Water supply is a major global challenge. As many get hit unpreparedly and hard by tidal waves, an even bigger part of the world's population suffers from water scarcity. 950 million people have no clean drinking water and 2.5 billion lack sanitation facilities and latrines. The scarcity of clean drinking water will increase, especially in big cities. No other resource is wasted as carelessly as water.
In 1993, March 22nd was declared annual UN World Water Day. The UN invites its Member States to take advantage of this day for the introduction of UN recommendations and promoting tangible actions in their countries.
Currently about 3.3 billion people – about half of the world's population – are living in urban areas. The urban population is currently growing by two people per second, which is by 93% due to birth in economically poor countries. In many countries the urban population is growing at a much faster paste than the water infrastructure can be expanded. Tomorrow's World Water Day 2011 under the theme "Water for Cities: Responding to urban challenges" is therefore an urgent call for action.
The aim of the World Water Day 2011 is to draw the world's attention towards growing and complicated tasks of water and sanitation management in cities and to encourage governments, organizations, local communities and individuals to engage in improving the situation.
Further Information:
International Observance of World Water Day
