Yap To Observe International World Water Day
COLONIA, Yap (Media Division) — March 22, 2014 is International World Water Day and the Water for Life project team wishes to bring your attention to the importance of water and sustainable management of our water resources.
The Water for Life team, which comprises the Yap State Public Service Corporation, Southern Yap Water Authority and the Gagil-Tomil Water Authority, are working together to protect and manage Yap’s water resources in collaboration with the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL). This project is funded by the National Science Foundation.
In observance of this event, the Water for Life team has created fliers for public dissemination and shared announcements on the radio.
In its message, the Water for Life team shares that World Water Day is held every year on 22 March to focus global attention on the importance of water and advocating for the sustainable management of our water resources. Since 22 March falls on Saturday this year, International World Water Day will be observed on Friday 21 March.
An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the Earth Summit in 1992. The UN General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day, and it has been held annually since then.
Water holds the key to sustainable development. We need it for health, food security and economic progress. Yet, each year brings new pressures.
Future climate change projections for the FSM over the next 15 to 35 years show (i) average air temperature will increase by 1.7 – 3.3 degree Fahrenheit, (ii) an increase in the number of very hot days, (iii) a decrease in cooler weather, (iv) increase in average annual rainfall with increases in wet and dry season rainfall, (v) increase in sea surface temperature, and (vi) sea level will continue to rise. Projections about the future behavior of typhoons and the ENSO phenomena show a significant range of uncertainties at the moment.
Ninety-seven percent of all the water on the Earth is saltwater which is not suitable for drinking. Only 3 percent of all the water is freshwater, with about 30 percent of this is underground and 70 percent locked in icecaps and glaciers. Only 1 percent of that 3 percent is readily available as drinking water. We must learn to save water now for the future. The quality of our water is very important.
Climate change and the needs of populations growing in size and prosperity mean we must work together to protect and manage this fragile, finite resource.
Only less than 300 days are left before the Millennium Development Goal deadline of 2015. But 2015 is not a finishing line, merely a milestone in a long and challenging journey. As we develop the post-2015 development agenda, our aim is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, and to create an equitable world of opportunity for all. To do that, we need to give equal consideration to the environmental dimension of sustainable development.
Conserving the water that we have minimizes the effects of water shortages and helps build a better defense against future drought years. If we save water now, we are helping to ensure a water supply adequate for future generations. Saving water saves money.
We cannot prosper without clean, plentiful freshwater. On this World Water Day, let us salute those folks who work relentlessly with our three main public water systems on Yap to provide us clean drinking water. But at the same time we appeal for everyone for heightened cooperation. Water is a common resource. Let us use it more intelligently and waste less so all get a fair share.
For more information on water conservation, contact the Yap State Public Service Corporation, Southern Yap Water Authority or the Gagil Tomil Water Authority on 350 7151, 350 2711, 350 5544 or 350 4382.