It’s the most basic element of survival. And yet around the world, water represents a crisis. Since 1992, March 22 has been held as World Water Day, a way to call attention to the need for policies and aid that will support clean water for all people. This year’s theme is Clean Water for a Healthy World, emphasizing the damage of pollution and the hope that “water quality considerations are made alongside those of water quantity.”

This goal is in keeping with the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and World Water Day’s theme for 2005 to 2015: Water for Life. Clean water has everything to do with public health. Poor quality drinking water, sanitation and hygiene amounts to more than 2 million deaths each year.

To observe World Water Day, events are going on worldwide, including water walks in many cities to show solidarity with women and children who have to walk many miles each day for water.

Even if you haven’t signed up for a water walk today, it’s not too late to do something to make a difference in the world of water. Blood:Water Mission does ongoing water walks. Living Water International and The Water Project are two other great ways to get involved. If you’re the gardening type and have concerns not only about safe drinking water around the world, but also about protecting your local water table, also of interest is the Blue Thumb movement, a push to establish rain gardens that will purify and protect the watershed.

Also, Charity:Water and Invisible Children launched a campaign today to raise money for clean water projects in Haiti at www.charitywater.org.

On this World Water Day, the goal of many advocates is to encourage us to stop and think of those for whom clean water is both a need and a luxury.

Sources:

• www.worldwaterday.org
• www.un.org