It’s needed, doable and easier than you think
During the recent “Water for BCS” Forum, held last March 19th and 20th at the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS) experts from Southern Baja California and mainland Mexico promoted the use of recovered water as an alternative to deal with our state’s water crisis, highlighting citizen participation and alternative water projects.
Among the alternative ideas proposed were the irrigation of green areas, the cleaning of public spaces and their use in industrial processes, which would reduce the demand on drinking water sources. Fernanda Beltrán, coordinator of the water program at the Como Vamos La Paz Citizen Observatory, (How Are We Doing La Paz) participated in the forum with a presentation focused on citizen perception in the use of recovered water. She explained that the objective is to change the community’s perspective regarding water resource and promote its reuse in agricultural, gardening and urban sanitation activities.
“At Como Vamos La Paz, we constantly work on education and awareness campaigns about recovered water. It is essential to include technologies and innovations in this area, but always taking into account community participation, since at the end of the day we are the citizens who use the water,” said Beltrán. Likewise, Fernanda also highlighted the need to involve university students in the generation of projects that promote the responsible use of water and dismantle myths that surround the use of the recovered resources.
“There are more and more of us in the city and access to water continues to decrease. It is important to question why this is happening and how we can generate public policies that involve local civilians in the planning of our cities,” added the coordinator.
During the forum, projects such as the Novillo dam and the La Buena Mujer (The Good Woman) water treatment plant were also discussed. Specifically touching on initiatives that seek to improve the water supply in La Paz. However, Beltrán emphasized that, even if new infrastructure plans are developed, if citizen awareness about the care of the resource is not promoted, later actions will be insufficient.
The coordinator announced that the Como Vamos La Paz Citizen Observatory will hold the Transparency Fair in the second week of April, where topics related to the economic and administrative management of water resources in the municipality of La Paz will be presented. In addition, she invited citizens to actively participate in programs and activities that promote the responsible use of water and the transparency in its management.