Some staggering facts about water shortage for 'World Water Day'

MANILA, Philippines - Seven-hundred eighty-three million people do not have access to clean water and almost 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation, UNwater.org says. Despite all these, water use is increasing much faster than population.

With the increasing number of people suffering from lack of access to basic water supply and facilities all around the world, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 as the first "World Water Day."

The event is in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development contained in Chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21.

For this year, the theme for the event is "Water and Sustainable Development," which is about how water links to all areas we need to consider to create the future we want. 

To help you realize the importance of clean and safe water, here are some of the staggering facts about the dreaded water crisis:

1. Six to 8 million people die annually from the consequences of disasters and water-related diseases. (UNwater.org)
2. Every 8 seconds, somewhere in the world a child dies from drinking dirty water. (Economiccollapse)
3. Global population growth projections of 2–3 billion people over the next 40 years, combined with changing diets, result in a predicted increase in food demand of 70 percent by 2050. (UNwater.org)
4. Over half of the world population lives in urban areas, and the number of urban dwellers grows each day. Urban areas, although better served than rural areas, are struggling to keep up with population growth (WHO/UNICEF, 2010). (UNwater.org)
5. Water availability is expected to decrease in many regions. Yet future global agricultural water consumption alone is estimated to increase by ~19 percent by 2050, and will be even greater in the absence of any technological progress or policy intervention. (UNwater.org)
6. 1.6 billion live in areas where there is water, but they can't afford to drink it. (International Water Management Institute)
7. By 2025, two-thirds of the world will live under conditions of water scarcity. (International Water Management Institute)
8. Data from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Philippines showed that out of the 127 freshwater bodies that they sampled, 47 percent were found to have good water quality. However, 40 percent of those sampled were found to have only fair water quality, while 13 percent showed poor water quality. (Greenpeace.org)
9. As many as 50 of the 421 rivers in the Philippines are already considered “biologically dead." (Greenpeace.org)
10. According to data from the Philippine Environment Monitor (PEM) and the EMB, four regions had unsatisfactory ratings for their water quality criteria. These include the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog Region (Region IV), Central Luzon (Region III), and Central Visayas (Region VII). (Greenpeace.org)

In the Philippines, "World Water Day" is also celebrated. Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is presenting the “World Water Day 2015 : Let’s Run for Water and Sustainable Development” organized by Runners Republiq and RG Events this March 22 at the CCP Complex, Pasay City.

Click here for more activities this year.