Held annually on the 22nd March, World Water Day is an official United Nations event, coordinated by UN Water in collaboration with governments and partners across the world. Its objective is to raise awareness about the global water crisis and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Right now, we are seriously off-track. Billions of people and countless schools, businesses, healthcare centres, farms and factories are being held back because their human rights to water and sanitation have not yet been fulfilled.
What can we do about it?
You and your family, school and community can make a difference by changing the way you use, consume and manage water in your lives. Your commitments will be added to the larger-scale commitments from governments, companies, organizations, institutions and coalitions. Together, these promises will form the Water Action Agenda, to be launched at the UN 2023 Water Conference (22-24 March) – the first event of its kind for nearly 50 years.
This year World Water Day 2023 asks people to “Be the change you want to see in the world” 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.
The good news is that by reducing water waste you can do your bit for everyone. There’s much you can do, including:
- Taking a short shower, rather than a bath.
- Turning off taps in-between rinsing your toothbrush when brushing your teeth.
- Turning taps off tightly, to ensure they are not left dripping.
- Only using electrical appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines when full. While modern high-end washing machines calculate the load and use water accordingly, most washing machines and nearly all dishwashers will use the same amount of water even when the machine is half-empty.
- Investing in rainwater butts to catch rainwater that can be used to fill fishponds and water the garden.
- Swapping old and inefficient appliances with new water and energy efficient products. This can include aerated taps and showerheads, just as much as high-end washing machines and dishwashers.
- Fixing any dripping taps or plumbing leaks.
- Asking your professional plumber to do a full plumbing system health check. This will ensure your system is working as effectively and efficiently as possible. They can also suggest areas where water saving technology can make a real difference to your water usage and bills.
Find out more about World Water Day by visiting World Water Day | World Water Day 2023