Today is World Water Day, established in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Eco-92), as a way to raise awareness about the care of this essential resource for life.
Despite occupying most of the planet's surface, it is estimated that 97.5% of the existing water is salty, not suitable for direct human consumption, nor even for use in agriculture. The remaining 2.5% is freshwater, but is found in places that are difficult to access, such as glaciers and aquifers. Thus, there is a very small proportion of potable water available superficially.
One of the biggest threats to this resource is pollution from human activities. According to data from the National Agency for Water and Basic Sanitation (ANA), in Brazil only 50.8% of the sewage generated is treated, and approximately 40.1% of the drinking water available is lost in distribution or not accounted for. Another information that draws attention is that Brazil still has 1,545 active dumps, places without any kind of control that are permanent sources of contamination. Besides, there is a deep relationship between basic sanitation and the population's health.
Several actions are known and must be applied to reverse this picture and improve the panorama, after all, such a precious resource cannot be neglected.
In 2023 the theme for the World Water Day is "Be the Change You Want to See in the World", reinforcing that everyone is responsible for the correct use of this natural resource.
Source of information: National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA)
