www.worldwaterday.net provides excellent information about the events planned across the US for this day.
The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.
Come to think about it, this day should have been the first day celebrated. Our and all living species' existence is simply attributed to water. So, I started digging more about the specific 'facts' about the water and stumbled upon a few that I thought were really cool.
The largest component of the body is water. Water makes up between 45 and 75% of body weight, with the variability due primarily to differences in body fat.
According to 2006 United Nations Human Development Report:
Every $1 spent on water and sanitation creates on average another $8 in costs averted and productivity gained.
During the 20th century, water use increased at double the rate of population growth; while the global population tripled, water use per capita increased by six times.
The world's population has tripled in the last 100 years, but water use has increased sixfold. A surge in water use in agriculture is responsible for a large part of the increase.
An estimated third of the world's population currently lives in water-stressed countries. This is set to increase to two-thirds within 25 years. Africa and Asia are already hard-hit by water stress. Increasing populations will create more pressure in the coming decades.
The amount of water on Earth is fixed. Less than 0.01% of the planet's 1.4 billion cubic kilometres is easily accessible freshwater in lakes and rivers. About a fifth of the water used worldwide comes from the 30% of the world's freshwater which is stored in groundwater.
In the coming years....Water might be the most critical resource of all.
With finite supply of the water around the world....just remember how important the water is and be careful about how you use this resource.
Happy World Water Day!!
References:
Graphics and data from BBC News.
http://water.org/waterpartners.aspx?pgID=916#Ref_1
