by Jeanne Lambert, Bishop’s Mills WI
World Water Day 2022 which took place on March 22, is an annual United Nations Observance, started in 1993, that celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people currently living without access to safe water.
World Water Day is an opportunity for citizens of the world to consider the importance of water in their lives. One of the most invisible sources of water is a critical one: groundwater may be out of sight, but most of all the liquid fresh water in the world is groundwater. North Grenville has large municipal wells, and manages wastewater to serve people in the Kemptville area, but the majority of NG citizens rely on their own private wells and septic systems to serve their rural homes.
To increase the awareness of the importance of water, local citizen groups are working on water protection in North Grenville. Members of Sustainable North Grenville, and the Bishop’s Mills Women’s Institute, are keen to see North Grenville become the next Blue Community in the world, which will show its support for the protection of water resources for future citizens of NG.
A resolution has been presented to the local municipality through one of the citizen committees, and proponents hope that it will be approved by council soon. The Blue Community designation promotes principles allowing for reasonable use, equal distribution, and responsible treatment, as well as the preservation of clean water for nature and future generations.
Blue Community designation promotes water and sanitation as human rights. This is in keeping with the United Nations 2010 Resolution, and has principles which include supporting public ownership of water and water systems, and phasing out the sale of bottled water in municipal facilities.
For general information about Blue Community designation and the list of other Blue Communities, see Council of Canadians https://canadians.org/water. For World Water Day info check out www.worldwaterday.org.
For more information about the local initiative, contact Jeanne Lambert, Bishop’s Mills WI: jeanne.lambert828@gmail.com.
