Jamaica has joined the global community in commemorating today (March 22) as World Water Day.

World Water Day is an annual observation initiated by the United Nations (UN) where this year’s theme is ‘Accelerating Change – Water, Changing Behaviour and Lives’. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources and is celebrated around the world with a variety of events.

It coincides with the UN’s sustainable development goal (SDG) number six, which is to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.

The objective is to achieve this by 2030. In Jamaica, the day has been marked by an exhibition at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School in St Elizabeth hosted by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and its agencies.

The exhibition included an opening ceremony, competitions, career talks, and presentations all focused on the theme. It highlights issues such as environmental, social, and cultural values within the water sector.

Considering the importance of World Water Day’s focus, Geoffrey Marshall, deputy managing director of the Water Resources Authority (WRA), has invited the public to assist with securing safe sanitation and drinking water access for all.

Marshall encourages better water-usage habits and conservation practices, such as fixing leaky taps, refraining from filling tubs when taking showers and using grey water for irrigation of gardens.

Read more about World Water Day at the links below:

• World Water Day: Our lifetime opportunity to enable water, sanitation and hygiene for all

• WHO, UNICEF urge nations to make water sanitation and hygiene a reality

• UN warns ‘vampiric overconsumption’ is draining world’s water

Read about water safety at the links below:

• Do you know how to purify your household water?

• Citizens urged to practise proper water safety measures

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