How clean is the water that you use? Water is the world’s most precious resource, but not everyone has equal access to safe water. World Water Day aims to raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people currently living without access to clean water. This day encourages people to take water and sanitation safety measures to attack poverty, promote economic growth, and maintain environmental sustainability.
Why Do We Need World Water Day?
The idea for World Water Day was proposed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The United Nations General Assembly announced that March 22nd would be celebrated as World Water Day every year starting in 1993. The focus of World Water Day is to reach the Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Reaching this goal is important because of the health risks unsafe water can cause. Many diarrheal diseases are spread through unsafe water and sanitation, including typhoid fever and cholera. Diseases like these often have outbreaks in low-resource countries, leading to the sickness of millions and even causing the deaths of thousands every year. To prevent diarrheal diseases, developing water and sanitation systems are needed to keep dangerous germs out of water and food.
Clean water and sanitation has also been effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Actively washing your hands with clean water and soap is important in preventing the spread of germs. Since many people do not have access to basic necessities, like soap and water, World Water Day is essential in helping people all around the world.
“Making The Invisible Visible”
Every year, World Water Day has a theme or focus. In 2022, the focus of World Water Day is groundwater. Groundwater is a resource found in the formations of rocks, sands, and gravels. Groundwater is water that is recharged from rain and snowfall.
Being that groundwater is within Earth’s surface, it is known as an invisible resource. This year’s theme aims to make this invisible resource “visible” to the public to highlight its value. Many dry areas around the world depend solely on groundwater. Groundwater is crucial for drinking, sanitation, food production, and industrial processes.
Groundwater is extracted through the use of pumps or wells. However, overexploitation of groundwater is dangerous as it plays a key role in maintaining a healthy functioning ecosystem. It is vital that we protect groundwater from harsh products used on the surface and use groundwater sustainably to survive.
What To Do On World Water Day
Starting from 1993, there have been many events and celebrations for World Water Day that you can participate in. On March 22, 2022, an event will be in commemoration of World Water Day in Dakar, Senegal. Prominent water sector leaders will present findings in the UN World Water Development Report 2022 at the 9th World Water Forum.
To celebrate the day, you can help raise awareness in your community. You can organize a fundraiser and donate to one of the many organizations working to protect water quality and availability. For example, Save the Children has a program where you can donate money to provide vulnerable children with a clean water kit or a new water pump.
There is also a fun one minute challenge you can partake in this year! To match with the theme, you can shoot a 60 second video speaking about how groundwater affects your life and what you think needs to be done to protect it.
Most importantly, protect those around you from diseases by actively washing your hands and make sure to avoid wasting water by turning off the faucet when you are not using it. Make sure to spread the word on water-related issues and take the time to check out the official 2022 development report on World Water Day!
Written By: Amanda Aber
Date: March 20, 2022
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/world-water-day.html
https://www.worldwaterday.org/stories-2021/story/commemoration-event-world-water-day-2022
https://www.worldwaterday.org/learn
https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day
https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/world-water-day
