World Water Day is celebrated annually on March 22, aiming to promote awareness about the importance of freshwater and its sustainable management. The theme for this year’s event is “Leaving no one behind”, reflecting the commitment made by the United Nations (UN) in 1993 when it conceived World Water Day. The event is managed by UN Water, an inter-agency organisation created in 2003 that holds a focus on global water issues. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, UN Water offers thematic reports each year in line with the chosen theme for World Water Day.
A Glimpse into the United Nations World Water Development Report, 2019
The 2019 United Nations World Water Development Report reveals concerning statistics regarding global access to clean and safe water. As per the report, approximately 2.1 billion people continue to live without access to clean, readily available drinking water, while another 4.3 billion lack safe sanitation facilities. The issue seems to be most prevalent in Africa, where half of the world’s population without access to safe drinking water resides. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 24 percent of the population has access to safe drinking water.
Challenges Faced by Disadvantaged Groups
Refugees and internally displaced individuals are highlighted as some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups who often struggle with access to basic water supply and sanitation services. The report brings forth the stark contrast between socio-economic classes, where the wealthier receive high quality water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services at low costs while the poor end up paying more for services of similar or lower quality. Moreover, an alarming one in four primary schools do not have a drinking water service, leaving pupils to rely on unprotected sources or suffer from thirst.
Health Impact and Future Projections
Unsafe water and poor sanitation are linked to more than 700 deaths of children under five years old each day due to diarrhoea. Looking ahead, the report estimates that by 2030, 700 million people worldwide could be displaced owing to intense water scarcity. The future also carries potential financial implications, with environmental damage and water resource shortage threatening 45 percent of global gross domestic product and 40 percent of global grain production by 2050.
| Year | Estimated Impact |
|---|---|
| 2030 | 700 million people displaced due to water scarcity |
| 2050 | Environmental damage threatens 45% of global GDP |
| 2050 | Water resource shortage affects 40% of global grain production |
Agricultural Impact and Sustainable Development Goals
Equal access to water for agricultural production could be a game changer in many parts of the world. The ability to supplementally water crops can shift farming from being just a means of survival to a reliable source of income. The report states that exclusion, discrimination, poverty, and inequalities are key hindrances in achieving the water-related goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal 6. However, it also suggests that targeted responses for specific groups could ensure affordable and accessible water supply and sanitation services for all.
The Situation in India
WaterAid, a non-profit organisation, conducted an extensive study titled “Beneath the Surface: The State of the World’s Water 2019”. The report highlights that India faces significant water scarcity issues, with nearly a billion people living in water scarce regions for at least part of the year, and around 600 million residing in areas of high to extreme water stress. Furthermore, India uses the largest amount of groundwater worldwide, accounting for 24 percent of the global total. This puts India as the third largest exporter of virtual water, which is groundwater used to grow export-oriented, water-intensive crops. This constitutes 12 percent of the global total.