World Water Day 2021 – Valuing Water

On 22 March, World Water Day is celebrated each year to raises awareness of the global water crisis, and a core focus of the observance is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Theme

The theme of World Water Day 2021 is valuing water. The value of water is about much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. If we overlook any of these values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource. SDG 6 is to ensure water and sanitation for all. Without a comprehensive understanding of water’s true, multidimensional value, we will be unable to safeguard this critical resource for the benefit of everyone.

Facts

• Drinking water: 27 % of the population in Nepal use a safely managed drinking water service (SDG indicator 6.1.1, 2017)- (SDG 6 snapshot in Nepal)
• Hygiene: 48 % of the population in Nepal have access to a basic handwashing facility (SDG indicator 6.2.1b, 2017)- (SDG 6 snapshot in Nepal)

• 10.8 million people in Nepal do not have access to improved sanitation, and 3.5 million do not have access to basic water services. (UNICEF)

UN World Water Development Report 2021

The current status of water resources highlights the need for improved water resources management. Recognizing, measuring and expressing water’s worth, and incorporating it into decision-making, are fundamental to achieving sustainable and equitable water resources management and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• World Water Day 2019: Leaving no one behind
• Classification of Water-related diseases
• World Water Day 2018 ”Nature for Water”
• Wastewater- World Toilet Day in 2017
• World Water Day 2017 : Why waste water?
• International days, weeks and years of Public Health Concern
• World Toilet Day- “Sustainable sanitation and climate change”