The World Water Monitoring Day is observed every year on September 18. The theme for the 2024 World Water Monitoring is Water For Peace.
Water is essential for all forms of life. To promote public involvement in water monitoring and protecting water resources worldwide, the World Water Monitoring Day is observed every year on September 18 since 2003. In 2003, America’s Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) launched World Water Monitoring Day as a global educational outreach program by engaging citizens in basic monitoring of their local water bodies. Initially, the date was October 18, in honour of the US Clean Water Act, which was enacted on 18 October 1972 by Congress to restore and protect the United States’ water resources.
However, this date was not ideal for some countries, where the water bodies usually freeze during October. Thus, to maximize the number of participants and participating countries, the official date was changed to September 18 in 2007.
In 2006, America’s Clean Water Foundation transferred the role of coordinator of the event to the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA). In 2015, the coordinator of World Water Monitoring Day was transferred to EarthEcho International – an environmental nonprofit organisation based in Washington, D.C.
The theme of World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’
Water can create peace or spark conflict. When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal, or no access, tensions can rise between communities and countries. Over three billion people worldwide depend on water that crosses national borders. Yet, only 24 countries have cooperation agreements for all their shared water.
As climate change impacts increase, and populations grow, there is an urgent need, within and between countries, to unite around protecting and conserving our most precious resource. Public health and prosperity, food and energy systems, economic productivity and environmental integrity all rely on a well-functioning and equitably managed water cycle.
The 2024 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report highlights how developing and maintaining water security and equitable access to water services is essential to ensuring peace and prosperity for all. This report is published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water.
