United Nations day · March 22
World Water Day
Every street drains to a creek, and every creek to a river or the sea. Caring for water starts at the curb.
Every year on March 22
About the day
World Water Day is a United Nations day held every year on March 22. It was proposed at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, adopted by the UN General Assembly, and first observed in 1993. UN-Water coordinates it.
The day focuses on fresh water: the water people drink, grow food with, and share with the rivers, lakes, and wetlands around them.
Why it matters
Fresh water is scarce
Most of Earth’s water is salty. Only a small share is fresh, and much of that is locked in ice or underground.
Not everyone has it
Billions of people still lack safely managed drinking water at home, according to the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Streets are streams
Rain carries litter, oil, and fertilizer from streets and yards into storm drains, and from there into creeks and the ocean.
Ways to take part
Pick one action that fits your place and your people. Small, local, and repeated beats big and once.
- Adopt a drainKeep a storm drain near you clear of leaves and litter.
- Clean upRemove litter from a creek, river, or shoreline.
- Save waterFix a leak or cut outdoor watering this week.
- Slow the flowPlant or mulch bare ground so rain soaks in.
- MonitorJoin a local group that checks water quality.
- MapFind your watershed and trace where your rain goes.
From awareness to action
Environmental Alliance applies Spatial Social Design, which pairs geodesign with community-based social marketing, so this day connects people to specific actions in specific places.
Map the place
Start with the land, water, and habitat around you.
Understand the people
Learn what helps people act and what gets in the way.
Design the action
Choose steps that fit both the place and the community.
Measure the change
Track what happened so next year builds on this one.
Coming soon
Map your place: a free tool to map the places you care for and the actions you take. No login required.
Questions
When is World Water Day?
World Water Day is held every year on March 22.
Who organizes World Water Day?
UN-Water coordinates it for the United Nations, with a new theme each year. Anyone can take part.
What is a watershed?
A watershed is all the land that drains to the same creek, river, or lake. Everyone lives in one, and what happens on that land shows up in the water.
Plan something for March 22
Schools, agencies, businesses, and local groups are welcome. Tell us what you’re planning and where.