Yesterday we celebrated World Water Day 2016, a day of recognition held annually on March 22 since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly dedicated the day to focus on water issues.
This year’s theme, “Better water, better jobs,” examined the relationship between workers and water, as well as emphasized the rights and recognition that should be afforded to the 1.5 billion people worldwide who work in water-related industries.
Every year, the industry takes the time to share facts and statistics about worldwide access to clean water. To those of us who live in developed nations, it often seems unfathomable to think that 1 in 10 people lack access to safe water, or that a child dies from a water-related disease every 90 seconds.
But this year, these statistics hit a little closer to home. The current situation in Flint, Mich., reminds us that although most of us can turn on a tap and out will come clean water, we are not necessarily immune to crisis. In other parts of the U.S., droughts are depleting water supplies and floods are causing devastation. World Water Day is a good opportunity to reflect on the importance of protecting water resources and making investment in infrastructure a priority.
