It’s an essential resource that we take for granted; from taking a shower, going to the toilet and watering our plants – but the fact remains that 768 million people do not have access to clean drinking water – an astounding number considering the age we live in.
Established by the United Nations in 1993, the "World Day for Water" has been marked all across the world for the last two decades. The focus this year is on the theme ‘2014: Water and Energy’, looking at just how inextricably linked these two commodities are. In fact, some 8% of the world’s energy is used to treat, pump and deliver water to consumers.
However, it’s estimated that a billion people all across the world live in slums and disadvantaged rural areas and have to live each day without even basic access to safe drinking water, enough food, satisfactory sanitation and reliable energy services.
Held every year on 22 March, World Water Day is the opportunity for all of us to consider just what safe water means and recognise the day to day realities of living without it.
WaterAid is working towards 2030, when everybody will have access to clean water, as well as decent sanitation and adequate hygiene standards. So daily actions that we take for granted, such as simply going to the toilet and washing our hands, will become a welcome reality for a billion people.
Get Involved
WaterAid is asking people across the world to pledge their support for World Water Day 2014 by signing their name on an online form. There is also a program of events running throughout the year which you can get involved with. Why not run the Brighton Marathon on 6 April, or maybe take part in a cycling trek which runs from London to Paris from 3 – 7 September, or get active and see an up and running WaterAid project as part of the Trek Ethiopia programme which will kick off on 15 March 2015.
For full details, check out the WaterAid website.
