WORLD WATER DAY, 22 MARCH 2022

Sweden financial support to the Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” (GSNE “Orchis”) and Greens Movement of Georgia – Friends of the Earth-Georgia, which is implementing “Keep Georgia Tidy” Project provides its contribution to water ecosystem protection. In the frames of the project, partner organizations conduct inventory, clean up actions and bioremediation of the illegal dumpsites, which are often arranged on the river banks and floodplains. These activities reduce pollution of water ecosystem, make them healthier and ensure preservation of their ecosystem services. These actions have gained particular importance during the COVID pandemic, as the heath of water ecosystems is essential to overcome the pandemic.

22 March is the World Water Day, which was introduced by the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, and since then has been celebrated every year to remind the public a global problem of clean water availability and urge them to take active measures.

The freshwater reserves catastrophically reduce on our planet. Currently billions of people worldwide do not have access to clean water. Meantime, water use is growing globally. The growth rate has particularly increased since 1980. The deficiency of clean water is caused by various factors, such are the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, climate change, etc.; however, the main issue is growing population and socio-economic development. The projections of experts are not too comforting as they forecast 20-30% increase in water use by 2050. Thus, it’s clear that the issue of clean water availability is acute. Millions of people do not have access to clean water, and they shall consume untreated water (rivers, wells). This entails the spread of various disease as well as other problems.

In the light of these issues and projections, the necessity for actions, including the observance of the World Water Day to preserve water resources clean is obvious. A new theme is defined each year for the World Water Day, and specific actions and processes are planned around it. For 2022, the theme is ‘Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible’, which is one of the urgent challenges, and combines a set of topical issues.

Georgia has been observing this day already for years, and governmental, non-governmental and private sectors are engaged in this process. Georgia provides its share in the worldwide processes for the protection and management of water resources. For instance, the new law on water resources management is almost finalized. It has been prepared to ensure approximation of EU water legislation, and introduces basin management of water resources in Georgia.

On 22 March of this year, again the world community appeals to all to consolidate to protect water resources. They again recall how important is to rationally and economically consume water, and how vital is this resource. The current theme – Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible – will again bring scientists, experts, sectoral specialists and other stakeholders together to discuss and widely cover related challenges, what is the main purpose of celebrating this day.