(Sustainable Development Goal #6: Clean Water and Sanitation)
This report will explore the challenges associated with SDG #6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION. This sustainable development goal aims to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, and sanitation and hygiene for all human beings (United Nations, 2018). The supply of clean water is a must for life as well as basic hygiene, but many people are still dying because they do not have access to clean water.
According to the UN, three out of ten people do not have access to safely managed drinking water and six out of ten people lack access to the safely managed facilities for sanitation (2018). Approximately 6,000 children die every day due to waterborne and sanitation-related diseases such as diarrhoeal diseases and malaria (Trowbridge, 2004).
Securing and supplying clean water is fundamental and requires addressing a variety of issues, including environmental protection, coping with water shortages and climate change, fair pricing of water services, and equitable distribution of water. These require the efforts of various stakeholders including international organisations, business and industry, governments, and local communities (UNESCO, 2015).
Among the countries with water scarcity and poor hygiene problems, Uganda is the main place to address in this essay. Uganda is a landlocked country in Africa, and it is one of the countries having serious problems with a lack of clean water. The lack of access to clean water and poor hygiene are the things that have to be addressed.
Description of the Challenge
Introduction
The ingenuity process is a methodology developed to help with the process of creating good ideas. This involves three stages: defining a problem, discovering potential ideas, and determining solutions (Kirkham et al., 2011). Using this process, the problem of lack of access to clean drinking water will be analysed.
Ingenuity Process
Who is affected?
Most Ugandans living in rural areas suffer from a severe shortage of clean drinking water regardless of their occupation, age, and gender. In Uganda alone, about 28 million people lack access to clean, safe drinking water (Water School, 2014). Also, approximately 23,000 Ugandans, including 19,700 children die from diarrhoea every year, and 90% of these are directly attributed to poor water, hygiene, and sanitation (Government of Uganda & WSP, 2012). As this information shows, most of the people who die from poor hygiene and lack of access to clean water are children.
Uganda’s women and children spend a great deal of time and effort trying to get water for drinking and their daily usage. They have to walk for miles with full buckets to get water, which is their daily routine. Because of this, they are losing their educational and work opportunities, and this affected the economic well-being of generations of families (International Finance Corporation, 2016).
Not only people living in rural areas but also urban people living in poverty are suffering from water scarcity. They pay 22percent of their total income to get water. Spending such a high percentage of their income on getting water reduces their total income and keeps them makes them unable to escape from poverty (Water.org, n.d.).
Where does the problem occur?
The problem of lacking access to safe water is a nationwide problem in Uganda. As discussed above, water scarcity occurs in both rural and urban areas of Uganda. However, this problem is more serious in rural areas in Uganda. Surface sources such as spring water, rivers, ponds, and lakes are the largest sources of water for Uganda’s rural population (Water School, 2014). Shallow wells with hand pumps, gravity flow scheme and rainwater harvesting are also often used (Global Water Partnership, 2015).
However, several factors, such as open defecation, pit latrines, and debris from mudslides, being watering holes for livestock, are contaminating the village’s swamps, ponds, boreholes, and wells with hand pumps (International Finance Corporation, 2016). Residents of rural areas that use these water source as drinking water are always exposed to life-threatening diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis (Water School, 2014).
According to the recent local news, seven rural villages in Uganda, do not have access to safe drinking water. These seven villages are relying on three boreholes but two of them broke down 2 months ago, and so there is only one source of water for seven villages. Due to this situation, people living in these areas trek long distances to fetch water, and sometimes, there is a serious assault (Oketch & Ojok, 2021).
What are the consequences?
As consequences of the problem of water scarcity and poor sanitation, as addressed above, a lot of people die from waterborne diseases every year, and a high percentage of those deaths is premature deaths. Also, water shortages and poor sanitation problems pose major obstacles to the country’s economic development.
According to the report from the government of Uganda and WSP, Uganda loses £130 million annually due to poor sanitation and water scarcity. The economic losses from these problems can be divided into four main categories. First, practising open defecation costs more than fixed-point sanitation. People practising open defecation use an average of 2.5 days a year to find a private and safe place to defecate. This access time results in a loss of about £6 million each year.
Second, the largest economic losses among four, approximately £107 million is lost each year due to premature deaths from waterborne diseases. Third, a loss of £800,000 each year is attributed to the loss of productivity that occurs whilst sick or accessing healthcare. This includes absence from work or school due to diarrhoea, time for treatment, and time spent caring for children under five years of age with waterborne diseases. And lastly, £15 million is spent on health care every year, which is a heavy burden on households and government spending (2012).
