World Water Day
World Water Day is an annual United Nations (UN) observance day held on the 22nd of March that highlights the importance of fresh water. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.[1] The theme of each year focuses on topics relevant to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), which is in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6.[2] The UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is released each year around World Water Day.
Not to be confused with World Water Monitoring Day.World Water Day
People and organizations worldwide, including all UN member states
22 March 2025
Annual
22 March 1993
UN-Water is the convener for World Water Day and selects the theme for each year in consultation with UN organizations that share an interest in that year's focus.[1] The theme for 2021 was "Valuing Water" and the public campaign invited people to join a global conversation on social media to "tell us your stories, thoughts and feelings about water".[3]
In 2020, the theme was "Water and Climate Change".[4] Previous themes for the years 2016 to 2019 were "Water and Jobs'",[5] "Why waste water?"[6] "Nature for Water",[7] and "Leaving no one behind".[8] World Water Day is celebrated around the world with a variety of events. These can be theatrical, musical or lobbying in nature. The day can also include campaigns to raise money for water projects. The first World Water Day, designated by the United Nations, was in 1993.[1]
Examples of activities[edit]
Non-governmental organizations active in the WASH sector, such as UNICEF, WaterAid and Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), use the day to raise public awareness, get media attention for water issues and inspire action.[13] Activities have included releasing publications and films, as well as organizing round tables, seminars and expositions.[3]
End Water Poverty, a global civil society coalition with 250 partner organizations, sponsors Water Action Month each year and offers an event-planning guidebook.[14][15]
The UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is released each year on World Water Day. Information related to the annual theme gives decision-makers tools to implement sustainable use of water resources.[16]
More and more initiatives in schools and universities are educating people about the importance of conserving and managing water resources.[17][18][19] For example, Michigan State University held a contest for "best World Water Day poster" in 2017. Primary school children in the Philippines participated in a "My School Toilet" contest in 2010.[20]
History[edit]
This day was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. In December 1992, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/47/193 by which 22 March of each year was declared World Day for Water.[1]
In 1993, the first World Water Day was observed.[1] An archive of previous World Water Day campaign websites also exists.[21]
Impacts[edit]
Every year, World Water Day campaign messages and publications reach millions of people through social media, dedicated websites and other channels. In 2021, the World Water Day public campaign invited people to take part in a social media conversation (#Water2me) about the value of water. More than 6,000 public conversations took place in over 140 countries on social media from November 2020 to mid-February 2021.[44]
In 2017, 700 individual events were held in 110 countries and there were over 500,000 authors on social media using the hashtag '#WorldWaterDay'.[45] In 2018, there was a 25% increase in both the number of website visits and the maximum potential reach on social media largely due to celebrity support and a coordinated communications approach across the United Nations.[46]
In 2016, the UN-Water annual report stated that social media engagement (hashtag #WorldWaterDay), had a maximum potential reach of 1.6 billion people worldwide in 2016.[47]: 21 Over 500 events in 100 countries were registered on the World Water Day website that year.[47]: 21