Dublin principles and priorities: Commentary on: How the UN got thirsty again after 46 years - The Water Dissensus – A Water Alternatives Forum (water-alternatives.org)

Thanks to Lyla and Nicol for raising the discussion. Although not attending the UN 2023 conference I have been involved in WSS since the days of Mar del Plata. The four Dublin principles included “Social and economic value of water.” The problem was that too many influential bodies considered the “economic good” only, ignoring other principles: “Finite and vulnerable resource, Participatory approach, and Role of women”.

We have forgotten also another point: priorities of water use purposes where Water and Sanitation Services lie on the top. As the Berlin Rules by the International Law Association (2004) remind us, water and wastewater services (WSS) fulfil the “vital human needs” of communities and therefore play a fundamental role in societal and community development.

Related to apocalyptic framings around water, in WSS the major challenges and solutions lie in management, institutional, policy and governance (MaInPoGo) issues. Nobel Laureate D.C. North defines institutions as the “formal and informal rules of the game” while organizations are the “players.” Indeed, we need better team play, proper roles and will of cooperation.

One of the many challenges is the common lack of understanding of water and water services. Thereby taking more seriously awareness raising, public education and customer/citizen orientation is needed by all the stakeholders. Water and especially water services management are fundamentally a local issue where solutions need to be find based on local conditions. Yet, not criticizing the issue of global common good as such.