World Water Day 2022

Try to imagine our lives without water: we would not be able to drink, eat or wash ourselves. There would be no plants and animals, no rain, no seas, rivers, lakes… In short, without water, life on our Earth would not exist. This is why the United Nations has decided to hold World Water Day, every year on 22 March. It is a day instituted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992, following the Rio Conference, to commemorate the importance of this resource that is so essential for life. The theme chosen for 2022 is ‘Groundwater: making the invisible visible’. Almost all the liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater, the UN World Water Day body reminds us. And underground aquifers support drinking water supplies, health systems, agriculture, industry and ecosystems. Valuable water resources also play a crucial role in adapting to climate change.

The World Water Day website states: “Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere. Out of sight, under our feet, the water table is a hidden treasure that enriches our lives. We need to work together to sustainably manage this precious resource. Groundwater may be out of sight, but it must not be out of mind. As climate change worsens, groundwater will become increasingly critical. We need to work together to sustainably manage this precious resource.”