Smart Water business intelligence week 22/08/2022
Market
The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) recently released the first UN assessment of water security in Africa. Although limited by low data availability, the assessment found that levels of water security in Africa overall are low, with little progress over the past three to five years; only 29 African countries have made progress, while 25 have made no progress. The assessment aims to be a starting point for discussions with national, regional and international officials, to help generate policy recommendations and inform decision-making and public-private investments:
Both physical and economic water scarcity affect the African continent
Technology
Researchers from North Carolina State University (USA) have demonstrated that a synthetic polymer can remove certain dyes from water and that the polymer can be recovered and reused. The results offer a potential new method for cleaning wastewater after use by textiles, cosmetics or other industries:
New Method Can Remove Dyes From Wastewater
Regulation
The UK environment secretary has met with water companies to discuss measures being taken to protect water supplies during the driest summer in over 50 years:
UK Environment Secretary meets with water company chief executives
Financing
The SWDE (Belgium) is engaged in a major investment program to ensure that water continues to flow from taps everywhere. Among its challenges: supplying water-deficit regions: