World Water Day- A Drop Which Counts

‘Water’ the essence of life or it is better to say water is life.  No creature including human beings, animals, plants or insects can live without water. Water is one of precious gift by the nature of mankind and we must adore and save it for our future generation. 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. After oxygen, water is perhaps the most important substance in our body. According to the availability of the water on earth we can understand the importance of water in our lives. 

World Water Day, celebrated on 22 March each year, is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water-related issues, be inspired to tell others and act to make a difference. Each year, UN-Water — the entity that coordinates the UN’s work on water and sanitation — sets a theme for World Water Day corresponding to a current or future challenge. This year it is the 25th world water day. The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’ – which aims at exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.

International World Water Day is held annually as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

Damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption. This is posing an adverse effect on the life of humans. Nearly, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home; affecting their health, education and livelihoods. Drinking impure water is the biggest cause for declining health in the world. 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting various water-borne diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene cause around 842,000 deaths each year. This issue requires great focus as to how we can cope up with the situation of handling impure water.

The focus on this day is on as to how we can reduce floods, droughts and water pollution by using the solutions we already find in nature. In many places, our environment is damaged, leaving us with polluted water or no water at all. Nature is green infrastructure. A system supplying us with the water we need to survive and thrive. Healthy forests and fields prevent soil and chemicals being washed into rivers. Lakes, wetlands and floodplains store, purify and control water. This World Water Day, explore nature-based solutions to our water challenges.