World Water Day 2012

Today is the World Water Day, a day to remind us on the need to conserve this precious asset we have without fail all year long, either rainy or drought day. This Day also serve as an awareness raising day for us to conserve the water resource so that we will be able to enjoy non-stop, constant, clean and clear supply of water for recreational, irrigation, agriculture, transportation and living purpose. Well, if all the above have been done, perhaps everyday is the Water Day and we do not need to specifically reserve a Day to celebrate it.

The reality is the number of rivers getting polluted is increasing days by days. The drought day is longer now. The sea water level is higher. The area traditionally not affected by the flooding is threatened by flooding now. Food security becomes an issue now with the water shortage. Theme for this year celebration is Water and Food Security. What went wrong then?

My opinion is that due to the fact that we are not appreciating the precious resources we are enjoying now. We take it lightly as the treated water is flowing so freely by switching the tap only, and so cheap. That's why Malaysian consumes average of 226 liter of water daily compared to 165 liter as recommendated by United Nations. We also have the attitude of releasing the waste water onto other territories without thinking of what it has to do with me. That's why we always realign our basin in the back portion of our house and let the waste water discharge from our kitchen into the drains behind our house directly without realising that it is a direct pollution source to our river system. I believe unless we are facing with the water shortage problem, then only will we appreciate the importance of water. Of course, some people also argue that high consumption of water is not the only cause, but rather high loss in non-revenue water is the major cause. Whatever it is, it is good to have adaptation action plan to encounter such a situation, if it happens.

Happy World Water Day 2012 and please let's us working together making everyday the Water Day.