BY DR. RAVINDER PALL SAINI
INDIAN FOREST SERVICE (RETIRED)
MEMBER, BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
FOREST RESAERCH UNIVERSITY
DEHRADUN
DEHRADUN, 22 MARCH 2023:
“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 of World Water Day 2023 is “Accelerating the change to solve the water and
sanitation crisis”. The value of water is about much more than its price – water has
enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education,
economics, and the integrity of our natural environment. If we overlook any of these
values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource. SDG 6 is to ensure
water and sanitation for all. Without a comprehensive understanding of water’s true,
multidimensional value, we will be unable to safeguard this critical resource for the
benefit of everyone.
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.
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.
Advertisement:
Add Comment