Climate change threatens our drinking water quality – action is required!

Climate change threatens our drinking water quality – action is required!

Climate change has far-reaching impacts on drinking water quality and increases the risk of waterborne infections. This challenge requires interdisciplinary efforts in the areas of pathogen monitoring, pathogen diagnosis, public health and infrastructure management. A new research module on the topic of “Climate Change and Water Infections” is currently being developed at the TU Braunschweig offered in collaboration with An-Najah National University in Nablus. Medical students from the West Bank and biology students from the TU Braunschweig are involved.

The An-Najah National University Hospital is the only teaching hospital in the West Bank and plays a central role in local medical care. The training module, which is led by Professor Michael Steinert (TU Braunschweig) and Dr. Ashraf Zayed (An-Najah National University) is financed as part of the internationalization strategy of the TU Braunschweig and through the Erasmus+ KA171 partner country program.

Global challenges and solutions

According to the United Nations, approximately 2.2 billion people lack reliable access to clean drinking water, while 3.5 billion people live without adequate sanitation. This situation is further exacerbated by factors such as population growth, climate change and pressures on water availability caused by urbanization and industrial growth. Climate-resilient water management is therefore crucial for climate adaptation, health, food security and the development of resilient societies, such as GIZ reported.

The internationally active organizations are working to improve water security and sanitation, with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) supporting key initiatives. This is done through advice, concepts, innovations and the provision of financing. Integrated approaches are incorporated into development policy to promote pro-poor and gender-equitable global water goals.

Professor Steinert emphasizes the need to respond appropriately to the challenges posed by water germs. Rising water temperatures promote the proliferation of pathogens, and extreme weather events such as heavy rain can damage water infrastructure. This context is further complicated by climate change, which may also lead to increased accumulation of marine pathogens due to sea level rise.

Research and training in the West Bank

The training program at TU Braunschweig includes lectures, tutorials in bioinformatics and practical laboratory applications. The aim is to train experts who are able to understand and address the effects of climate change on water-borne infections and drinking water safety. However, medical care and educational opportunities in the West Bank have noticeably deteriorated since the war in Gaza began.

The initiative not only promotes international networking, but also young scientists in the field of drinking water safety. Given the global water crisis, the need for collaboration between different actors is essential to resolve existing conflicts over water resources.

The challenges are enormous, but committed research projects and global initiatives can pave the way to better access to water and sanitation.