2025 World Water Day Toolkit
World Water Day is observed each year on March 22 to promote the responsible use of water and access to safe water for everyone. Water holds immense value. Every day, people use water in different ways including drinking, agriculture, industry, recreation, hygiene, sanitation, and health care.
Every year since 1993, World Water Day (22 March) raises awareness and inspires action to tackle the water and sanitation crisis. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is a United Nations observance coordinated by UN-Water.
Why is water considered a natural resource? Water maintains ecological balance. It sustains life. It is necessary for respiration in aquatic organisms. It is essential for photosynthesis.
Access to water and sanitation is a human right. A well managed water cycle underpins progress across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in relation to hunger, gender equity, health, education, livelihoods, sustainability and ecosystems.
Water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between the climate system, human society and the environment. Without proper water governance, there is likely to be increased competition for water between sectors and an escalation of water crises of various kinds, triggering emergencies in a range of water-dependent sectors.
The physical world of water is closely bound up with the socio-political world, with water often a key factor in managing risks such as famine, epidemics, inequalities and political instability.
Did you know?
2.2 billion people (1 in 4) still live without safely managed drinking water, including 115 million people who drink surface water. (WHO/UNICEF, 2023).
3.5 billion people (4 in 10) still live without safely managed sanitation, including 419 million who practise open defecation. (WHO/UNICEF, 2023).
2 billion people still lack basic hygiene services, including 653 million with no facility at all. (WHO/UNICEF, 2023).
Around 1,000 daily deaths of children under five are due to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. (WHO, 2023)
Children under the age of 15 living in countries affected by protracted conflict are, on average, almost three times more likely to die from diarrhoeal diseases caused by a lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene than by direct violence. (UNICEF, 2019)
More than 2 billion people live in countries under water stress and 3.6 billion face inadequate access to water at least one month per year. (WMO, 2021)
Water-related disasters account for 70% of all disaster related deaths. (World Bank Group, 2022)
Since 2000, flood-related disasters have increased by 134%. (WMO, 2021)
In 2023, glaciers lost more than 600 gigatons of water, the largest mass loss registered in the last five decades. (WMO, 2024)
Only 0.5% of water on Earth is useable and available freshwater. (WMO, 2021)
To meet SDG 6, progress needs to increase, on average, by 6x for safely managed drinking water, 5x for safely managed sanitation and 3x for basic hygiene. (WHO/UNICEF, 2023)
72% of all freshwater withdrawals are used by agriculture, 16% by industries, and 12% by municipalities. (FAO, 2023)
Global water demand is projected to increase by 20 to 30% by 2050. (UN, 2018)
To produce a person’s daily food, it takes 2,000-5,000 litres of water. A 50% increase in food demand is expected by 2050. (FAO, 2020)
Water-use efficiency has increased by 19.3% globally from 2015 to 2021, but around 58% of countries still exhibit low water-use efficiency. (FAO, 2024)
The world will not achieve sustainable water management until 2049. (UNEP, 2024)
Only 27% of industrial wastewater is safely treated. (UN-Habitat, WHO, 2024)
42% of household wastewater is not safely treated. (UN-Habitat, WHO, 2024)
Only 56% of monitored water bodies in 120 reporting countries are in “good ambient water quality”. (UNEP, 2024)
Just 43 out of 153 countries sharing transboundary waters have operational arrangements covering 90% or more of their shared water bodies. (UNECE, UNESCO, 2024)
Every US$ 1 invested in water and sanitation yields a return of US$ 4.3. (UN-Water GLAAS, 2014)
Aid for water and sanitation decreased by 5% between 2015 and 2022. (UN-Water GLAAS, 2022).
Estimates indicate that to achieve SDG 6, over US$1 trillion will be needed per year. (World Resources Institute, 2020).
This year, consider ways that you might observe World Water Day.
Grand Canyon Synod Focus
Acting on the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge theme of A Watered Garden from Isaiah 58:11, the four spiritual practices identified, including the Daily Devotions, focus on this most precious resource, Water. Celebrate World Water Day by celebrating, playing in, conserving and drinking water. Suggested activities from the Lenten Challenge and activities, Water Fact Sheet and a World Water Day Walk for Water Fundraiser from the Northeast Valley Consortium are available for ideas.
2025 Glacier Preservation Toolkit
UN-Water is the convener for World Water Day and selects the theme for each year in consultation with UN organizations that share an interest in that year's focus.
2025 theme: “Glacier Preservation”
ACTIVATION KIT in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
CAMPAIGN ANIMATION.
CAMPAIGN TRELLO with social media resources in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
FACTSHEET in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
POSTER in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
VISUAL IDENTIFIER in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
2024 theme: “Leveraging Water for Peace”
2023 theme: “Accelerating Change”
2022 theme: “Groundwater”
2021 theme: "Valuing Water" and the public campaign invited people to join a global conversation on social media to "tell us your stories, thoughts and feelings about water".
2020 theme: "Water and Climate Change".
Previous themes for the years 2016 to 2019 were "Water and Jobs'", "Why waste water?" "Nature for Water", and "Leaving no one behind".