World Water Day

Since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has designated March 22nd of each year as World Water Day (WWD), in recognition of the importance of water as a basic requirement of life and the need to manage this precious resource wisely. The main purpose of the day is to promote public awareness of the need to conserve and protect freshwater supplies and to encourage people around the world to promote and carry out activities related to the use and care of water resources.

Each year, WWD adopts a different theme that emphasizes a particular aspect of water. For WWD 2003, the theme is "Water for the Future." As the world's population continues to grow, the demand for water will also grow. Global demand for water rose 6 to 7 times over the last decade, more than double the rate of population growth. If the present consumption patterns continue, two out of every three persons on earth will live in water stressed conditions by the year 2025. To support the aims of WWD 2003, WaterCan will highlight the special challenges facing communities in developing countries in their efforts to gain improved access to safe water supplies.

World Water Day - Resolution of United Nations General Assembly

Past World Water Days:

2002: Water for Development

2001: Water and Health

2000: Water for the Twenty-first Century

1999: Everyone Lives Downstream

1998: Groundwater - the Invisible Resource

1997: The World’s Water: Is There Enough?

1996: Water for Thirsty Cities

1995: Women and Water

1994: Caring for our water resources is everyone’s business

[1] WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme: “Global Assessment 2000 – Status of the water supply and sanitation sector.”