BY DR. RAVINDER PALL SAINI,
INDIAN FOREST SERVICE ( RETIRED)
MEMBER, BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
FOREST RESEARCH UNIVERSITY
DEHRADUN
DEHRADUN, 22 MARCH 2024:
“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” -H. Auden.
This World Water Day is about speeding up change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. As water affects us all, we all need to participate for acting. You and your family, school and community can make a change by transforming the way we use, consume, and manage water in our daily lives.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/47/193 of 22 December 1992 by which 22 March of each year was declared World Day for Water, to be observed starting in 1993.
Every one’s commitment will be included to the Water Action Agenda, to be launched at the UN 2023 Water Conference – the first event of its kind for nearly 50 years.
The World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the global water crisis, and a core focus of the observance is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
The theme for this year is ‘Water for prosperity and peace’. Thus, the 2024 edition of the UN’s flagship World Water Development Report (WWDR) report will explore this theme and be released today. The theme changes every year, but the central focus remains on topics relevant to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), which is in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6. Sustainable management of water is the practice of efficiently using and protecting the world's water resources for the benefit of current and future generations. When we cooperate on water, we create a positive ripple effect – fostering harmony, generating prosperity and building resilience to shared challenges. We must act upon the realisation that water is not only a resource to be used and competed over – it is a human right, intrinsic to every aspect of life. This World Water Day, we all need to unite around water and use water for peace, laying the foundations of a more stable and prosperous tomorrow.
Fundamental norms of sustainable water management:
✦ Decreasing water wastage and using water effectively is one of the most efficient ways to manage water sustainably.
✦ Safeguarding and conserving water resources such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers from pollution, over-extraction, and other forms of dilapidation is crucial for sustainable water management.
✦ Fostering water reuse and recycling: It can help reduce the demand for freshwater and alleviate water pressure in water-scarce regions. Examples include wastewater treatment and reuse for irrigation or industrial purposes.
✦ Supporting water control: Effective water governance is crucial for sustainable water management. This involves establishing, implementing, and monitoring policies, laws, and regulations that promote the justifiable and sustainable use of water resources.
✦ Financing in water retention infrastructures such as dams, reservoirs, and pipelines can help manage water resources more sustainably.
Water is universal solvent of life:
Water is one of the most valuable resources which we have on earth. All the biochemical processes which occur in plants and animals, our environments, etc. require water to perform. It is required for the survival of life on earth as it is an indispensable element of all the biological processes.
Important practices to help water conservation:
- Practice responsible use of water:
Use up the challenge to be more conscious of your own water usage. Try to adapt to pragmatic usage of water in our daily routine.
Some suggestions to reduce your water use include:
Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth.
Using the half flush on the toilet instead of the full when possible Taking limited showers.
Making sure your dishwasher is full before turning it on.
Fixing leaky taps and toilets.
- Watch documentaries on water to educate yourself:
As World Water Day is focused on raising awareness about the importance of clean water and sanitation, one way to gain a better understanding of water-related issues is by watching documentaries. There are several high-quality films available, often on YouTube or Netflix.
Some documentaries like, ‘The World’s Water Crisis’, ‘Kenya’s Water Women’ and ‘A World Without Water’ are quite educating.
- Visit the United Nations World Water Day website:
Another way to get informed is to visit the official World Water Day website, which includes an abundance of resources, stories, and information on how to become involved with World Water Day.
- Raise awareness on social media:
Social media is one of the most valuable ways to raise consciousness. This World Water Day lets endeavour and encourage others to share news, facts, statistics, videos, or stories on your various social media channels to let your network know about the importance of clean water and sanitation, and sustainable water use. The more people that communicate information on their social channels, the greater the impact.
- Donate to help those without access to clean water and sanitation:
This World Water Day, corporate world and rich can give the gift of clean water and sanitation to those who need it most. Everyone should have the right to access clean water and sanitation around the globe.
One can help provide children and families overseas with access to clean water and sanitation by donating:
You can help provide children and families overseas with access to clean water and sanitation by donating:
- Hand pump well: This will provide clean water for children and their families for drinking, cleaning, and bathing. Children may no longer have to make long, dangerous journeys on foot to collect water from unreliable, contaminated sources. This will also offer children the protection from the risk of deadly waterborne diseases.
- Deepwater borehole: Imagine your impact when you give the gift of clean water that a whole school – or even an entire community – can rely upon for years to come.
- Hand washing station: This is a simple gift with the power to help everyone in a community improve sanitation and hygiene and stay healthy. Hand pump well: This will provide clean water for children and their families for drinking, cleaning, and bathing.
Children may no longer have to make long, dangerous journeys on foot to collect water from unreliable, contaminated sources. This will also offer children the protection from the risk of deadly waterborne diseases.
- Deepwater borehole: Imagine your impact when you give the gift of clean water that a whole school – or even an entire community – can rely upon for years to come.
- Hand washing station: This is a simple gift with the power to help everyone in a community improve sanitation and hygiene and stay healthy.
Overall, sustainable water management requires an all-inclusive attitude that reflects social, economic, and environmental factors, as well as the demands and rights of all shareholders, including communities, governments, and industries.
“Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” – Albert Szent.
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