Post by Asairia on Jan 8, 2019 22:16:28 GMT
WORLD ASSEMBLY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PREVENTING GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
DELEGATE IS VOTING: FOR ✓
FINAL RESULTS:
13, 538 (86.1%) IN FAVOR
2,183 (13.9%) AGAINST
Overview
Preventing Groundwater Contamination seeks to 'raise awareness of the importance of water resource conservation and protection and to implement policies to reduce overuse and contamination of naturally occurring water resources'.
Author's Justification
The author of this resolution, Wallenburg of The East Pacific, has drafted this resolution in response to their concern(s) stemming from an apparent lack of oversight regarding this subject, specifically naturally-occurring water sources including aquifers. This resolution does the following:
1. Tasks the International Bureau of Water Safety with [gathering] information on the size, distribution, and characteristics of groundwater resources and issuing recommendations for [their] protection and conservation ... for reliable, long-term use;
2. Requires member states to plan future land use so that agricultural, industrial, and transportation pollutants will not present any measurable threat to the utility and potability of aquifers;
3. Mandates the implementation of regulations to protect groundwater resources near or interacting with sinkholes and cenotes on agricultural developments, including but not limited to:
3.1. [Constructing] a physical barrier around the mouth of the sinkhole or cenote ... to minimize the accumulation of pollutants [therein];
3.2. [Diverting] all surface runoff around or away from the sinkhole or cenote;
3.3. [Ending the] application of fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides in the vicinity of the sinkhole or cenote;
3.4. [Restricting] all activity within the enclosed area of the sinkhole or cenote to scientific and recreational activities individually reviewed by a jurisdictional authority, determined to present no measurable threat to any groundwater system, and carried out by individuals possessing permits to perform those activities.
4. Mandates protection of wildlife within all naturally occurring underground drainage systems;
5. Recommends that development of urban or industrial infrastructure upon evaporite formations, especially carbonates, in cases where acidic dissolution has resulted in extensive underground drainage systems, be limited as much as possible, and requires member states to institute additional limitations on industrial and agricultural activity to further prevent contamination of these particularly vulnerable aquifers;
6. Requires all wells constructed over unconfined aquifers to undergo regular inspections for contamination ... and prohibits the use or disposal of potential contaminants in or nearby the opening of any such well; and
7. Requires member states to limit extraction from each aquifer to a maximum of the rate at which each aquifer is projected to saturate, and urges member states to further limit extraction from aquifers bordering saltwater fronts, so that the pressure of the freshwater column is maintained at a safe depth for long-term environmental health and reliable extraction, and so that high-density saltwater does not upcone into the freshwater column.
My Decision
Maintaining and promoting sustainability should be a high priority of each nation, and this resolution furthers this goal by helping ensure vital sources of fresh water are protected. The requirements and regulations herein are, in my opinion, reasonable. The only minor noteworthy concern I have with this resolution has to do with the preservation of wildlife within naturally occurring underground drainage systems, which will now prevent nations from addressing potentially harmful disease-carrying insects, such as mosquitoes, that may reside therein; however, due to their rapid breeding and the location mentioned, it is hard to effectively manage these insects without excessive pesticides, which will ultimately do more damage to the water source than the mosquitoes. Do to this fact, this concern is only mentioned to bring awareness to a possible issue nations may face in the future if this resolution is adopted. The author expressed little concern over this issue, but provided a possible means to address such by, "[Recommending] communication with the WA Endangered Species Committee for specific means by which to preserve the ecosystems contained within," in the resolution.
I have cast my vote in favor of this resolution, and I encourage you to do the same.