World Water Day

World Water Day has been a National day since 1993, when it was initiated by the UN. The day is set apart to focus on water issues across the world. This year, the key aims are to raise awareness of the links between energy and water through a variety of ways. The day focusses on water, sanitation and improving water and electricity efficiencies, to name a few. The focus on energy and water has been especially outlined by the findings from the World Water Development Report, which found that it is often the same people who lack access to improved water sources and sanitation who also lack access to electricity.

Events will be happening all over the world today, all with the aim of coming together to think about and work on ways of improving peoples' health and lifestyle through their ability to get clean and safe water. Around 780 million people lack access to clean water, that's one in nine of the whole population, and more than 3.4 million die each year from issues linked to water, sanitation and hygiene. This proves the need for action, and this is what World Water Day aims to do, in raising awareness and coming up with action plans to help people have access to the most basic of human needs.

World Plumbing Day

Whether 'world plumbing day' means we all call the plumbers out or do a bit of DIY, I wasn't too sure.

Having done a bit of research, however, it seems that the day is in fact an international event, initiated by the world plumbing council every year, in order to recognise the important role plumbing plays in societal health and amenity. Countries around the world spend the day drawing attention to the importance of good plumbing and sanitation, and how that links to human and environmental health. So it seems to be a bit more of a bigger picture than giving your local plumber a high five for all their work, and instead thinking about how you can raise awareness of the need for good sanitation around the world, even if that is simply being thankful you live in a country where that is largely the case! It's a good opportunity to think if there is anything you can do to help, maybe a bit of fundraising, or just raising awareness by telling others about the need for good plumbing and sanitation and the ways this can be done. Have a look at the official world plumbing day website here for more information and for some ideas of activities you can do to celebrate the day.