In Collaboration with Roca, UoB College of Engineering Raises Awareness on Water Sustainability

In collaboration with Sayyar Trading Agencies and Roca, the world leader in products designed for bathroom spaces, UoB College of Engineering celebrated World Water Day 2019 on March 22.

In 2010, Roca officially launched the We Are Water Foundation in collaboration with UNICEF and several other organizations to raise awareness about the importance of water and bolstering commitment to sustainable development.

Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al Ansari, Dean of the College of Engineering, said: “By launching the We Are Water Foundation, Roca has supported communities which do not have access to clean drinking water. An insufficient supply of safe and accessible water poses risks and challenges mostly for women who spend hours every day traveling long distances to fetch water.”

UoB faculty members and students walked carrying water in an attempt to understand the hardships people face when walking to collect water for their families.

“During the event, information was also given about Jumpthegap, an International Design Contest promoted by Roca since 2004. The contest offers architecture and design students and professionals the chance to develop and showcase their talent by providing conceptual, sustainable and innovative solutions for the bathroom space of the future and proposing the best methods for dealing with contaminated water,’ added Dr. Al Ansari.

Worldwide, more than two billion people lack safe water in theirs homes, and one out of every four primary schools lacks access to drinking water and sanitation. More than 700 children under the age of five die of diarrhoea every day because of contaminated water and poor sanitation. In most households, women and children carry the main responsibility for water collection.