Today, March 22, is World Water Day.

We should, however, be mindful every day of our impact on water. This vital resource is shared among all people and wildlife, so we have a shared responsibility to protect it! There are many ways we can all help to keep our waterways clean. Limit plastic waste, dispose of garbage properly, keep a rain barrel or rain garden to prevent polluted runoff from entering our water sources, and if you own riparian land, don't clear too close to the bank! A barrier of trees and shrubs helps to filter garbage and prevent sediment from releasing into the water; this and the shade they provide also support fish health!  Please do your part whenever possible.

Saskatchewan has 26 pages worth of boil water advisories. Water is a human right, today on March 22, World Water Day, Saskatchewan’s 2023 provincial budget was released. So far, I see nothing in it to rectify this situation.

The right to clean water is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Today is also a day to raise awareness of over 2 billion people worldwide who are living without access to safe water. Worldwide, the lack of access to water has a disproportionate impact on women and children, who are often responsible for fetching water for their families. Women, in particular, may have to walk several miles each day to fetch water, which not only puts their health at risk but also limits their opportunities for education and economic empowerment.
How are you going to be more conscious about your water use in 2023?  People are encouraged to take action in their own lives to change the way they use, consume and manage water. Because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action. That means you.

We can all look to innovative and sustainable water management methods. For example, rainwater harvesting is simply the process of conserving rainwater by collecting, storing, and purifying rainwater that runs off from rooftops, parks, roads, open grounds, etc. for later use.

This World Water Day, let’s be more mindful of how important water is to all life on this planet and let's also devote more effort towards the absolutely vital work of keeping our oceans, rivers, and lakes free of chemical pollutants and plastics.

Water is Life 💧

Naomi Hunter,
Leader of the Saskatchewan Green Party