On March 22, we celebrate World Water Day all over the world. This day is a call to pay attention to the importance of water resources and their sustainable management, because water is vital not only for human health and well-being, but also for the ecosystem of the entire planet.

The theme of World Water Day 2024 is "Water and Peace". This theme emphasizes the importance of water in preventing conflicts and promoting peaceful cooperation. Water scarcity and pollution can lead to tensions and conflicts between different groups, so it is important to ensure fair and sustainable access to water for all.

Access to clean water is a human right: Unfortunately, around 2 billion people in the world today do not have access to clean drinking water. This problem has serious consequences for health and survival. Pollution threatens water resources: Agriculture, industry, and domestic wastewater create pollution that threatens water quality and availability. Climate change affects water resources: Droughts, floods and other effects of climate change pose increasing challenges to water management.

The situation of water resources in Latvia is relatively favorable, however, we also need to pay attention to water protection and sustainable management. The main problems in Latvia are pollution and eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, as well as the load of water pollution caused by agriculture.

Latvia's water resources and challenges:

Pollution of the Baltic Sea: Eutrophication and other problems threaten the ecosystem and water quality of the Baltic Sea.
Improvement of water quality: There is a trend of improvement of water quality in Latvia, thanks to the improvement of wastewater treatment systems.
Cooperation in the management of water resources: Regional cooperation is essential for the sustainable management of the Baltic Sea and other water resources.

World Water Day is a reminder that water is an invaluable resource that we all need to cherish and protect. The main goal of the LIFE REEF project is the research of marine habitats and species and the creation of a comprehensive protection system for protected marine areas in Latvia's exclusive economic zone, therefore water purity is also critically important to the achievement of LIFE REEF's goals, the cleaner the water, the greater the biodiversity. Together, we can ensure clean water and sustainable water management for future generations.

Photo: Gunta Gabrane

More information:

World Water Day website: https://www.worldwaterday.org/