World Water Day is observed annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
This year, World Water Day highlights the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems. This year’s theme, “Water for Cities: responding to the Urban Challenge”, aims to encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to actively engage in addressing the challenge of urban water management. In the case of the Turks and Caicos Islands, given the absence of surface rivers and lakes, and our limited underground resources, water management is paramount.
Water is the most common substance found on earth although less than 1% of the earth’s water is suitable for drinking. At present, more than a billion people around the globe survive on just over 1 gallon (4 liters) of water per day. Approximately 3 billion people may suffer from water shortages by the year 2025 if we continue to mismanage water. Water is vital for human existence; 66% of the human body is water and a person can only live without water for about one week. Water is essential for our health and for environmental sanitation. Management of our scarce water resources in the Turks and Caicos Islands is therefore essential.
The Environmental Health and Engineering and Maintenance Services (EMS) Departments wish to encourage the TCI Community to celebrate World Water day not just today but every day of the year by actively assisting in the management and conservation of fresh water by:
- taking shorter showers,
- fixing dripping faucets,
- turning off faucets when brushing teeth and lathering hands with soap and
- running washers and dishwashers only when you have a full load.
Water management is not only a global concept, but is necessary locally. Let us all do our part. By acting locally to manage our water resources, we make a global impact.
World Water Day “Water for Islands: Responding to the Turks and Caicos Islands Challenge”
