If clean water is “no big deal,” then that’s exactly why clean water is a very big deal.
World Water Day March 22 celebrates fresh water and why it’s critical that we not take it for granted.
Flush, don’t think twice about it. Turn the tap, no big deal. Start the laundry, fill your tub, wash your hands, let the faucet flow on and on as long as you want. “It’s just water,” you say to yourself.
The simple fact that we can consider such a precious resource and the complex system it takes to bring it to and from our homes safely “no big deal” is exactly why World Water Day March 22 should be a very big deal.
What is World Water Day?
World Water Day, established by the United Nations in 1993, was originally launched to promote to the importance of fresh water and bring attention to water-resource management and sanitation challenges around the world.
We are proud to support WWD programs that help residents understand how Cleveland’s urban water cycle works and relate it to the water-quality realities and struggles that still exist around the world today. Access to clean water requires reliable systems. It takes long-term planning. It’s expensive.
Water and sewer utilities are easy to take for granted until the taps don’t flow or the toilets don’t flush. But on WWD, we pay particular attention to the parts of the world where water infrastructure is limited and even nonexistent.
In all places, there are opportunities to help those who need it most, countless ways to make World Water Day inspirational. People in our own community need help making ends meet, paying water and sewer bills to ensure their homes have clean water.
Clean water has value. For us, clean water is and should always be a value — in both its meanings: an affordable investment, and a deeply ingrained and guiding principle.
Communicate, educate, donate, however you choose to support the World Water Day cause, it’s not too late.
