water is life - en

8/6/2019 Water is Life - En

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Composed and Published by:

Water Supply & Sanitation Programme(WSSP) in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnamhttp://binhdinhwssp.wordpress.com/

Provincial Centre for Rural Water Supply andSanitation (PCerwass) in Binh Dinh Province,Vietnamhttp://www.cerwass.org.vn/
http://binhdinhwssp.wordpress.com/http://www.cerwass.org.vn/http://binhdinhwssp.wordpress.com/http://www.cerwass.org.vn/


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FOREWORD

The Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (WSSP) inBinh Dinh Province aims to improve the quality of life ofthe population in 6 districts of Binh Dinh Province (PhuCat, Phu My, Tuy Phuoc, Tay Son, An Nhon and HoaiNhon) through the provision of efficient facilities for bothirrigation and drinking water as well as solid wastemanagement.

Awareness-raising is one of the main components of thisproject. To increase basic knowledge on water supplymanagement, the project has chosen to develop a first

booklet on 'Water is Life'.

Although certain knowledge and concepts might beunfamiliar to some people, the authors made very shortand simple explanations which are accompanied byvarious pictures to intrigue the readers.

We would like to thank all persons who contributed to thecompletion of this edition. On this occasion, we would alsolike to express our gratitude and appreciation to the localpeople who have been very cooperative during our fieldwork.

Thanks!


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TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Introduction

2. Importance of water to human life

3. Scarcity of Water

4. Polluted Water

5. Sources of Polluted Water

6. Water and Diseases

7. Clean Water

8. Tapwater: What, How, Fee, Why?


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1. INTRODUCTION

Clean, fresh and safe water is essentialfor ourhealth and ourday-to-dayliving.

Estimates about the usage of water vary, butapproximately 80 liters (including cooking, drinking,sanitation, bathing, ...) are needed per person perday.

An average person needs to drink atleast 8 glasses (about 2 liters) ofclean drinking water a day to survive.

Not having enough safe drinking water or havingcontaminated drinking water, poses a threat to allliving organisms and especially humans.


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2. IMPORTANCE OF WATER TO HUMANLIFE

We can survive several weeks without food, but onlya few days without water. A constant supply ofwater is needed for a wide range of activities, suchas breathing, sweating and urinating.

- Water is absorbed by our body to com-pensate for water losses through skin, lung,kidney, etc.

- Water supplies necessary substances for thedevelopment of our body such as iodine,

flour, zinc, iron, etc.

- Water helps to discharge the unwanted andpoisonous substances from the body.

- Water helps humans struggle against theheat. The climate of places where there aremany rivers or lakes is often cooler.


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3. SCARCITY OF WATER

Almost all of the worlds water (97%)is found in oceans and seas. Thiswater is salted and thus not easy to use for

our daily needs.

A very small amount (about 2.8%) of the worlds water is fresh water, but most of it is notavailable for us. It is either frozen or trappedground wateror found in the atmosphere as watervapour.

Frozen water

Evaporated water


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A very, very small amount, about 0.3%,is found in rivers and lakes - this isfresh waterwe can use. Just a drop inthe bucket.


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4. WHAT IS POLLUTED WATER?

Water Pollution is any chemical, physical orbiological change in the quality of water that has aharmful effect on any living thing that drinks or usesor lives (in) it.

Water with abad smell

Water withmicro-organism

Pollutedwater

Water withcolour anddust


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5. SOURCES OF POLLUTED WATER

Using toilets along theriver

SOLUTION:* Not urinate and defecate near water resources* Construct septic toilet for households, not lettingfeces polluting underground water

Dumping garbage and discharge waste waterinto river or around water resources.

SOLUTION: Not dump waste or dead animalsinto rivers or other water resources.


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Washing or taking bath close to waterresources will pollute the water.

SOLUTION: Not taking water bath or showerin the water resources.

Waste water of the factories withouttreatment which is discharged directly into theriver.

SOLUTION: Urge factories to deal with theirwaste water in an appropriate way and notdump their waste water into the waterresources.


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Underground water contaminated by fuel,fertilizer, pesticide used in the field or other

chemical substances penetrating through soil.

SOLUTION: Be careful while using thesechemical substances. Try not to use them if

not necessary and don't spoil them.

Protecting water resources isthe responsibility of everyone


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6. WATER AND DISEASES

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% ofall sickness and disease in the world is a result ofpoor quality water and sanitation.

According to the United Nation Childrens Fund

(UNICEF), it is estimated that Vietnam has morethan 20,000 citizens, mainly children, that die eachyear of diseases caused by unhygienic and dirtywater.

Contaminated water contains germs and bacteriathat can often not be seen with the naked eyes, butthey can cause the spread of water-relateddiseases like diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A,salmonella, schistosoma, guinea worm...

DiarrhoeaHepatitis A

SalmonellaWorms

...


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7. WHAT IS CLEAN WATER?

Clean water is water without bacteria or germswhich are harmful for humans health. This water issafe to drink, to cook with, to wash, to cleanvegetables etc.


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8. TAPWATER: WHAT, HOW, FEE ANDWHY

WHAT IS TAP WATER?

Tap water is filtered and disinfected water whichcomes from an indoor tap or spigot. It is clean water

without any bacteria or germs and it does not haveany smell or strange color.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

It is part of a larger indoorWater Treatment Factory

or Station which requires a complex supportiveinfrastructure including a stable water source,pumping station, piping and water filtration to keepthe water safe.


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WHAT IS A WATER FEE?

A certain amount of money that households paymonthly to have access to tapwater. The amountof money depends on how much water you use. Thisfee is necessary to support the costs of waterfiltering, cleaning, operation and maintenance,depreciation of facilities.

WHY PAY FOR TAPWATER?

Using tap water improves yourhealth

Reduces the risk of water-borne diseases

The water is readily accessible for cooking,washing, cleaning and drinking at home.


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Water is Life. Use Clean Water.

water is life - en

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