Guimarães Rosa once said that “good quality water is the same as health and freedom: it only has value when it runs out”. The water shortages in recent years around the world have quickly caused the water issue to rise to the top of the list of priorities that need to be addressed urgently. At the same time that we see the imminent possibility of Cape Town becoming the first city in the world to run out of water, Brazil is currently experiencing what is considered its worst water crisis. Although water shortages in the country have been severe in the Northeast region at other times, the crisis that began in 2014 affects a greater number of people, mainly in the Southeast region, particularly São Paulo, and in the Central West, especially the Federal District.
It is in this scenario, five years after the United Nations (UN) drew attention to the problem, promoting the Year of Water in 2013, that Brazil hosted the 8th World Water Forum (World Water Forum 8). It was the first time that the event took place in the Southern Hemisphere, at a crucial moment, when the eyes of not only civil society and the third sector, but especially governments and companies, turned to water.
CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development) has been addressing the issue of Water for years in one of its thematic chambers, created in 2007, which has one of the most active participations of its associated companies, having become deeply involved with the Forum, assuming the position of chair of Sustainability Focus Group at the event, understands that there is an urgent need for an effective commitment from Brazilian businesspeople to the issue of water, as a type of commitment from companies to Brazil.
It is important to recognize, of course, that the Brazilian business sector, aligned with global best practices in the use of this important resource, has been developing several solutions to face the water crisis and reduce the consumption of large volumes of drinking water, which can be saved through reuse, loss management, sustainable treatments for the reuse of industrial and domestic effluents, preservation of basins and springs, etc.
We know that, in general, the way humans relate to water is through a linear flow, in which water is extracted from the environment, treated, used and then discarded. This flow presents several flaws regarding the continuity of the resource for future generations, and not only should it be rethought, but it is already being rethought due to the risks of lack of supply for the population, the risks of geopolitical conflicts, and the economic losses that can be generated in industry and commerce.
Even so, based on current trends of population growth, increased industrial production (agriculture and manufacturing), accelerated urbanization of developing countries, and expansion of municipal water supplies especially in these countries, water demand is projected to exceed sustainable supply by 40% by 2030. The calculation is from a study carried out by the World Business Council For Sustainable Development (WBCSD). By 2050 this surplus could be 50%, says the UN in another 2014 study.
It is in this context that the World Water Forum played a fundamental role in discussing viable solutions for managing this resource in the coming decades, and it was up to CEBDS to bring together good practices from its members and the commitment of this business sector to pre-established goals for more efficient management of water use. Thus, CEBDS sought to promote a leap in quality in corporate water management, in order to foster and replicate good practices throughout the business chain.
How? We had three important lines of action that were highlighted during the Forum. The first of these, as already mentioned, is our letter of commitment. More than a declaration of intentions, the document seeks to provide society with a vision of what is being done by the business sector in favor of water in Brazil. This overview will be completed with a vision of the companies' action plans for the coming years, their projects, their partnerships and associations in local initiatives in the various regions of the country. Based on this document, clear goals and specific objectives will be established to be achieved over the coming years by the companies associated with CEBDS.
It is worth remembering that CEBDS, the representative in Brazil of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), which has almost 60 national and regional councils in 36 countries and 22 industrial sectors, in addition to 200 business groups operating on all continents, is the main body for action on the topic of sustainability in the business community in Brazil. CEBDS brings together around 60 of the largest business groups in the country, with revenues of around 40% of GDP and responsible for more than 1 million direct jobs. An action with its members has a multiplier effect that can make a difference for the future we want, which is more sustainable than the scenario we see today.
The second action taken by CEBDS to make water a top priority for Brazilian companies in the coming years was the launch in Portuguese of the Guide for CEOs, specifically focused on this topic and developed by WBCSD. Entitled “Creating Resilient Companies,” the translated material guides company managers on a safe path to efficient water management. The guide presents the problem to the CEO, such as that less than 3% of the world’s water is fresh and most of it is not easily accessible, or that only about 0.5% of the total fresh water is available to meet all human and natural needs. With this awareness, we believe we can make a difference when it comes to decision-making. We believe that executives will be able to follow good practices if they become more familiar with them.
Finally, we have launched a complementary guide that aims to assist Brazilian companies in implementing a circular water economy in their industrial processes, through strategies that consider the prevention of risk situations linked to the resource. Among the main aspects involving the circular economy, we detail the tools used and technologies available for the execution of the most efficient processes.
Brazil has enormous potential for developing and using technologies to improve its water availability, in addition to reducing its industrial demand through water reuse techniques. With these actions, CEBDS believes it is doing its part to promote efficient use and reduce the water footprint of the country's industries, putting both feet in the 21st century, in order to use all available technology to move forward.
However, other segments need to follow this movement. Brazil can no longer ignore the fact that, when it comes to water, it still has one foot in the 19th century, especially when it comes to public sanitation. The data we are receiving on this subject is alarming, with regard to the entire flow of consumption, from collected water to disposal. According to Trata Brasil, 35 million Brazilians do not even have access to treated water. This is in a country where 37 liters of water are wasted for every 100 liters. In total, the sum of this volume of water lost could fill the Cantareira water supply system in São Paulo six times over.
Regarding disposal, while we talk about innovative reuse techniques in industry, we know that more than one hundred million Brazilians do not have sewage collection. Only ten of the largest Brazilian cities treat more than 80% of their sewage. And what's more: 4 million inhabitants still do not even have access to a bathroom.
This parallel universe must be faced and the problem addressed, with investment and political willpower. If nothing is done, nothing will change. And there is no point in CEBDS building this bridge to the future in relation to the water scenario in the business world, if chaos, neglect, inefficiency and waste continue to reign in the industry environment. The World Water Forum was an opportunity to take this first step towards a sustainable future. An opportunity to align objectives, define goals and do as the business world is already doing: putting the issue at the top of the list of priorities, and listing efficient actions, with technological support, training and investments. Who will join us in this mission, with great and urgent steps towards the future?
Article originally published in the March issue of Waters of Brazil magazine.
