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Water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing increasing demands from, and competition among, users. In 1992 the UN General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water. This year's celebration is being undertaken under the theme "Water Resources Assessment", with the slogan The World's Water: Is There Enough?
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(Resolution adopted by the General Assembly at its Forty-Seventh Session)
Recalling the relevant provisions of chapter 18 of Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
Considering that the extent to which water resource development contributes to economic productivity and social well-being is not widely appreciated, although all social and economic activities rely heavily on the supply and quality of fresh water,
Considering also that, as populations and economic activities grow, many countries are rapidly reaching conditions of water scarcity or facing limits to economic development,
Considering further that the promotion of water conservation and sustainable management requires public awareness at local, national, regional and international levels,
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Awareness of the seriousness of water problems has evolved gradually over the years, and important recommendations have been formulated since the United Nations Water Conference in Mar del Plata (Argentina) in 1977. Other events that have focused on water issues include the 1992 International Conference on Water and the Environment, convened by the UN Organisations in Dublin, Ireland, and the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The Ministerial Conference on Drinking Water and Environmental Sanitation held in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, in March 1994 adopted an action programme to ensure follow-up to Agenda 21, Chapter 18 on Freshwater Resources. In 1994, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development requested a comprehensive assessment of the world's freshwater resources, including projects of future needs. The results of the study will be considered by the 1997 special session of the UN General Assembly reviewing the implementation of Agenda 21.
Special activities were planned all over the world to celebrate the World Day for Water. The National Committees for the IHP of the following countries have notified us of how they planned to celebrate the World Day for Water:
For the past two years the Water and Electricity Department (WED) in Abu Dhabi, together with other institutions, have participated in exhibitions and seminars to celebrate the World Day for Water. Awareness campaigns have been initiated by WED and posters, stickers T-shirts, caps and pens with water conservation slogans have been distributed to the public to attract their attention to the importance of water conservation.
This year, 1997, WED has decided to sponsor the celebration of the World Day for Water by holding an exhibition, seminars and awareness campaigns.
Documentation on the exhibition Living Water - Water Cycle which has been shown for two years in Austria has just been published. It was distributed to 1,800 school classes, and other relevant persons and institutions in Austria in time for the World Day for Water.
The Chilean National Committee for the IHP and the National Water Directorate adopted the following declaration on the occasion of the World Day for Water.
The importance of this global appeal cannot go unheard, bearing in mind that world water consumption has multiplied by six since the start of the century, that half of the world<<s diseases are water-borne or water-related, and that it is estimated that the annual per capita freshwater availability will decrease from 7,300 m3 in 1995 to 4,800 m3 in 2025. Also, in the long term, climate changes may reduce natural water availability in many regions of the planet due to probable changes in rainfall distribution.
In Chile, this day is celebrated at a time when there is an increase of public awareness of the vital function played by water in sustainable national development. The following facts underline the importance of giving due attention to water resources:
In the face of this assessment the Chilean National IHP Committee and the National Water Directorate make an appeal to public opinion, youths, educators, the mass media, academic and governmental institutions, enterprises and users in general:
The World Day for Water is celebrated regularly in Croatia. Since 1994, it has also been celebrated as the Croatian Water Management Day.
In 1997 the following activities were organised:
All events had the clear objective of emphasising the importance and value of water for society and the environment and the need for integrated water management in accordance with Agenda 21 and the concept of sustainable development.
On 22 March 1997 the National Hydraulic Resources Institute (INDRHI) of the Dominican Republic, seat of the National Committee for IHP launched a programme on Water Culture.
This programme was carried out in each community with support from the Ministry of Education, mainly at primary school level, from industrial organisations, through a cycle of discussions with its members, and from related non governmental organisations. The objective of the programme was to increase awareness of the impact of human activity on the quality of life, and the need to preserve this precious, renewable although limited, resource. The rules, responsibilities and most appropriate methods and techniques to attain this objective were highlighted. The programme also provided information on the hydrological cycle, how it degrades and how it can be preserved in each of its phases, as well as its real value and the potential harm that may be caused by present and future generations.
Press articles on global water resources assessment, highlighting its strategy: Does the world have enough water? were released in:
Technical conferences were held on:
A Round Table discussion was held on the theme: Does Ecuador have Enough Water?
Articles were published in the main newspapers in order to promote public awareness.
It is already a tradition to celebrate the World Day for Water in Georgia as well as the World Meteorological Day on 23 March. The day was marked by special interviews on TV, radio and in the press; the publishing of special articles in newspapers devoted to the problems of freshwater supply and hydroenergetics in Georgia. A joint session of the IHP Georgian National Committee and the Scientific Council of the Institute of Hydrometeorology was held during this period along with the joint meeting of the Department of Hydrometeorology and the Chair of Hydrology of Tbilisi State University.
The Hydrometeorological Service of Guyana is publishing a brochure on this year's theme for dissemination to the media and schools in celebration of the World Day for Water.
The World Day for Water was celebrated at the Academy of Sciences in the presence of the President of the Republic, several Cabinet Ministers and the President of the Academy of Sciences. Apart from water resources assessment the presentations focused on safe drinking water. The message of the Director-General of UNESCO was read in Hungarian. The World Day for Water celebration was used to present the centenary edition of the Hydrographic Yearbook of Hungary. Those present signed a copy to be placed in the Water Museum.
In Jordan, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation held its Annual Celebration of the World Day for Water in co-operation with other institutions. This celebration included presentations and poster discussions of programmes related to water issues and water rationalisation. This year the National Committee for the IHP contributed through the Water Resources Studies Department of the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ). The following items were scheduled:
The National Committee for the IHP organised activities to celebrate the World Day for Water.
The following activities were carried out for World Day for Water 1997:
The following activities took place in Pakistan:
A statement was issued via the electronic media on the theme for the World Day for Water within the context of St. Lucia.
A Newspaper supplement was be issued focusing on "St. Lucia's water resources: assessment, development and management: from national concern to action".
A panel discussion took place on the topic: ` Watershed and environmental management - the participatory approach".
An Open Day/Exhibition took place at the AESD's Research Plot at the Union Agricultural Station on the theme: "Effective utilisation of our natural resources"
The staff of the Agricultural Engineering Services Division and farmers of Delcer and divisions participated in a self-help rural community-based project - "Delcer Canal Irrigation Project".
The World Day for Water is celebrated at national level in the United Arab Emirates each year. The day is given great importance and various federal and local agencies participate and contribute to this special occasion by holding seminars and exhibitions. The media also contributed to raising public awareness on water conservation.
More information on the World Day for Water will be included in the next issue of WATERWAY together with the key note address given by the Director-General of UNESCO at the First World Water Forum in Marrakesh.
Further information on the Marrakesh Forum is available on Internet at: http://www.worldwatercouncil.org.
UNESCO and WMO have recently published a popularised document in English, French, Spanish and Russian entitled: The World's Water: Is there enough? Copies can be obtained free of charge from the IHP Secretariat.
Essaouira, Morocco
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