On March 22, 2025, the world pauses to recognize the pressing water crisis on World Water Day, a day marked by urgent discussions and initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainability in water management. Established by the United Nations back in 1992, the observance gained significant heft in 2010 when the General Assembly declared access to clean water and sanitation a human right.
World Water Day emphasizes that access to water should be within 1,000 meters from one’s home, be affordable – not surpassing 3% of a household’s income – and sufficient, providing between 50 to 100 liters per person per day. Currently, however, the task of achieving this basic human right appears daunting. Data from UNESCO and WHO outline that, to meet the ambitious objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 6, the world must accelerate progress to six times the current rates for safe drinking water, five times for safe sanitation, and triple the availability of basic hygiene services.
If these alarming trends continue, by 2030, an estimated 1.6 billion people may remain without access to potable water in their homes, while 2.8 billion may lack safe sanitation services. Further compounding this situation is the projections that only 78% of the global population will have basic handwashing facilities available, leaving 1.9 billion individuals without this essential hygiene.
Adding pressure on this diminishing resource is the rising demand for water deemed essential for food production, estimated at between 2,000 to 5,000 liters per person daily. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) anticipates that global water demand could surge by 50% in the coming years, further challenging sustainability efforts.
The environmental implications are dire. Over the previous 25 years, disasters related to flooding have surged by 134%. In this period, an astonishing 600 gigatonnes of freshwater have vanished. As part of World Water Day, a round table was hosted at Espacio H, featuring experts like Javier Palazón from Aqualia and David Blázquez from Amazon Web Services. They gathered to discuss innovative strategies for safeguarding water resources amid these challenges.
Palazón emphasized that with a predicted 40% reduction in global water resources by 2030, collaboration among citizens, businesses, and governmental bodies is crucial. According to him, “This situation highlights the need for actionable insight into water management”.
Amazon Web Services is pioneering three substantial initiatives in Aragon aimed at transforming water management. Their technologies are designed to address current challenges while laying the groundwork for future sustainability. According to Blázquez, “The integration of AI in water management is pivotal for the future; it can redefine our approach to resource distribution.”
Additional efforts in Aragon, such as those spearheaded by Adiego and the Aragonese Water Institute, showcase how localized efforts can contribute to the overarching goal of water conservation, marking a hopeful path amid these grim statistics.
While the situation may seem insurmountable, advancements in digitalization could hold the key to managing water resources more effectively. Companies like Spherag demonstrate how technology aids in promoting sustainable irrigation practices, ensuring the longevity of water supplies for agricultural use.
However, the conversation surrounding water sustainability shifts toward a more alarming note, as significant global events unfold. On March 21, 2025, Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development issued a stark alert on the alarming loss of its glaciers, which have diminished in size by an unprecedented 90% in just over 100 years, now only totaling 33 square kilometers.
As Minister Lena Estrada Añokazi revealed, between 2021 and 2022 alone, the glacial mass reduced by 3.2%. Particularly, the Conejera glacier, once located in the Nevado Santa Isabel Volcano, vanished after melting accelerated due to the El Niño phenomenon in 2023.
“Glaciers contain roughly 70% of the planet’s freshwater and sustain over 50% of the world’s population. Their disappearance is not merely an environmental loss but a grave threat to hydric security,” Añokazi warned.
The plight of glaciers serves as an ominous indicator of the increasing threats posed by climate change, especially for societies relying on glaciers for water supply. With only six glaciers remaining in Colombia, the Nevado Santa Isabel is projected to vanish within five years if current trends persist.
As discussions on World Water Day continue, the urgency for immediate global action has never been clearer. Columbia’s stark reality serves as a clarion call to advocate for glacier conservation as part of worldwide water sustainability efforts. Luisz Olmedo Martínez Zamora, director of National Parks, called for 2025 to be declared the “International Year of Glacier Conservation”, stressing that ignoring climate signals now would be a historical blunder.
With such critical intersections of events, World Water Day becomes more than a simple observance; it evolves into a global imperative to confront the water crisis and the expanding ramifications of climate change, calling for a unified front from all sectors of society.
