Climate change requires increased protection of our drinking water resources
World Water Day this year under the motto “Water for Peace”
The United Nations calls for World Water Day on March 22nd every year. The Borkum municipal utilities are also taking part again this Friday. This year, World Water Day has the motto “Water for Peace”. This draws attention to the special importance of access to water. When water becomes scarce or people do not have access to it, social and political tensions can arise. This is precisely why it is important to particularly protect this valuable resource.
Fortunately, in Germany we have a very good and very reliable water supply. The drinking water supply in this country is one of the best in the world. On Borkum, the freshwater lens ensures a self-sufficient supply of drinking water.
However, it is necessary to use our water resources carefully. In particular, the changes caused by climate change pose new challenges for the water management sector. Especially with a view to heat periods, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure groundwater quality.
During the high season in summer, for example, the Borkum municipal utilities have to provide around three to four times as much water. The fewer water resources are polluted, the more groundwater is available. The polluter pays and precautionary principles must be observed: inputs must be minimized at the source. Water is of fundamental importance for people, animals and the environment. The importance that water protection should enjoy is correspondingly high.
Intact ecosystems store carbon, provide habitats and are the basis of biodiversity. Entries of trace substances and nutrients such as nitrate must be minimized at the source in accordance with the precautionary principle. In addition, everyone can make a meaningful contribution.
In order to protect the valuable resource of water, it is important to handle drinking water carefully, especially with drinking water, explains Axel Held, Director of Borkum Municipal Utilities: “Our customers can make a contribution to ensuring high water quality: For example, it makes sense to use washing and washing water Use cleaning agents sparingly. Detergents contain substances that pollute our water. Just by dosing it precisely, according to the degree of soiling of the laundry and the hardness range of the water (we have a medium hardness level in Borkum), you can avoid unnecessary environmental pollution and also protect your wallet,” says Axel Held.
World Water Day, established by UNESCO in 1992, has taken place on March 1993nd every year since 22. It is intended to raise public awareness of water as a resource. The UN World Water Decade began on World Water Day 2018 and will last until March 2028, with which the United Nations is drawing particular attention to the issues of water and water protection.
Service for editorial staff
For more information about World Water Day 2024, visit https://www.worldwaterday.org/.
The official homepage of the United Nations on water and sanitation: https://www.unwater.org/.