He says the situation is expected to get worse due to population growth and the effects climate change.
"On the one hand we witness a looming water crisis, on the other - we're responsible for large amounts of wastewater that are dumped into the environments in uncontrolled and un-managed ways," he said.
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Harlin says we are damaging ourselves by wasting finite resources of valuable minerals, and polluting fresh water and the environment.
"At the same time, we are risking our health, and the future of our planet," he said.
Why waste water? asks @UN_Water Vice-chair @JoakimHarlin at the #WaterSummit. Wastewater is a valuable resource. #SaveGreyWater
— eThekwini Muni (@eThekwiniM) March 22, 2017
17th edition of UN's World Water Development Report is being launched at the #WaterSummit #Savewater #WorldWaterDay pic.twitter.com/ibQSbXrxqR
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) March 22, 2017