From resolution to reality: How to ensure sufficient quantities of safe drinking water for the population of Serbia

The UN General Assembly Resolution 64/292 from 2010 recognized the right to water and sanitation as a basic human right. In other words, all inhabitants of the planet have the right to safe, high-quality, available and affordable drinking water and basic sanitation. Indeed, water is the foundation for health, nutrition, hygiene and a dignified life. But the reality is different: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), close to a billion people do not have access to safe drinking water (SDW), and over 2.5 billion do not have access to basic sanitation, while every fourth primary school in the world does not have access to SDW, which has a dramatic impact on children's health. And what is the situation in Serbia? According to research by the "Right to Water" organization, more than a million inhabitants of Serbia occasionally or permanently do not have access to SDW. In Serbia, almost half of the city's water supply systems produce defective water, and in Vojvodina, over 600,000 inhabitants use water contaminated with arsenic. Zrenjanin is a glaring example of the lack of SDW in Serbia. Long ago on January 20, 2004. in Zrenjanin, it was "temporarily" declared that the drinking water is unsafe due to the illegal level of arsenic. Evidently, even before that, the water was not drinkable, only that was officially announced then. This "temporary" has been going on for over 20 years. In general, in Serbia, four out of ten inhabitants do not drink completely safe drinking water, which is disastrous for health. SDW is crucial for human health, because it: maintains the balance of body fluids; promotes detoxification; lubricates joints and tissues; regulates body temperature; helps digestion and prevents constipation. Recommended daily fluid intake, according to the Mayo Clinic, is: about 3.7 liters (men), about 2.7 liters (women). These values include total fluid intake, which means not only the water we drink, but also fluid from other drinks (eg tea, coffee, juices) and from foods rich in water (eg fruit, vegetables). Considering the above facts, the availability of a sufficient amount of SDW is of key importance for the health of the population and the economy of Serbia. Therefore, the main topics of this paper will be: How to modernize existing water supply systems and improve management in water supply organizations in Serbia, and ensure sufficient amounts of SDW in all weather conditions.