Water is one of the most precious resources in the world. In order to draw the attention of the world's people to water issues, on January 18, 1993, the 47th United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 193 in accordance with the recommendations in the Agenda for Action for the 21st Century formulated by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which determined that March 22, 2003, would be designated as World Water Day from 1993 to promote comprehensive and integrated planning and management of water resources and strengthen water resources protection, Solve the increasingly serious water shortage problem; At the same time, the public awareness of the development and protection of water resources will be enhanced through extensive publicity and education activities.

At present, the proportion of global freshwater resources is only 2.5% of the total water volume. Of these extremely limited freshwater resources, more than 70% are frozen in the ice sheets of the Antarctic and Arctic. Coupled with alpine glaciers and permafrost, about 87% of the world's freshwater resources are difficult to use. The freshwater resources that human beings can really use are a part of rivers, lakes and groundwater, accounting for about 0.26% of the total water volume of the earth, and are unevenly distributed.

The World Water Resources Development Report published by the United Nations every three years is the most comprehensive report on the global freshwater resources. The report published in March last year pointed out that the global water consumption increased six times in the 20th century, and its growth rate was twice that of population growth. Due to poor management, lack of resources, environmental change and insufficient investment in infrastructure, about 1.1 billion people worldwide have no access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation facilities. At the same time, water pollution is further eroding a large amount of water resources available for consumption, and Σ Harmful to human health. Worldwide, 3.1 million people died of illness due to drinking dirty water every year, of which nearly 90% were children under the age of 5.

The slogan of "World Water Day" and "China Water Week" in 2013

1. Save and protect water resources and vigorously build ecological civilization

2. Jointly promote water and benefit people's livelihood

3. Deeply implement the No. 1 central document of 2011 and the spirit of the Central Water Resources Work Conference

4. Water is the source of life, the essence of production and the basis of ecology

5. Take strict water resources management as a strategic measure to accelerate the transformation of economic development mode

6. Practically implement the three red lines of total water use control, water use efficiency control, and water function zone limit pollution

7. Determine the demand based on water, act according to the ability, adjust measures to water, and achieve harmony between people and water

8. Build a water-saving society and ensure water safety in urban and rural areas

9. Optimized allocation, strict economy and effective protection

10. Cherish, save and protect water

11. Ensure drinking water safety and maintain life and health

12. Reasonable development and utilization, focusing on conservation and protection

13. Protect water resources and improve water environment

14. Strengthen river management and maintain the health of rivers and lakes

15. Scientifically prevent floods and droughts and promote economic and social development

16. Improve the ecological environment and build a beautiful China

17. Strengthen rural water conservancy work and promote coordinated development of urban and rural areas

18. Promote administration according to law and water control according to law

19. Strengthen scientific and technological innovation, support and lead the development of water conservancy

20. Water conservancy standardization is the main basis for water conservancy technology management

21. Strengthening international cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results, and harmonious development

22. Make good use of the results of water conservancy census and promote the development of water conservancy science

23. Implement the Water Law of the People's Republic of China

24. Implement the Flood Control Law of the People's Republic of China

25. Implement the Law of the People's Republic of China on Water and Soil Conservation

26. Implement the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution

27. Implement the Regulations on the Management of the Taihu Lake Basin

This year's World Water Day put forward the theme of "dealing with water shortage" to emphasize the importance of international and local cooperation in solving water shortage. Therefore, only sustainable, effective and equitable management of scarce water resources at the international and local levels can gradually solve the problems of water supply and demand imbalance, degradation of underground and surface water quality and international water disputes.