Posted on July 23, 2015
For the past 22 years, March 22 has been celebrated as World Water Day.
by Jann Lau, Market Analyst at Organica Water
Every year on this day, the United Nations seeks to celebrate water and bring awareness to a specific aspect of water. This year’s theme, “Water and Sustainable Development”, highlights water’s role in the sustainable development agenda.
Here are 10 interesting things you should know on World Water Day this year:
- Of all the water available on Earth, only 2.5% is freshwater. Of this freshwater, 70% is tied up in glaciers and ice caps, leaving less than 1% of the world’s total water supply readily accessible for human consumption.
- 1 in 3 people globally lack sanitation; approximately 2.5 billion people.
- Each liter of untreated wastewater pollutes at least 8 liters of freshwater.
- Only 10% of domestic wastewater in developing countries is collected, and only about 10% of existing wastewater treatment plants operate reliably and efficiently.
- Water and energy systems are interdependent – water is utilized in all phases of energy production, while energy is used to produce, treat, and transport water. According to the International Energy Agency, the amount of fresh water consumed for world energy production is on track to double within the next 25 years, primarily due to soaring coal-fired electricity, and the ramp up of biofuel production. The energy sector already accounts for 15% of the world’s total water use.
- Agriculture is the largest consumer of water, accounting for up to 70% of global freshwater withdrawals.
- Each gallon of biofuel consumes 100 gallons of freshwater.
- The global burden of human disease caused by sewage pollution of coastal waters has been estimated at 4 million lost person-years annually.
- Diarrhea caused by inadequate drinking water, sanitation, and hand hygiene kills an estimated 842,000 people every year globally, or approximately 2,300 people per day.
- Water can save your life in more ways than one.
Join the conversation and learn more by checking out this list of related events you can attend in your city!
