World Water Day was created on March 22, 1993 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development and is celebrated every year on this date with a fundamental objective: remind us of the importance of this liquid for the survival of all species and for the development of social and economic activities. All those fortunate enough to have water as an everyday part of our lives are sometimes unaware that there are places that have difficulties for their development, because it is difficult to find water and/or the water available to them is not drinkable.
World Water Day puts in the spotlight that there is a lot of work to be done to achieve one of the goals set by the UN, specifically number 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which is: to ensure availability of water and its sustainable management and sanitation for all. Three of the many data they provide are that “one in three people do not have access to safe drinking water, more than 673 million people still defecate in the open air, and two out of five people do not have a basic facility to wash their hands with soap and water”.
As World Water Day was created, we propose the exercise of reading the information below. We give you six facts about this precious commodity to invite further reflection and an assessment of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the services associated with water (drinking water, sanitation and health) and the socio-cultural aspects of water. Because even today, not everyone is lucky enough to have the planet’s liquid gold at their disposal.
WORLD WATER DAY: 6 FACTS ABOUT WATER
Little potable water
Seventy percent of the planet is water, but only 0.025% is drinkable. The reason is that 96.5% of terrestrial water belongs to seas and oceans, and therefore corresponds to salt water. The earth’s fresh water represents 3.5% and we cannot easily drink it. Of the freshwater equation, 70% is eliminated and remains frozen in polar ice caps and glaciers. And the remaining 30% is found in the subsoil: streams, rivers, wells or aquifers.
Overexploited resource
Two of the major problems of this century are climate change, one of the consequences of repeated and accentuated droughts, and population growth. Both are among the main causes of water stress, a term used to refer to a demand for water that is higher than the amount available during a given period or when its use is limited due to poor water quality. In short, humans are demanding more water than nature can provide. Today, 23 countries are under water stress.
Increasing pollution
One thing that World Water Day reminds us is that it has been humans who have polluted water. It is known that the Romans were the first in history to create a sewage system in the city, a great advance that has evolved over the centuries and with which they did not stop to think about the consequences. This is contaminated water, in other words, it is that which undergoes changes in its composition until it becomes unusable and toxic and ends up flowing into rivers and seas. All the actions dedicated to raising awareness before discharging water, to eliminate waste or recycling, are very recent and are still insufficient.
Human waste
An American person consumes 575 liters of water per day, an Australian 493 liters, 386 in Italy and 374 in Japan. It is necessary for all of us to use water responsibly in our daily actions. For example, a shower should take six minutes, in which we use about 100 liters of water. But in reality, how much time do you spend under water? Do you turn off the tap when you soap up? Review your washing machine loads, how often you flush your toilets and whether they are necessary, and anything else you use water for.
Food is water
The relationship between water and food is very close. The UN estimates that 70% of the global water footprint is linked to food production. Rice is the cereal that consumes the most water, since to produce a single kilo, between 3,000 and 5,000 liters of water are needed. On the other hand, a kilo of lentils consumes about 1,250 liters. To produce just one liter of milk, 1,000 liters of water are needed. Meat requires the most water; for example, one kilo of beef requires about 15,400 liters of water. With these data alone, we can get an idea of how much water is wasted in food production. It is recommended to buy only what is needed, not to waste food and to choose to add more vegetable protein to our diet.
Water conditions education
Another important fact on World Water Day that goes unnoticed: 31% of schools do not have access to drinking water. These are data provided by UNICEF in the “Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools: 2018 Global Report.” Can you imagine what this information represents? Children who cannot drink clean water at school and, when they play, cannot wash their hands, which means being in unsanitary and unsafe environments. In addition, it is linked to the fact that girls stop going to school when they start menstruating due to the lack of toilets. Many people are not aware that something as fundamental as the right to education involves access to water.