World Water Day: As droughts plague the planet

World Water Day is an international day supported by the UN to draw attention to the value of fresh water.

This year's theme is "Water for Peace". The UN states "“We must act upon the realisation that water is not only a resource to be used and competed over — it is a human right, intrinsic to every aspect of life."

At present, the Spanish region of Catalonia is experiencing one of their worst droughts in recent history. Reservoirs in the north-east of the country, that serve six million people, are currently at a capacity of less than 16% - a culmination of below-average rainfall and record high temperatures over three years.

In Indonesia, the country's most developed capital Jakarta, faces a continuous threat of contaminated government water. According to the World Health Organisation, seven out of ten households consume drinking water contaminated with E. coli. Their only option is to buy single use plastic bottles, which is only creating more environmental issues.

Across India, water extraction needed for farming, agriculture, construction and more, means groundwater levels are critically low. Even in California, water is having to be rationed as several domestic wells have dried up in recent years.

Across the UK and Ireland, we saw hosepipe bans in place for 13 months throughout the majority of 2023. Even in January 2024, reservoir water levels are low despite bouts of flooding throughout the winter months.