World Water Day, celebrated on the 22nd of March each year, is a significant observance anchored in raising awareness about the criticality of water. The United Nations (UN) University’s Institute for Water Environment and Health based in Canada recently published an assessment report revealing that water security levels in Africa are strikingly insufficient.
The aim of World Water Day is to assist in accomplishing Sustainable Development Goal 6, which targets achieving clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. Each year, a unique theme sets the tone for the annual World Water Development Report. This year, the focus, decided during UN-Water’s 30th meeting in Rome, is on “Groundwater: making the invisible visible”, a proposal by the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre.
The History and Evolution of World Water Day
Tracing its roots back to 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, the idea for an international day dedicated to water was conceived. In the same year, the United Nations General Assembly established World Water Day, declaring March 22 each year as the World Day for Water, observed since 1993.
The observance has expanded over the years, incorporating additional events like the International Year of Cooperation in the Water Sphere in 2013, and the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development lasting from 2018 until 2028.
Significance of World Water Day
World Water Day strives to motivate individuals globally to develop a deeper understanding of water-related issues and foster active participation to effect change. Although water makes up roughly 70% of the Earth, just about 3% constitutes freshwater, two-thirds of which is either frozen or inaccessible for use.
These commemorations underline the fundamental role of water and sanitation in poverty alleviation, economic advancement, and environmental sustainability. Other related observances include Earth Day on April 22 and World Biodiversity Day on May 22.
Insights from the UN’s World Water Development Report 2022
According to the 2022 World Water Development Report, groundwater, which constitutes 99% of all liquid freshwater, holds significant potential for social, economic, and environmental growth. At present, groundwater supplies nearly half of the total water consumed for domestic purposes, including drinking water.
Despite its value, groundwater has been exploited, mismanaged, and undervalued. The report regards groundwater as crucial in combating poverty, ensuring food and water security, job creation, and socio-economic development.
The Asia-Pacific region stands as the world’s largest groundwater extractor, with seven of the top ten countries that utilize the most groundwater (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey). These nations alone are responsible for approximately 60% of the world’s total groundwater extraction.
With the forecasted increase in water demands across all sectors and shifts in rainfall patterns, the reliance on groundwater will likely intensify. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to manage and use groundwater sustainably.
Reference to UPSC Civil Service Examination, Previous Year Questions
In the 2013 UPSC Civil Service Examination, a question asked about the largest proportion of Earth’s freshwater supply was correctly answered as groundwater, highlighting this crucial resource’s significance.