[Draft] Preventing Freshwater Shortages

[Honeydewistania]

Category: Environmental
Industry Affected: All Businesses - Strong(?)

Repeal link - viewtopic.php?f=9&t=495411

The World Assembly,

Observing that freshwater is used for a variety of crucial purposes in World Assembly member states, including drinking, cleaning, agriculture and industrial purposes,

Concerned that the shortage of freshwater in member states, due to pollution or haphazard management, could lead to the deaths of many due to thirst or famine, as well as civil unrest and economic devastation,

Believing that the World Assembly should legislate to prevent the catastrophic consequences of freshwater shortages, hereby:

1. Defines "freshwater supply" as the supply of freshwater provided to a nation by freshwater reservoirs (both artificial and non-artificial, water treatment plants and desalination plants,
   
2. Mandates that member states conduct annual inspections of their freshwater supply, such as by measuring the volume and quality of the water;
   
3. Strongly encourages member states to take action to improve the accessibility and quality of their freshwater supplies based on the results of these inspections;
   
4. Requires that member states thoroughly educate their residents on how to use water efficiently, methods of water conservation and the consequences of freshwater shortages;
   
5. Mandates that water pipelines used in manufacturing be regularly inspected to ensure that they do not contaminate the water, or contain faults and leaks that could cause the spillage of water;
   
6. Tasks the Joint Water Resources Management Panel with:
   1. providing aid for member states (at their request) that are suffering from a shortage of freshwater due to environmental catastrophes,
   2. assisting in the regular inspections and monitoring mandated by this resolution if a nation requires such assistance and requests it,
   3. assisting in educating the public regarding water conservation and efficient water usage through methods such as promulgating guidelines on efficient water use and promoting water-efficient appliances,
   4. assisting in the management of the freshwater supply of a nation where the freshwater supply is under a severe threat that could harm the health of the public;
7. Requires that any industry that takes place near a freshwater body ensures that any pollution of the water that could take place (e.g. loosened soil contaminating water following deforestation) is prevented and that effective mitigation plans are in place in the event of an accident;
   
8. Prohibits the disposal of hazardous substances into any body of water (such as the dumping of silos containing pig faeces into a lake), such that drinking the water from said body of water will damage the health of the person drinking it, or the disposal of hazardous substances will cause damage to the environment surrounding the contaminated body of water;
   
9. Clarifies that an exception is made to the prohibition in Clause 8 if not disposing the hazardous substances into the body of water will cause greater damage to the environment or to the health of people than if it was disposed into the body of water, and mandates that as soon as it is safe to do so, the damage caused by the hazardous substances to the body of water are mitigated as much as possible;
   
10. Clarifies that the above mandates are subject to previously passed extant World Assembly law.

may be coauthored by: scalizagasti

[Fachumonn]

Mandating every pipeline in the whole-entire NS world seems a bit over the top. I also don't know how you think you can do that. Never mind "regularly" inspected.

[Honeydewistania]

Mandating every pipeline in the whole-entire NS world seems a bit over the top. I also don't know how you think you can do that. Never mind "regularly" inspected.

Used in manufacturing in member nations only, not everyone’s toilet pipes.

[Zootopiania]

I agree with this proposal. It is well thought out, benefits the health and safety of citizens, and proposes a new take on monitoring the water we so excessively waste. This should also benefit the economy and make people feel safer with the water they are cooking with, bathing with, etc.

[Honeydewistania]

I agree with this proposal. It is well thought out, benefits the health and safety of citizens, and proposes a new take on monitoring the water we so excessively waste. This should also benefit the economy and make people feel safer with the water they are cooking with, bathing with, etc.

Thank you for your support

[Hulldom]

A few comments, mostly for clarity/conciseness' sake.

Defines “freshwater body” as a body of water that contains freshwater that is used by the public;

Why not "for public purposes"?

Mandates that member states conduct annual inspections of their freshwater supply, such as measuring the volume and quality of the water, and encourages member states to take action to improve the accessibility and quality of their freshwater supplies based on the results of these inspections;

Would split these up.

Mandates that water pipelines used in manufacturing be regularly inspected to ensure that they do not contaminate the water, or contain faults and leaks that could cause the spillage of water;

Comma there is unnecessary.

providing aid for member states (at their request) that are suffering from a shortage of freshwater due to environmental catastrophes such as earthquakes,

No need for the clarification "such as earthquakes" there.

assisting in the education of the public regarding water conservation and efficient water usage through methods such as promulgating guidelines on efficient water use and promoting water-efficient appliances,

Would go with "educating the public" rather than "the education of the public".

