World Water Day Celebrated

An international observance to learn more about water

March 22 was the observance of World Water Day and was a day to celebrate water.

In 1993, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated March 22 as the first World Water Day. It is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. The concept of World Water Day dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development where an international observance for water was recommended.

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. The engagement campaign is coordinated by one or several of the UN-Water Members with a related mandate.

For 2016 UN-Water chose a theme of “Better Water, Better Jobs.” This year’s theme focuses on the central role that water plays in creating and supporting good quality jobs.

Today, almost half of the world’s workers – 1.5 billion people – work in water related sectors. The theme in 2016 — water and jobs — has focused on how enough quantity and quality of water can change workers’ lives and livelihoods – and even transform societies and economies, according to the UN-Water.

Events held in California have included a workshop on “Grey Water and Rainwater Catchment” sponsored by the city of Fort Bragg and FaceBook, and two water conservation events hosted by the Solano County Water Agency and Home Depot in Vallejo and Fairfield.

Dozens of other events were held throughout the United States including webinars, panel discussions, fundraising walks, film screenings and many water-related educational events for children. The Obama Administration hosted a White House Water Summit to raise awareness on the importance of water, and to catalyze ideas and actions to help address these issues through innovative solutions.
The White House acknowledged that safe, sufficient, and reliable water resources are essential to the functioning of every aspect and sector of U.S. society, including agricultural and energy production, industry and economic growth, human and environmental health, and national security.

The UN-Water promoted the World Water Day 2016 theme on their website declaring that, “Water is the essential building block of life. But 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.”

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon summed it up best, “On this World Water Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to improve the quality, management and protection of water resources as a part of our historic campaign to achieve a life of dignity for all people.”