World Water Monitoring Day is an international educational programme that builds pedople’s awareness and commitment to water conservation around the world.
World Water Monitoring Day was originally celebrated annually on 18 September. This date was initially chosen to be a month later, 18 October, to recognise the anniversary of the United States Clean Water Act, which was enacted by Congress in 1972 to restore and protect the country’s water resources. In 2007, the date was changed to facilitate participation in parts of the world where temperatures reach freezing conditions at that time.
The goal of World Water Monitoring Day is to educate people on the importance of monitoring water quality. The occasion has been used as a global outreach programme that encourages local communities to test and maintain their water supplies in order to make sure their water is safe for drinking, swimming, fishing, and farming. This day is coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association across more than 80 countries.
Water is one of the most common substances on Earth and at the same time a very valuable and desirable resource. It is a basic component of practically all organisms. Water occupies most of the planet’s surface. Unfortunately, as many as one billion inhabitants of the Earth have no direct access to water, and its lack is a certain death. Constant monitoring of water resources allows to determine their quantitative status. Due to World Water Monitoring Day, water is protected from pollution and properly managed.
Although water quality is usually sampled and analysed at laboratories, since the late 20th century there has been increasing public interest in the quality of drinking water provided by municipal systems. Many water utilities have developed systems to collect real-time data about source water quality.
In the early 21st century, a variety of sensors and remote monitoring systems have been deployed for measuring water pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and other parameters. Some remote sensing systems have also been developed for monitoring ambient water quality in riverine, estuarine and coastal water bodies.
Knowing the condition of an area’s water supply is very important, because of how vital a resource water is for daily living, both for humans and for ecosystems and their inhabitants.
World Water Monitoring Day - 18 September 2021 Poster (1.7 MB)
