Coming soon to a tap near you

Photograph by JamieJohnDavies

It’s World Water Day on 22nd March. This day is set by the UN to draw attention to the lack of safe drinking water in so much of the world. In the (so-called) developed world, although we have poverty, we have almost universal access to clean water and sanitation.

There are 1 billion people around the world without access to safe drinking water, and 2.6 billion without access to adequate sanitation services. That’s 20% and 40% of the world’s population respectively. 4,500 children a day die because they lack clean, safe drinking water. 4,500 children a day.

What can we do? Well first we can use less water ourselves. OK, the water we save doesn’t go directly to third world countries, but we save energy by having a shower instead of a bath, heating only enough for the drinks we need. The more energy we save, the more benefit to the environment and to the planetary water table.

Second, get involved on 22 March. There are Water Walks in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle. Or you can join a Virtual Water Walk. (A good name, I think, all the virtue and none of the walking…)

Talk to people about it. Raise awareness. Show your friends the Global Water Map and see how much of the Earth is at risk. Play the Pani Game with your children to teach them about life and water in Ethiopia. Promote World Water Day on your blog, if you have one.

So far, World Water Day has had a fairly low profile. Let’s see if we can help raise it.