450l of water per Bruneian a day
Sunday, March 23, 2008
MANY Bruneians are taking water supply for granted, with the Minister of Development calling relevant authorities to improve and maintain the existing sanitation system and its facilities.
Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar yesterday said that many people did not appreciate the availability of water resources, and that "it takes all to make a difference".
"Take action now. We should be determined to provide full commitment in reviewing laws and guidelines to improve accessibility and quality of sanitation services and public cleanliness," he said during the launching of World Water Day 2008 at Rizqun International Hotel.
He said that laws will have to be changed, if needed, to educate and foster public cleanliness habits, especially in schools.
Personal hygiene habits and maintaining a clean environment will also determine our health, the minister told more than 200 guests at the event.
"So does the wise usage of water, fixing water leaks at home to ensure that the supply of water resources would be enough for generations to come," he said, adding that there was also a need to use cost-effective and environment friendly technologies.
With this year's theme of sanitation, the minister said that issues of a basic sanitation system includes the management of waste water, drainage system, treatment and disposal of drainage effluents, as well as the disposal or recycling of human excretion.
"All this has the potential of contributing to environment pollution and one's health," he added.
Pehin Dato Hj Abdullah said that 700 million residents in the Asia-Pacific region did not have access to clean water and 1.9 billion were without a sanitation system in 2004 alone.
In addition, close to 2.6 billion of the world's population, including 980 million children were living without a proper drainage system, he said.
The minister said that Brunei has nearly achieved 100 per cent access to clean water, while 95 per cent of people living in the town areas and 65 per cent in the interior areas have a basic sanitation system.
"We hope that through the exhibition in conjunction with the World Water Day celebration and the International Year of Sanitation, we would promote public awareness and raise the level of understanding and commitment in carrying our changes," said Pehin Dato Hj Abdullah.
The World Health Organisation has estimated that an investment of about US$11.3 billion per year would be required to meet internationally agreed targets on water supply and sanitation.
Lack of safe water and poor management of human waste is also the world's largest single cause of illness, resulting in about 10 million child deaths every year, says the UN.The Brunei Times
Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar yesterday said that many people did not appreciate the availability of water resources, and that "it takes all to make a difference".
"Take action now. We should be determined to provide full commitment in reviewing laws and guidelines to improve accessibility and quality of sanitation services and public cleanliness," he said during the launching of World Water Day 2008 at Rizqun International Hotel.He said that laws will have to be changed, if needed, to educate and foster public cleanliness habits, especially in schools.
Personal hygiene habits and maintaining a clean environment will also determine our health, the minister told more than 200 guests at the event.
"So does the wise usage of water, fixing water leaks at home to ensure that the supply of water resources would be enough for generations to come," he said, adding that there was also a need to use cost-effective and environment friendly technologies.
With this year's theme of sanitation, the minister said that issues of a basic sanitation system includes the management of waste water, drainage system, treatment and disposal of drainage effluents, as well as the disposal or recycling of human excretion.
"All this has the potential of contributing to environment pollution and one's health," he added.
Pehin Dato Hj Abdullah said that 700 million residents in the Asia-Pacific region did not have access to clean water and 1.9 billion were without a sanitation system in 2004 alone.
In addition, close to 2.6 billion of the world's population, including 980 million children were living without a proper drainage system, he said.
The minister said that Brunei has nearly achieved 100 per cent access to clean water, while 95 per cent of people living in the town areas and 65 per cent in the interior areas have a basic sanitation system.
"We hope that through the exhibition in conjunction with the World Water Day celebration and the International Year of Sanitation, we would promote public awareness and raise the level of understanding and commitment in carrying our changes," said Pehin Dato Hj Abdullah.
The World Health Organisation has estimated that an investment of about US$11.3 billion per year would be required to meet internationally agreed targets on water supply and sanitation.
Lack of safe water and poor management of human waste is also the world's largest single cause of illness, resulting in about 10 million child deaths every year, says the UN.The Brunei Times
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