World Water Day 2023

In 2015, National Governments around the World committed to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) – the promise that everyone would have access to safely managed water and sanitation by 2030. Now, just seven years away from that deadline, we are still a long way off being able to fulfil that commitment.  

World Water Day (22^nd March 2023) takes place every year to raise awareness about the water crisis we are living in. Access to clean water is an issue that effects the global population.

In the UK, we might feel far removed from the crisis that affects schools, businesses, and communities all over the world - we have easy access to clean, safe water. We don’t have to worry that turning on the tap and pouring ourselves a drink might cause us disease and illness. It is easy to forget that 1 in 4 people in the world still do not have access to clean water, accounting for 1.2 million deaths a year.  

Whilst we are used to having constant access to clean water and good sanitation, the issues are closer to home than you might realise. Not only is the Anglian Water region the driest in the country, the hot, dry summer we had last year saw hose pipe bans imposed in some areas and the region placed under drought status by the Environment Agency. It was a sobering reminder that we all rely on water, and we can’t take this precious resource for granted.  

Despite the recent heavy rain, the region is still under drought status as water reserves slowly return to normal levels. In order for the Anglian Water region to recover, and for the global commitment to meet the SDG 6 goal, we need to work together. It might feel impossible to affect global change and influence worldwide governments from your home in the Anglian Water region. But if we start to change our habits, become more aware of our water usage, then we can make a cumulative change which in turn can influence and change national and international policy.  

There are small things we call do to help save water, one drop at a time. An average person in the UK uses 142 litres of water per day. So, what are the changes you can make to reduce that?

• Take Shorter Showers: The average shower uses nearly 50 litres of water. Shortening your shower by just one minute saves around 10 litres of water per shower.
• Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth: This small action will save more than 20 litres of water a day. Running the tap for 2 minutes uses 12 litres each time, so 24 litres a day. That adds up to nearly 9000 litres a year  
• Use a bowl to wash vegetables: You can save up to 12 litres of water by using a bowl to wash fruit and veg instead of washing it under a running tap. You can then reuse it to water house plants or your garden. Once you have finished preparing your food and cooking, don’t be tempted to put food waste or oils down the drain, as this can cause blockages that can lead to contamination of the environment. And whilst we are talking about food, try to buy local, seasonal food and look for products made with less water.  

• Fix leaking pipes: If your tap dripped every second, all day, it would waste around 17 litres in just 24 hours! That’s over 6,000 litres a year. Reducing leakage means we’re saving more water for the wider environment.
• Water Butts: A water butt can collect up to 5,000 litres a year. This free rainwater can be used to water your garden, clean your car and wash your windows. You can view our range of water butts here. Also, hosepipes that are connected to water butts are exempt from hose pipe bans. So, in a dry summer like last year’s you can still use your hose pipe to water your garden.
• Clean up: Take part in clean-ups of local rivers, lakes, wetlands or beaches.

Water is precious, think about the water you need and try not to waste it. It only takes a few changes around the home to make some big water savings. Why not take part in Anglian Water’s shorter shower challenge. If everyone in your home, your street and community spent one minute less in the shower it would save a lot of water for tomorrow. This will not only help the region we live in recover from the drought but will contribute to the global effort to meet the SDG 6 commitment. Be the change you want to see in the World.  

For more information about World Water Day and how you can play your part, click here.