Why does the problem exist?
In Uganda, there are more than enough renewable water resources amounting to 2,085 m3/year, which is well above the international standard of 1,000 m3/year water scarcity. However, due to the severely underdeveloped water sector in Uganda, only 0.5 percent of the total available renewable water resources are currently withdrawn per year (Ruettinger et al., 2011).
Uganda is a country that borders Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile, but suffers great damage from the unfairness of the Nile Water Agreements. Furthermore, even the only available water resources in Uganda have become more difficult to supply clean water due to pollution and drought caused by climate change and urbanisations. Uganda’s population is growing rapidly, twice as fast as other sub-Saharan African countries. As a result, the country’s total renewable water resources per capita are also expected to decrease rapidly (Ruettinger et al., 2011).
As the population grows rapidly, urbanisation is also rapidly underway. However, problems such as poor sewage systems and poorly designed pit latrines have led to serious pollution, with pathogenic bacteria being found in major water sources (Artz, 2017). Uganda’s water resources are contaminated and restricted by various factors, leading to a lack of clean drinking water.
Analysis of Solution
A solution to the problem
Given the current situation in Uganda, the most necessary thing right now is clean drinking water. A roof designed for effective rainwater harvesting, pills exterminating bacteria in the water, straws filtering impurities, and devices collecting moisture from the air and make it drinkable water can be possible solutions for it. (See Table 1)
Table 1.
Comparison of Possible Solutions
| Possible Solutions | Price | Portability | Ease of Use |
| Rain harvesting roof | £730 – £3,650 | X | O |
| Purification pills | £7 – £11 | O | O |
| Filter straws | £3 | O | O |
| Moisture collecting device | £13,000 – £22,000 | X | X |
According to Table 1, the solutions for providing access to clean drinking water at a reasonable and affordable price are purification pills and filter straws. However, the one best solution would be the straws as it is cheapest, faster than any other options, and they result in better-tasting water than the pills (Arthur, 2021).
Analysis of the idea using DIFA
Demand
Uganda has a total population of approximately 47 million (Worldometer, 2020), of which 33 million live in rural areas (Macrotrends, n.d.). However, almost all population in Uganda will be in demand of filter straws because they are suffering from a shortage of clean drinking water, regardless of urban and rural areas. Filter straws are lighter than 0.25 pounds and can filter from as little as 25 gallons to as much as 100,000 gallons with just one straw. It also filters out 99.99 per cent of bacteria, protozoa, and pollutants (Arther, 2021). Considering the fact that half of the Ugandan population is under 15 (Ugandan Bureau of Statistics, & ICF, 2017), the straws are durable, safe, and very light for children.
People in Uganda spend significant time effort to fetch water every day. However, the containers they use, and water are contaminated with harmful bacteria and viruses (International Finance Corporation, 2016). The hard-earned water is rather damaging their health. Filter straws will protect their health from contaminated water and containers. Judging from all this, most Ugandans are likely to be in demand for the product.
Innovation
There are two types of innovation: radical innovation and incremental innovation. Radical innovation has a high risk because it is based on new technologies and it requires a whole new set of performance features, education, and skills. On the other hand, incremental innovation has a relatively low risk because it is based on the technologies that already exist, which imply a low level of uncertainty (Krstić et al., 2018, p.61).
Filter straws are a very innovative invention. This product is a radical innovation more than incremental as it makes it possible for many people to do things that were previously impossible such as drinking clean water directly from any kind of water sources (natural, reservoir, tank, stored water). This product can create change in society by making drinking water accessible to all with its new technology. (LifeStraw, 2014). The design of the product is also sufficient to meet people’s needs. The filter is light and easy to carry, and there are options of various shapes and colours that customers can choose according to their purposes.
Feasibility
Prior to evaluating the feasibility of filter straws, a preliminary analysis should precede (Bridges, 2019). The preliminary analysis is covered in the previous section on demand and innovation. Demand for filter straws is expected to be very high and this product has its distinct advantages. In this regard, the business feasibility of the filter straws is okay.
In order to utilise the technology necessary for the production of filter straws, it should also be investigated whether there are any patents filed for this. The filtering straw that I am currently planning is a straw with removable filters mounted inside a straw to make it easier to clean and replace the filter. Because buying a new one might pose a financial burden on many people. As a result of research, the filtering straw with removable filter has already been patented (Cripe, 1996). However, according to World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), patent protection is generally granted for 20 years from the date of application (2019). So, it is expected that there would be no major problems with accessing this technology. Overall, the production of filtering straw is feasible enough.
