March 22 — World Water Day

By Dr. Olga Donets

This day originated from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (1992), when the world first spoke on a large scale about the critical importance of freshwater for life on the planet. Since 1993, we have been commemorating this day annually to remind ourselves and others: water is not just a resource, but the foundation of our existence.

• Today, 2.2 billion people globally live without access to drinking water.
• In Ukraine, the armed Russian aggression has significantly deepened the water crisis: destruction of infrastructure, chemical discharges, mined water sources, ecosystem devastation, the collapse of the Kakhovka Reservoir, and more.
• Damage from pollution of water bodies in Ukraine amounts to UAH 60.18 billion (the mass of pollutants released into water bodies totals 23,445 tons).
• Damage from littering of water bodies – UAH 9.33 billion (mass of foreign objects, materials, waste and/or other substances in water bodies – 38,487,054 kg).
• Damage from marine water pollution amounts to UAH 8.03 billion (mass of pollutants released into marine waters – 66,802 kg).
• Damage caused by unauthorized water withdrawal and/or use amounts to UAH 26.77 billion (volume of water withdrawn/used without authorization – 20,937,563,991 m³).

Each year, UN-Water – the UN coordination mechanism on water and sanitation – sets the theme for World Water Day. In 2024, the focus was on water for peace. In 2025, the theme is “Glacier Preservation”, recognizing glaciers as the “water towers” of the planet – the largest freshwater reserves, covering about 11% of the Earth’s land surface. Their melting affects the global water cycle, causing changes in river flow, floods, droughts, and sea level rise. Preserving glaciers is critically important to ensuring sustainable water supply for billions of people.

Today, together with UNESCO and the WMO, the world unites around a vital goal – preserving the planet’s water balance through the protection of glaciers.

For World Water Day 2025, a number of global events are planned. Notably, a presentation will be held at UN Headquarters of the UN World Water Development Report 2025: Mountains and Glaciers – Water Towers, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water. This report highlights the importance of glaciers as natural freshwater reservoirs and their role in maintaining water supply stability.

In addition, two webinars are scheduled for March 24:

• For World Water Day: Preserving Glaciers and Water Towers. This event will bring together experts and policymakers to discuss the preservation of glaciers and water towers, emphasizing their role in climate resilience and sustainable development.
• Water and Climate Issues in Central Asia: The Role of Remote Sensing – a webinar aimed at exploring how remote sensing technologies help people cope with the risks of glacial lake outbursts and other consequences of rapid glacier melt in Central Asia.

On March 25, a webinar titled “Climate Change and Water Security: A Global, Regional, and Local Approach to Resilience” is scheduled, where participants will discuss challenges and solutions related to water security in the context of climate change adaptation.

Learn more about global events for World Water Day here: https://www.unwater.org/news/global-events-world-water-day-2025

Despite ongoing hostilities, Ukraine has also planned activities for World Water Day. These include children’s art contests on glacier preservation, as well as educational initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of water resources and their conservation.

Special attention should be paid to the positive legal developments in Ukraine regarding water use and protection. In November 2024, Ukraine adopted eight River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) covering over 600,000 km², including the Dnipro, Dniester, Don, Southern Bug, Vistula river basins, and the Black Sea, Azov Sea, and Crimea basins. Developed with support from the “EU4Environment – Water Resources and Environmental Data” program, these plans outline strategies and actions for the protection and management of the country’s water resources.

Their main objective is to achieve “good” water status in line with the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). Implementation of these plans addresses key water and environmental issues such as:

• Pollution of surface water with organic, nutrient, and hazardous substances
• Hydromorphological changes
• Pollution and depletion of groundwater
• Climate change impacts
• Reducing the environmental impact of infrastructure projects
• Littering of water bodies with household waste
• Biological contamination (invasive species spread)
• The impact of military actions

The estimated investment required to implement the RBMP measures is €7.7 billion, or approximately €32 per capita per year over six years. Around 70% of these measures focus on sanitation and wastewater treatment.

The development and implementation of RBMPs represent an essential step toward Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, aligning with its EU commitments and improving water quality for its population.

Additionally, in the first three months of 2025, Ukraine approved the following key policy documents:

• The Concept of the State Targeted Environmental Program for the Technical Modernization of Wastewater Treatment Facilities (state or municipal ownership) until 2034
• Criteria for identifying critical enterprises, institutions, and organizations vital to national economic development in water management, use, and reproduction of surface water resources during special periods
• The Procedure for State Monitoring in the Fields of Drinking Water, Water Supply, and Wastewater Disposal

Despite clear progress in the legal regulation of water use and protection, Ukraine still faces major challenges in fully achieving Sustainable Development Goal No. 6. The primary tasks ahead include the implementation of the EU Drinking Water Directive and the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. These two directives form the foundation for a modern water governance system that ensures drinking water quality, public health protection, and environmental safety. Full adoption of these standards will be a decisive step toward the European integration of Ukraine’s water policy.

#WorldWaterDay #WaterForPeace #SaveWater #Ecology #UNESCO #UNWater #GlobalAwareness #Glaciers2025 #GrassrootsInstitute

Contact: ukraine@grassrootsinstitute.net