Today is World Water Day, with the theme, “Clean Water for a Healthy World.” Given other health care related news, the event’s emphasis on the water quality impacts on health on a global level seem very timely. You can find events that mark this day around the world on this map page.
According to the United Nations, almost 900 million people currently lack access to safe drinking water, and an estimated 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation. The trend for access is getting worse, and may reach a global crisis. According to National Geographic a third of the people on Earth may lack a clean, secure source of water by 2050.
In conjunction with this event, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a new set of public health protections against contaminants in drinking water. The new approach seeks to share more water quality data with states and to partner with them on responses, it seeks to find cost-effective new technologies to address the needs of water-stressed communities, and aims to speed the assessment of contaminants.
If you’re interested in learning more about water issues, the April special issue of National Geographic on Water is available for free download, with extra photo galleries and interactive features.
