NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS WORLD DAY FOR WATER TO BE OBSERVED 22 MARCH

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS WORLD DAY FOR WATER TO BE OBSERVED 22 MARCH

Theme Is 'The World's Water: Is There Enough?'

"The World's Water: Is There Enough?" will be the theme of this year's World Day for Water, which is observed annually on 22 March.

The major global observance of the World Day for Water coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is being held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 20 to 24 March, in cooperation with the World Water Council and the Moroccan Government. The Prime Minister of Morocco and other dignitaries are expected to attend.

At Headquarters, two award-winning public service announcements about water issues will be shown continuously in the General Assembly Visitors Lobby on 21-23 March. The public service announcements, loaned for the occasion, were produced by Ketchum Advertising for Earth Communications. National programmes for World Day for Water are also being held in a number of cities worldwide.

A United Nations report released in January found that water supplies are growing so scarce in some areas that two thirds of humanity will suffer "moderate to severe water stress" within 30 years if current trends continue. The comprehensive assessment of global freshwater resources was prepared under an inter-agency steering committee for the five-year review of the Earth Summit agreements, to be held this June.

Other facts about the world's freshwater supply include:

-- A third of the world's population already suffers from "moderate to high" stress as a result of over-demand and pollution of water supplies;

-- By 2025, the needs of an additional 5 billion people will have to be met to provide universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation;

-- Between 1900 and 1995, water use has increased six-fold, more than double the rate of population growth;

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-- By the year 2025, the annual per capita availability of freshwater is estimated to drop from 7.3 thousand cubic metres in 1995 to 4.8 thousand cubic metres;

-- Water consumption is rising not only because of population growth, but also because of expansion of irrigation for agriculture -- which uses 87 per cent of all water consumed -- industrial development and water-borne sanitation systems;

-- Current levels of water shortages and pollution are causing widespread public health problems, limiting economic and agricultural development and harming a wide range of ecosystems, which may jeopardize global food supplies and lead to economic stagnation in many areas;

-- Water pollution is responsible for the death of some 25 million people each year and half of the world's diseases are transmitted by or through water; and

-- An estimated 20 per cent of the world's population lacks safe drinking water and 50 per cent lacks access to adequate sanitation.

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