Life on Earth would not exist without water. Water is the basis of life of all human beings, animals, and plants. When starting to think about the importance of water, most of us can easily name a few reasons why water is necessary for our existence. Water is essential for our bodies to function properly. We need water to cook and to drink. We take baths to keep our bodies clean. We wash our utensils and clean our homes with water. We need water for irrigation. In some places, water is the source of electricity. Nevertheless, we tend to take it for granted and may have forgotten that water may not be always plentiful.
On 22 March every year, World Water Day is celebrated around the world to focus attention on the importance of water and how to preserve it. It started in 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly decided to make this day as an annual event to increase the awareness among people about the need and conservation of water. World Water Day is now publicised by organising events, distributing messages through social media, TV, and educational events. People discuss planting trees, reconnecting rivers to flood plains, restoring wetlands to rebalance the water cycle, and taking measures to help people in areas that they cannot get clean water sources.
If you think these are too distant from our everyday habits and our lives in Hong Kong, why not do our bit and reflect on ourselves – what can we do? In fact, everyone has a role to play. We can take small actions to help and use water more efficiently. The University takes this very seriously and has recently distributed water conservation fact sheets and stickers to campus offices, inviting the campus community to keep the water-saving tip at the top of mind. The fact sheet addresses and provides a concise overview of what PolyU has been doing to save water. The sticker presents an appreciable illustration and a simple message that water is scarce – we just need to remember that we need to turn off the tap and do not waste it through a dripping tap!
Climate change is bringing droughts and heatwaves across the globe, as well as floods and sea level rises. Pollution is growing, and freshwater supplies are at risk. We should not turn a blind eye to these risks. It’s time to remind ourselves that water is our most precious resource, and we must use it more responsibly.
