World Water Day is observed on March 22 to highlight the importance of freshwater around the world and the need to preserve it for the future generations. The day is also advocated for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This year’s theme for World Water Day is “Leaving no one behind” and it encourages people to consider the marginalised groups since they often face discrimination and lack of access to safe drinking water. On this day, we bring to you some important facts about this life giving source.

The first World Water Day was originally designated by the UN in 1993 and thereafter every year, several countries around the world have been observing this day.

According to the UN, 2.1 billion people around the world live without safe water at home.

One in four primary schools have no drinking water service, with pupils going thirsty during the hours they spend at school.

More than 700 children under five years of age die from diarrhea every day caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.

Globally, 80 percent of the people who use unsafe and unprotected water sources live in rural areas.

Around 159 million people collect their drinking water from surface water, such as ponds and streams.

Around four billion people – nearly two-thirds of the world’s population – experience severe water scarcity at least one month of the year.

700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.

The World Bank estimates that around 21 percent of communicable diseases in India are linked to unsafe water and the lack of hygiene practices. Further, more than 500 children under the age of five die each day from diarrhea in India alone.

Non-profit organisation WaterAid in its report titled “Beneath the Surface: The State of the World’s Water 2019” said as many as one billion people in India live in areas of physical water scarcity, of which 600 million are in areas of high to extreme water stress.

The report also highlighted that India uses the largest amount of groundwater — 24 percent of the global total and the country is the third largest exporter of groundwater — 12 percent of the global total.