Attractiveness
The distribution of filter straws will make access to clean water easier for many Ugandans than before. In addition, a factory for the production of filter straws will be built in Uganda. This will provide work opportunities for many people in Uganda and greatly help economic development. Uganda’s GDP is about £18.2 billion, and it is one of the poorest countries in the world (Owori, 2020). According to Aaron O’Neill, a research expert specialising in global historical data, Uganda’s growth rate of the GDP in 2021is 4.93 per cent, and it is projected to grow continuously in the future (2021). The factory will accelerate its growth further.
If the filter straws are widely distributed to people, the number of people with waterborne diseases will decrease, and the huge economic losses from waterborne diseases will also decrease. As Uganda’s household economy grows, the amount of filter straws they buy is also expected to increase as their purchasing power increases. In line with their stronger purchasing power, it is expected that decent profitability will be seen if other products are added besides filter straws.
Contributions of DIFA model to entrepreneurial success or failure
In the above sections, the demand, innovation, feasibility, and attractiveness of the possible solution to Uganda’s water scarcity problem, filter straws, have been analysed. According to the results of the analysis, filter straws will be a great help for Ugandans who lack clean drinking water, and the demand is expected to be significant. The innovation of this product is sufficient to meet the needs of Ugandans, and this product is fully feasible. And most of all, it is a great advantage to be able to help economic growth along with the accessibility of clean drinking water. Judging from all this, filter straws are expected to be successful.
Conclusion
Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering from severe water scarcity. The filter straw has been proposed as a solution to the problem, and various analyses of it suggested that this product will be successful in Uganda.
Reference List
Arthur, S. (2021). Water Purification Straw vs. Tablets: Which is Better? Purification Life. https://purificationlife.com/water-purification-straw-vs-tablets-which-is-better/
Artz, J. (2017). The Issue of Water Quality in Uganda. The Borgen Project. https://borgenproject.org/the-issue-of-water-quality-in-uganda/
Bridges, J. (2019). How to Conduct a Feasibility Study. ProjectManager. https://www.projectmanager.com/training/how-to-conduct-a-feasibility-study
Cripe, G. D. (1996). Filtering Straw (United States Patent Patent). http://abpat.kipris.or.kr/abpat/remoteFile.do?method=fullText&publ_key=US000005509605A1&cntry=US&patno_fg=PAN
Donadio, R. (2006). Straw That Saves Lives. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/magazine/10section3b.t-7.html
FIXR. (2018). Cost to Install a Rainwater Collection System. https://www.fixr.com/costs/rainwater-collection-system
Global Water Partnership. (2015). Uganda: Rural water supply; major strides in sector coordination and performance. https://www.gwp.org/en/learn/KNOWLEDGE_RESOURCES/Case_Studies/Africa/Uganda-Rural-water-supply-major-strides-in-sector-coordination-and-performance-457/
Government of Uganda, & Water and Sanitation Program. (2012). ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF POOR SANITATION IN AFRICA. https://www.wsp.org/sites/wsp/files/publications/WSP-ESI-Uganda.pdf
International Finance Corporation. (2016). Clean Water for Rural Uganda. https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/clean+water+ppp+for+uganda
Kirkham, P., Mosey, S., & Binks, M. (2011). Ingenuity in Practice: A guide for clear thinking. The University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation.
Krstić, M., Skorup, A., & Lapčević, G. (2018). Trends in agile innovation management. International Review, 3-4, 58–70. https://doi.org/10.5937/intrev1804058k
LifeStraw. (2014). Innovation. https://kr8ives.wordpress.com/innovation/
Macrotrends. (n.d.). Uganda Rural Population 1960-2021. https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/UGA/uganda/rural-population
O’Neill, A. (2021). Uganda: Growth rate of the real gross domestic product (GDP) from 2015 to 2025. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/447758/gross-domestic-product-gdp-growth-rate-in-uganda/
Oketch, B., & Ojok, S. (2021). Seven villages face water shortage. Daily Monitor. https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/seven-villages-face-water-shortage-3355516
Owori, M. (2020). Poverty in Uganda: National and regional data and trends. Development Initiatives. https://devinit.org/resources/poverty-uganda-national-and-regional-data-and-trends/
