Preface World Water Day is held on 22 March each year. This was designated by the United Nations General Assembly, as a result of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio Summit, held in 1992. The theme for 2001 is Water and Health.
Water is a basic requirement for life and health.
Around the world over a billion children, women and men lack access to adequate and safe water to meet their most basic need. Water and health are intimately related in every way. Every decision we make is practically linked to water and its consequences on health. March 2001 marks a key date for mobilising political will and encouraging society involvement in promoting water and health related initiatives across the world. The theme, 'Water and Health', is a call to reach out beyond the community and to link with world wide efforts by international agencies, multi-lateral corporations, NGO's, governments and the community at large.