All CST’’s have a link to the issue of Water Scarcity and offer insight into why each aspect is equally important to understand and work towards developing a world where water is available to all, safe and sufficient.

Preferential Option for the Poor:

This CST explains that the poor and vulnerable are the ones that suffer the most and first from the issue of water scarcity in all its forms, including droughts, water shortages, or unsafe water. It teaches us that the needs of the poor and vulnerable are the most urgent and important on our list and tells us to prioritise rules, policies, and solutions around water scarcity and bring clean, accessible, and enough water to those who need it most and first.

Human Dignity:

This principle assures that water is essential for all life, good health, and human growth and success because we need it in countless ways in our everyday lives, from little things like brushing our teeth to drinking in order to stay alive. It says that when people lack safe and reliable water access, their God-given dignity – present from their birth simply because they are living beings, is violated. By addressing this issue, we honour and live up to the dignity of every person and living thing by ensuring that they can live fully and safely with the resources they require and rightly deserve.

Care for our Common Home:

Our Common Home explains that water is a sacred part of our Earth’s creation, which is a privilege entrusted to us from God. When our home was created, it thrived and our water and organisms flourished but right now, pollution, waste, and mismanagement are breaking this trust and harming both living species and the environment, slowly destroying and devastating our common home. It calls for us to be responsible and take control as stewards of our home, protecting our rivers, lakes, oceans, and nature and its inhabitants, making sure that future generations can also share and have access to the God-given gift of water.

Subsidiarity & Participation:

This tells us that all local communities must have a say in how their water resources are managed and that decisions and policies about water should not only be made by distant and powerful authorities but instead should involve those who directly use water and are affected. It teaches that all communities should become more engaged in managing their water and creating and working towards more sustainable solutions and actions.

Solidarity:

Solidarity shows that water scarcity is a global challenge that affects entire countries and communities. This principle calls for us to stand together and recognise that water is a universal gift and right, and to work together globally with every single person and make sure that no one is left without this living right.

The Common Good:

The Common Good explains that water is a shared resource and must be managed for the benefit of all people and communities, big and small, not just the wealthy and powerful. This principle shows us that by promoting access to clean and abundant water, it sustains and empowers communities as a whole.