The theme of the 2010 World Water Day is ''Clean Water for a Healthy World”. It is still a reality that an estimated 1.1 billion people rely on unsafe drinking-water sources and every year, 1,500 cubic kilometres of wastewater are produced globally. While waste and wastewater can be reused productively for energy and irrigation, it usually is not. In developing countries 80 percent of all waste is being discharged untreated, because of lack of regulations and resources.
And population and industrial growth add new sources of pollution and increased demand for clean water to the equation. Human and environmental health, drinking and agricultural water supplies for the present and future are at stake, still water pollution rarely warrants mention as a pressing issue.
The overall goal of the World Water Day on 22 March 2010 campaign is to raise the profile of water quality at the political level so that water quality considerations are made alongside those of water quantity.
Why Water?
• Water is a prerequisite for life. Good water management promotes economic and social progress. Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals depends to a large extent on water.
• Water is a finite and vulnerable resource. Current global population growth rates mean more and more people and economic sectors compete for water. Better governance is a key aspect of sustainable water management.
• Water also destroys. Many countries suffer droughts, floods, hurricanes and other disasters that destroy lives, harm economies and hinder growth.
• Water is crucial for food security and human well being. Lack of access by the poor to adequate, safe and reliable supplies of water, and safe sanitation limits options to improve their livelihoods.
• Water is tied to global challenges. Climate change is one of the most formidable challenges faced by the global community. Urbanisation, population growth, and environmental degradation place huge demands on water managers. Without prompt action, such challenges may trigger conflicts.
The Global Water Partnership’s vision is for a water secure world. We support the sustainable development and management of water resources at all levels. The GWP network with more than 2000 partners worldwide, celebrates World Water Day with a number of activities and events in different regions of the global: awareness campaigns on public radio, releases of video films about water security, participation in seminars and organisation of workshops for students, pupils and policy makers. Here is a selection:
GWP Carribean
Global Water Partnership-Caribbean’s (GWP-C’s) video “Water: Is there enough for tomorrow?” a project done in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) and GWP-C’s partner the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) began airing on various television stations in Trinidad and Tobago from March 15th, 2010 and will continue to air throughout the week of World Water Day (WWD).
GWP-C’s partners, the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) of Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Services and other agencies will be hosting a two-day exhibition (March 22nd-23rd) commemorating WWD and World Meteorological Day 2010.
World Water Day (WWD) 2010 will be commemorated on Monday, March 22nd under the theme “Clean Water for a Healthy World.” The event will be held at the Mona Reservoir Grounds which is managed by the National Water Commission a GWP-C partner in Jamaica. Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) along with the World Wide Fund (WWF)-Guianas and the Environmental Protection Agency of Guyana, will put on a five-day children’s workshop based on the WWD 2010 theme “Clean Water for a Healthy World.” The following is the press release which provides details on the event which begins on WWD, March 22nd:
Based on the WWD 2010 theme “Clean Water for a Healthy World”, GWP-C’s Partner, the Dominica Water and Sewerage Company Limited (DOWASCO) have planned a Radio Address by Minister responsible for Water Resource Management in Dominica, Radio Talk Show, School presentations and Public Service Announcements on Radio Stations.
More about World Water Day 2010 Activities in the Caribbean
GWP Southeast Asia
A national committee for the World Water Days in Indonesia is chaired by Dr. M. Amron, Acting Director General of Water Resources, who is also the chair of Indonesia Country Water Partnership
(InaWP) committee members are coming from national of Government agencies, provincial government, NGOs, Academia and private sector. Many InaWP activists are also in the committee. The program is planned covering:
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Public Campaign in Ciliwung River, Jakarta.
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Workshop and Exhibition which will be implemented in Jakarta and in the provincial capitals.
PUB Singapore will be organizing a series of activities during World Water Day.
GWP Central America
GWP Central America is celebrating the First Central American Fair of Community Water Management. On Monday March 22, GWP Central America will launch a video called "Trabajando juntos por el agua" about the work of GWP. This will be presented during the Fair in the Cine Foro, a special space where water videos will be shown to all the people interested from March 20 to the 24.
GWP Mediterranean
GWP Mediterranan organises an event called “World Water Day: international cooperation activities on water of the University of Athens and the Hydro-Geological Committee of Greece”. Cooperating organizers are the National and Capodistrian University of Athens and the Hydro-Geological Committee of Greece in cooperation with UNESCO, IAH and InWeb.
GWP Central and Eastern Europe
The Global Water Partnership Executive Secretary Dr Ania Grobicki and the GWP Central and Eastern Europe Chair Dr. Liviu Nicolae Popescu will participate in the European event "Aquawareness Policy Forum" on World Water Day 22 March in Brussels, Belgium. The theme of the policy forum is "Water 2030 - who cares?". The conference will focus on the strengths, weaknesses and practical actions required to realize the European Water Vision.
In Bulgaria there will be a national celebration in Sofia city on 22-23 March and a regional conference in Veliko Tarnovo town on 22 March. Main organizers of the national celebration are Ministry of Environment and Water and Scientific-Technical Union of Water Affairs. GWP Bulgaria acts as a partner organization in the national celebration. The regional conference is organized by the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water and GWP Bulgaria who contributes with presentations on various aspects of Water Framework Directive/Integrated Water Resources Management/Sustainable Sanitation.
More about World Water Day in Bulgaria
GWP South Asia
The Sri Lanka Water Partnership (SLWP) has every year had special Water Day Programmes with Interviews on TV etc and Schools Awareness Programmes.
1) Water Day Programme on Climate Change Adaptation for schools in Southern Province of Sri Lanka targeting the school communities (Students/Staff) organised by the SLWP/ Nilwala AWP, Network of Women Water Professionals, University of Ruhuna and the Dept; of Education Southern Province.
2) Water Day Programme on Clean Water for a Healthy World for school children in Central Province organised by the SLWP in collaboration with the Institute for Participatory Interaction in Development, National Water Supply Board and The Education and Health Departments of Central province.
The target attendance at these events is between 250-300 students of middle school and teachers.