World Water Day 2016

Today is World Water Day and the theme is Water and Jobs.

The theme is meant to highlight how both water and employment have the power to transform people’s lives.

One and a half billion people work in water-related sectors, according to the United Nations. 

A World Bank report estimates that 40 per cent of the global economically-active population work in crop and animal production, fisheries or hunting. Of these, only 20 per cent are employed as waged workers. The remaining are self-employed or contribute to the family farm.

Collecting water is unpaid work for many people. In sub-Saharan Africa, girls and women spend up to six hours per day fetching water, according to UNDP.

Sadly, there are two million work-related deaths each year; 17 per cent of those are water related (poor quality drinking water, poor sanitation, poor hygiene and lack of knowledge).

Here in Canada, despite having an abundance of fresh water, there are many challenges. Currently there are 1,046 boil water advisories in effect, according to watertoday.ca

World Water Day started back in 1992 at the UN conference on environment and development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is held annually on March 22 around the world.