Today is #WorldWaterDay, a day to celebrate having access to clean water and how it keeps us safe, healthy and alive. But right now, about two billion people are forced to drink dirty water that makes them sick or walk long distances to find a clean source. Learn more about what this day is all about and this year's goal, and 10 ways you can save water this year. Remember to subscribe and share!
World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance, started in 1993, focusing on the importance of water. It raises awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to safe water and about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. This year, the campaign goal for World Water Day is: Groundwater - making the invisible visible.
What is groundwater?
Groundwater is water found underground in aquifers, which are geological formations of rocks, sands and gravels that hold large quantities of water. It feeds springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands, and seeps into oceans. Groundwater is recharged mainly from rain and snowfall entering the ground, and can be extracted to the surface by pumps and wells.
Groundwater is super important as it makes up almost all the liquid freshwater in the world. Our drinking water and sanitation, our food supply and natural environment all rely on it. Groundwater is also critically important to the healthy functioning of ecosystems, such as wetlands and rivers.
Why should you care?
Groundwater is being over-used in many areas, where more water is taken from aquifers than rain and snow falling. Many areas are also super polluted and the process of fixing it is super lengthy and costly, which can lead to increased costs and even prevention of groundwater use. Groundwater plays a vital role in water and sanitation systems, agriculture, industry, and ecosystems.
Protecting our groundwater is directly aligned with our climate goals for 2030; to protect it from pollution, exploring where groundwater lies so we can protect the ecosystems around and over it, and being more conscious when using water in our everyday lives.
This year, for #WorldWaterDay 2022, you can support the UN's message of bringing more attention to groundwater by learning and sharing about the campaign.
Check out 6 tips on conserving water usage in honour of World Water Day that you can do every day:
Take shorter / less showers
Save your pasta water and freeze leftover pasta water in ice cube trays. Use the cubes to add body to brothy soups or in pan sauces instead of stock
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Before brushing, wet your brush and fill a glass for rinsing your mouth.
Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of warm water in which to rinse your razor.
Use your automatic dishwasher for full loads only. Every time you run your dishwasher, you use about 25 gallons of water.
Fix leaks. Even a small drip can waste 50 or more gallons of water a day.
Avoid bottled water.
Do less laundry and only do full loads
Avoid dumping water down the drain and use it for your garden / plants instead.
Reduce food waste. It takes a lot of water to produce our cereal, fruit and other food.
What are you committing to this year for World Water Day? Follow us on social media and let us know!
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Yours sustainably,
THE SUSTAINABLE ACT
WITH SMIELY KHURANA
Facts and information sourced from WorldWaterDay.org.
The links to find out more:
World Water Day 2022 website: www.worldwaterday.org
UN World Water Development Report 2022: www.unwater.org/publication_categories/world-water- development-report
International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre: www.un-igrac.org
UN-Water: Summary Progress Update 2021: SDG 6 — water and sanitation for all: https://www.unwater.org/publications/summary-progress-update-2021-sdg-6-water-and-sanitation-for-all/
UN-Water SDG 6 Data Portal: www.sdg6data.org
FAO The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: http://www.fao.org/3/bl496e/bl496e.pdf
World Bank: Quality Unknown: The Invisible Water Crisis: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/32245