Prohibits the disposal of hazardous substances into any body of water used by the public (such as the dumping of silos containing pig faeces into a lake), such that drinking the water from said body of water will damage the health of the person drinking it, or the disposal of hazardous substances will cause damage to the environment surrounding the contaminated body of water;

I don't think you need the example (the bit in the parentheses) here.

[Honeydewistania]

Thanks for the feedback, draft updated

[Araraukar]

OOC: Just quick note, freshwater usually means "not salty water", so if used as something else, like it looks, maybe define it?

[Honeydewistania]

OOC: Just quick note, freshwater usually means "not salty water", so if used as something else, like it looks, maybe define it?

I didn't intend for it to mean anything besides that actually... what problems do you foresee using the usual definition?

[Araraukar]

OOC: "Shortage due to pollution" is mentioned at least in preamble. And freshwater body for public use seems to imply non-natural freshwater bodies. Natural ones may be used in such way but do not exist for such.

Given freshwater supply is not defined, it goes back to usual definitions, including natural sources, how you measure volume of all natural sources? Are ones not available for public use included? If yes, why? Is rain included? If not, why? Are snow and ice included? If not, why? Is desalinisation facilities' production capacity included? If not, why?

[Fhaengshia]

Support for the proposal. However there may be additional factors worthy of being included such as:

The use of treated greywater for non-potable and industry uses,
Guidelines for reservoirs to limit freshwater loss to evaporation,
And the use of desalinisation plants where suitable.

Being a representative of a nation of vacillating membership status, the exact and current international regulations of such factors is something that evades the mind at this moment, however it is believed here that these factors are integral to sustainable freshwater management practices.

[Honeydewistania]

Support for the proposal. However there may be additional factors worthy of being included such as:

The use of treated greywater for non-potable and industry uses,
Guidelines for reservoirs to limit freshwater loss to evaporation,
And the use of desalinisation plants where suitable.

Being a representative of a nation of vacillating membership status, the exact and current international regulations of such factors is something that evades the mind at this moment, however it is believed here that these factors are integral to sustainable freshwater management practices.

We appreciate these suggestions, but we don’t believe any of these can or should be ‘mandated’, only recommended. For the time being we’ve eschewed recommendations and encouragements so as to include more character count to account for issues posed by the mandates. However, once it is resolved, I would probably add some recommendations.

[Israel Land]

"This is a good idea. However, what about those living in deserts? Freshwater is much rarer in those places, and they probably don't have moisture farms like Tatooine in Star Wars. There should be a clause requiring areas like the deserts of the Middle East, where there is almost or no water, to conserve and use water efficiently, not just to be educated about it."

[Honeydewistania]

"This is a good idea. However, what about those living in deserts? Freshwater is much rarer in those places, and they probably don't have moisture farms like Tatooine in Star Wars. There should be a clause requiring areas like the deserts of the Middle East, where there is almost or no water, to conserve and use water efficiently, not just to be educated about it."

We believe that requiring water efficiency among people beyond what is already mandated here is best left to member nations to regulate. It would be difficult to mandate ‘water conservation and efficiency’ on the individual level in our opinion.

[West Barack and East Obama]

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Water is a very scarce commodity in West Barack and East Obama. Needless wastage is punished by heavy fines and a public caning for repeat offenders. Therefore, we fully support this proposal.

[Araraukar]

OOC: So is this about artificial freshwater bodies, like reservoirs or lakes caused by damming a river, or natural lakes and ponds too?

The definitions still don't answer that.

And do rivers and streams count?

[Honeydewistania]

OOC: So is this about artificial freshwater bodies, like reservoirs or lakes caused by damming a river, or natural lakes and ponds too?

The definitions still don't answer that.

And do rivers and streams count?

Ah, my bad for not understanding. Hopefully I’ve edited the draft to address your concerns!

[Israel Land]

"This is a good idea. However, what about those living in deserts? Freshwater is much rarer in those places, and they probably don't have moisture farms like Tatooine in Star Wars. There should be a clause requiring areas like the deserts of the Middle East, where there is almost or no water, to conserve and use water efficiently, not just to be educated about it."

We believe that requiring water efficiency among people beyond what is already mandated here is best left to member nations to regulate. It would be difficult to mandate ‘water conservation and efficiency on the individual level in our opinion.

"That may work for countries like me and China, but what about other countries, where leaders won't spend money to solve problems, and instead blow it all on a world-class casino in London?"