June 26, 2017
World Water Day
Camille Martin – Member of Cité Écologique since 2015
World Water Day was established by the United Nations (UN) during the Rio Summit in 1992. Since then, it has been celebrated every year on March 22. The purpose of this day is to raise public awareness about the importance of water in our lives and the sustainable management of drinking water around the world.
The Importance of Water
Water is essential to all forms of life—humans, animals, plants, and more. In fact, water is the primary component of our bodies. Over 60% of the human body is made up of water, as it plays a vital role in our metabolic functions: digesting food, circulating blood, eliminating toxins, regulating internal temperature, and more. As a result, we lose about 2 liters of water each day. It’s important to drink plenty of water daily to maintain good health.
Unfortunately, more than 700 million people on Earth still lack access to safe drinking water.
Where Does Our Drinking Water Come From ?
97% of the water on Earth is salt water from the oceans. That leaves only 3% as freshwater. Of that, 2.5% is locked in ice. So only 0.5% of the planet’s freshwater is available for human consumption—found in surface water (lakes, rivers, streams) and groundwater (aquifers). Moreover, this small amount of freshwater is the most threatened by global pollution (from industry, conventional agriculture, household waste, etc.). That’s a compelling reason to protect it !
10 Simple Ways to Save Water Daily :
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or soaping your hands
Reduce meat consumption (its production requires a lot of water)
Take showers under 5 minutes instead of baths
Avoid turning taps on full blast
Use a rainwater collector
Wash dishes by hand in a basin
Fix leaking taps or pipes
Run full loads in the washing machine
Reuse vegetable rinse water to water plants
Install water-saving devices on taps
Quote from the UN Secretary-General, March 22, 2014 :
“On this World Water Day, let us commit to developing policies that ensure sustainable access to water and energy for the many, not just the privileged few.” – Ban Ki-Moon.