World Water Day: Date, History, Significance, Celebration

Rosemary January 21, 2022 | 06:35

While most of us take clean water for granted in the fight against COVID-19, billions around the globe are unable to effectively wash their hands. In March every year, we celebrate World Water Day to raise public awareness about the importance of water. Read on to know more!

World Water Day (March 22): History, Significance, How To Save Water At Home. Photo KnowInsiders

When is World Water Day?

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This Day is an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. Water is an essential building block of life. It is more than just essential to quench thirst or protect health; water is vital for creating jobs and supporting economic, social, and human development.

A new World Water Development Report is released each year on or near World Water Day, to provide decision-makers with tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies. This report is coordinated by UNESCO’s World Water Development Programme (WWAP) on behalf of UN-Water. The annual theme for World Water Day is aligned with the focus of the report.

Symbols

World Water Day's main symbol is the shape of a water drop in the UN's color blue. Photographs of water being used or in rivers, reservoirs, lakes or seas are widely displayed on this occasion

What is the History of World Water Day?

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As per the UN website, the idea for this international day goes back to 1992, the year in which the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro took place. That same year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by which March 22 of each year was declared World Day for Water, to be observed starting in 1993.

Later on, other celebrations and events were added. For instance, the International Year of Cooperation in the Water Sphere 2013, and the current International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028.

These observances aim to highlight that water and sanitation measures are key to poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

Explaining this year’s theme ‘Valuing Water’, UN-Water said on its website, “The value of water is about much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. If we overlook any of these values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource.”

Significance of Water

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Water plays a key role in socio-economic development. Providing vital services to the human population, water is needed for human health and livelihood. Without its existence, we can’t think of food, oxygen, and the human population. Though 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 2.5 percent of it is fresh and is good for humans to consume. Though the natural recycling process has kept the amount of freshwater fairly constant on Earth, exploding the human population has increased the demand and competition. Also Read - UN Headquarters in New York City Cordoned Off as Armed Man Spotted Outside: Report

Even if you don’t believe it, water scarcity is real. And, our inefficiency of using water sustainably can cost too much to the future generation.

World Water Day 2022 Theme: GROUNDWATER - MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE

Groundwater is a vital resource that provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide, about 40% of water for irrigated agriculture and about 1/3 of water required for industry. It sustains ecosystems, maintains the baseflow of rivers and prevents land subsidence and seawater intrusion. Groundwater is an important part of climate change adaptation process and is often a solution for people without access to safe water. Despite these impressive facts and figures, invisible groundwater is out of sight and out of mind for most people. Human activities (including population- and economic growth) and climate variability are rapidly increasing the pressure on groundwater resources: serious depletion and pollution problems are reported for many parts of the world. A World Water Day on groundwater would put a spotlight on this invisible resource, enhance knowledge exchange and collaboration and thereby increase the awareness of the importance of taking care of our groundwater.

How Was World Water Day Celebrated?

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World Water Day 2020

World water day of 2020 was focused on exploring the link between water and climate change. The growing population is the main reason for the depletion of natural resources, including water. We must use water much sensibly that everybody gets the supply of water.

Due to the pandemic situation of COVID-19, many events were canceled this year. The WWD campaign by the UN this year aims to spotlight that how sensible use of natural resources can help to minimize the risks of flood, drought, scarcity, pollution and also to fight against climate change.

The UN campaign of WWD 2020 focused majorly on the importance of hand wash & hygiene as the world faces the COVID-19 outbreak. The campaign’s primary urge to everyone was regular hand wash with soap & water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

On WWD 2020, IWA (International Water Association) has organized an Online Panel Discussion on the topic to raise awareness of water’s importance.

World Water Day 2021

The World Water Day 2021 is going to be an online event worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Valuing Water” is the theme.

The main focus of the event is to support the achievement of SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 6: Water & Sanitation for all by 2030.

As world water 2021 is taking place on social media, a digital campaign aims to generate conversations to collect opinions and comments from people across the world about water and its importance in our life.

People can join the digital campaign #Water2me, to be a part of the international event.

The 4th Annual Worldwide Walk for Water will be organized by Clean International from 1st March to 31st March 2021. This worldwide walk will be organized with the goal “clean water for everyone, everywhere”. You can be a part of this walk by registering your team or by donating your contributions to sponsor a walker. You can visit “worldwidewalkforwater.com” for more information.

World Water Day Themes

WWD theme 2020	Water and Climate Change
WWD theme 2019	Leaving No One Behind
world water day theme 2018	Nature for Water
WWD theme 2017	Why Waste Water?
WWD theme 2016	Better Water, Better Jobs
world water day theme 2015	Water and Sustainable Development
WWD theme 2014	Water and Energy
WWD theme 2013	International Year of Cooperation
world water day theme 2012	Water and Food Security
WWD theme 2011	Water for Cities
WWD theme 2010	Clean Water for a Healthy World
world water day theme 2009	Trans Waters
WWD theme 2008	Sanitation
WWD theme 2007	Coping with Water Scarcity
world water day theme 2006	Water and Culture
WWD theme 2005	Water for Life Decade
WWD theme 2004	Water and Disaster
world water day theme 2003	Water for Future
WWD theme 2002	Water for Development
WWD theme 2001	Water for Health
world water day theme 2000	Water for the 21st century
WWD theme 1999	Everyone Lives Downstream
WWD theme 1998	Groundwater the Invisible Resource
world water day theme 1997	The World’s Water: Is there enough?
WWD theme 1996	Water for Thirsty Cities
WWD theme 1995	Women and Water
world water day theme 1994	Caring for Our Water Resources is Everybody’s Business