Water Emergency Declaration in South Berwick, Maine: A Response to Environmental Stressors

Executive Summary

The South Berwick Water District has issued an emergency declaration in response to severe water scarcity, instituting a comprehensive ban on non-essential outdoor water use. This measure directly addresses critical challenges outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning water management, climate action, and sustainable communities.

Immediate Conservation Measures and Alignment with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

In an effort to ensure the sustainable management of water resources, as mandated by SDG 6, the Water District has prohibited all outdoor public water use. This action is a direct implementation of principles found in Target 6.4, which calls for substantially increasing water-use efficiency and ensuring sustainable withdrawals to address water scarcity. By prioritizing essential indoor use, the town is working to safeguard universal and equitable access to safe drinking water for all residents.

Effective immediately, the following activities are prohibited:

• Lawn and garden irrigation
• Washing of vehicles
• Filling of swimming pools
• Other non-essential outdoor water use

Contributing Factors and Connection to SDG 13: Climate Action

The water emergency is attributed to prolonged dry conditions and sustained high heat advisories. These environmental stressors are indicative of larger climate patterns, highlighting the importance of SDG 13 (Climate Action). The town’s response demonstrates a critical effort to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, as called for in Target 13.1.

Community Impact and Sustainable Management under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Residents have been formally requested to conserve and limit indoor water consumption to essential needs only. This community-wide mobilization is fundamental to creating sustainable and resilient communities, a core objective of SDG 11. By managing this water-related disaster, the community is actively working to protect its population and essential infrastructure, aligning with Target 11.5.

Directive Status and Official Resources

These emergency restrictions will remain in effect until the Water District provides further notice. For official updates and additional information, stakeholders are directed to the following resources:

1. South Berwick Water District Website: www.sbwd.org
2. South Berwick Water District Facebook Page
3. District Office Phone: (207) 384-2257

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the water emergency in South Berwick, Maine, directly and indirectly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary issues of water scarcity, resource management, and the impact of climate conditions on a community are central to the following SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most directly relevant SDG, as the article’s entire focus is on a water emergency, the stress on water resources, and the management of water consumption.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The issue affects a specific community (the town of South Berwick), highlighting the challenge of ensuring resilient infrastructure and sustainable resource management within human settlements.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly links the water shortage to “long-term dry conditions and continued high heat advisories,” which are climate-related hazards. This connects the local water issue to the broader need for climate adaptation and resilience.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the actions and problems described, several specific targets can be identified:

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article highlights a situation of water scarcity where “water resources are stressed to keep up with water demand.” The implemented measures, such as prohibiting “all outdoor watering” and requesting residents to “conserve and limit indoor water use,” are direct actions aimed at increasing water-use efficiency to manage this scarcity.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of people affected… by disasters, including water-related disasters… The “water emergency” declared in South Berwick is a local, water-related disaster. The restrictions affect all residents of the town, and the measures taken by the South Berwick Water District are a form of disaster management aimed at mitigating the impact on the community.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article attributes the water emergency to “long-term dry conditions and continued high heat advisories,” which are climate-related hazards. The town’s response, by declaring an emergency and imposing water restrictions, represents an adaptive measure to build resilience against the impacts of these climate conditions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that could be used to measure the situation and the response:

1. For SDG Target 6.4:

   • Indicator 6.4.2 (Level of water stress): This is the central, implied indicator. The statement that “water resources are stressed to keep up with water demand” directly points to a high level of water stress in the town. Measuring the ratio of water demand to the available supply would quantify this indicator.
   • Implied Indicator (Change in water consumption): The effectiveness of the ban on outdoor watering and the request to limit indoor use could be measured by tracking the town’s total water consumption before and after the restrictions were put in place. This would serve as a proxy for measuring an increase in water-use efficiency (related to Indicator 6.4.1).

2. For SDG Target 11.5:

   • Implied Indicator (Number of people affected by a water-related disaster): The article states the water emergency is “for the town of South Berwick,” implying the entire population is affected by the water use restrictions. The number of residents in the town would be a direct measure for this indicator.

3. For SDG Target 13.1:

   • Implied Indicator (Adoption of local disaster risk reduction strategies): The actions taken by the “South Berwick Water District” to declare “a water emergency” and prohibit specific water uses constitute a local disaster risk reduction strategy. The existence and implementation of this plan is an indicator of the town’s adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wgme.com