Today is World Water Day – Change Begins with a Drop
Today, people from all over the world are celebrating World Water Day, an observance begun by the United Nations in 1993 to advocate for the sustainable management of our most precious natural resource – fresh water sources.
I am the type of person who always has a glass or refillable bottle of water with her. I refill a 24 ounce straw cup of water several times during my work day, I go to bed with a different 24 ounce container of water every night, and my house looks like that movie Signs where the little girl leaves nearly empty glasses of water all over the house.
Having clean water at my fingertips is something that I take for granted. To all of us, it is a life source. To some, it is also a luxury.
Did you know that:
- 66% of the human body is water; a person can only live without water for approximately one week
- Up to 75% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water but less than 0.03% is drinkable
- More than a billion people in water poor regions around the globe survive on the same amount used to flush a toilet or take a 5-minute shower, just over 1 gallon of water each day.
- Each day almost 10,000 children under the age of 5 in Third World countries die as a result of illnesses contracted by use of impure water.
Interested in teaching your children about World Water Day? As part of Siemens’ commitment to helping communities make big changes in how they consume, manage and recycle fresh water, the company has developed these fun and interactive family-friendly tools to help educate your children on water usage and make a household commitment to conserving water:
- Water Discovery Center: Features fun, interactive water-themed games and puzzles based on your kids’ favorites such as “Memory” and infused with interesting water facts. The Discovery Center also includes a digital coloring book so your kids can share images with their friends!
- Personal Water Footprint Calculator: A family-friendly tool for parents to educate their children on water usage and make a household commitment to conserving. After completing a simple quiz, your family can commit to making small changes in your daily lives that make a big difference. Then, you can share this commitment with family and friends via Facebook to help spread the word. Help Siemens reach their goal of conserving 200 million gallons of water this World Water Day!
Happy World Water Day!