World Water Day is observed on 22 March each year to draw global attention to the importance of freshwater and to advocate for sustainable management of water resources. The day was recommended in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro and was first officially observed in 1993 after the UN General Assembly resolution.
Why it matters
Safe water is essential for drinking, cooking, hygiene, agriculture, industry and healthy ecosystems. Yet millions of people around the world still do not have access to safely managed drinking water or basic sanitation facilities. Contaminated water can spread diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and many parasitic infections. Children, pregnant women, elderly people and those with weak immunity are especially vulnerable. Climate change is making the situation more complex by causing more frequent floods, droughts and sea-level rise, which affect both the quality and quantity of available water. World Water Day reminds governments, organisations and communities that ensuring access to safe water and sanitation is a human right and a foundation for public health, education, gender equality and economic development.
History
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro recognised the urgent need to protect water resources and proposed an international day dedicated to water. Later that year, the UN General Assembly declared 22 March as World Water Day, to be observed annually from 1993 onwards. Since then, each year has a specific theme, such as water and jobs, wastewater, nature for water, leaving no one behind, valuing water, groundwater, or the link between water and climate change. Campaigns encourage countries to improve water supply systems, expand sanitation coverage, reduce pollution from households, agriculture and industry, and involve local communities in water governance. World Water Day is closely linked to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”
Key facts
Human right
- access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation is recognised by the UN as a basic human right.
Health impact
- unsafe water and poor sanitation are major causes of diarrhoeal diseases and child mortality in many low- and middle-income countries.
Gender dimension
- in many communities
- women and girls spend hours each day collecting water
- which affects their education
- income and safety.
Climate link
- climate change is felt primarily through water – more intense rains
- floods
- droughts and salinity affect drinking water sources and food production.
Protection of ecosystems
- rivers
- lakes
- wetlands and groundwater need to be protected from overuse and pollution to ensure long-term water security.
In Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a riverine country with abundant water during the monsoon, but safe drinking water is not guaranteed for everyone throughout the year. Many rural areas and urban slums still face challenges in accessing safe, reliably supplied water and hygienic sanitation. Arsenic contamination of shallow tube wells, industrial and domestic pollution of rivers, open defecation in some pockets, and increasing salinity in coastal districts due to sea-level rise and reduced freshwater flow all threaten water safety. Floods and cyclones regularly damage water and sanitation infrastructure, leading to outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
On World Water Day, government agencies, NGOs, schools and community groups in Bangladesh organise rallies, discussions, awareness sessions and media campaigns about safe drinking water, boiling or treating water when necessary, using sanitary latrines, and washing hands with soap at critical times. There is growing emphasis on protecting rivers from encroachment and pollution, rainwater harvesting in coastal areas, deeper and arsenic-safe tube wells, community-based water management and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) programmes in schools and health facilities. The day also highlights the need for climate-resilient water systems and equitable access, so that poor and marginalised communities are not left behind.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is World Water Day observed on March 22?
- World Water Day is observed on March 22 following a United Nations resolution in 1992, to focus global attention each year on freshwater, safe drinking water and sanitation, and to support progress towards universal access.
- What health problems are linked to unsafe water?
- Unsafe water and poor sanitation can cause diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, worm infections and other intestinal diseases, especially affecting young children, pregnant women and people with weak immunity.
- What is the situation of safe drinking water in Bangladesh?
- Bangladesh has improved water and sanitation coverage over the years, but challenges remain due to arsenic in tube wells, river pollution, salinity in coastal areas and damage from floods and cyclones. Many rural and urban-poor communities still need better access to reliable, safe drinking water.