Did You Know series (40): World Water Day (WWD): March 22nd is designated WWD every year since 1993 by UNGA: Theme – 2017: “Why Waste Water”? A Silver 5 Euro Coin issued by the Treasury of the Republic of San Marino on 26.06.2017:

Did You Know series (40): World Water Day (WWD): March 22^nd is designated WWD every year since 1993 by UNGA: Theme – 2017: “Why Waste Water”? A Silver 5 Euro Coin issued by the Treasury of the Republic of San Marino on 26.06.2017:

What is World Water Day?:

In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially designated March 22 as World Water Day.

World Water Day is observed on 22^nd March every year, in accordance with the UN Mandate and focuses on generating awareness about taking action to tackle the water crisis. It is co-ordinated by UN-Water in collaboration with governments and partners.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) launched in 2015 by UN- Water, include a target to ensure everyone has access to safe water by 2030, making water a key issue in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty.

SDG target 6.3 specifies that by 2030 the target is to “improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimising release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally”.

Progress towards target 6.3 will also help achieve the SDGs on health and well-being (SDG 3), safe water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), life below water (SDG 14) and life on land (SDG 15), among others.

Hard Facts:

Globally, over 80% of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused.

663 million people still lack improved drinking water resources.

About 1.8 billion people across different nationalities use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces, waste material etc. putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene cause around 842,000 deaths each year.

By 2050, close to 70% of the planet’s population will live in cities, compared to 50% today. Currently, most cities in developing countries do not have adequate infrastructure and resources to address wastewater management in an efficient and sustainable way.

The opportunities from exploiting wastewater as a resource are enormous. Safely managed wastewater is an affordable and sustainable source of water, energy, nutrients and other recoverable materials.

The costs of wastewater management are greatly outweighed by the benefits to human health, economic development and environmental sustainability – providing new business opportunities and creating more “green” jobs.

Due to population growth, accelerated urbanisation and economic development, the quantity of wastewater generated and its overall pollution load are increasing globally, so much so, that wastewater management is being seriously neglected, wastewater is grossly undervalued as a potentially affordable and sustainable source of water, energy, nutrients and other recoverable materials. It is therefore needed to be seen as a resource, rather than a burden to be disposed of.

By 2030, global demand for water is expected to grow by 50%, with most of the demand being in cities which will require new approaches to wastewater collection and management.

There are many treatment processes and operational systems that will allow us to use wastewater to meet the growing water demand in growing cities, support sustainable agriculture, and enhance energy production and industrial development.

Theme – 2017: “Why waste water”?

The theme of the 2017 campaign is “Why waste water”? The campaign is about reducing and reusing wastewater.

Globally, the vast majority of all the wastewater from our homes, cities, industry and agriculture flows back to nature without being treated or reused – polluting the environment and losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials.

Instead of wasting wastewater, there is an urgent need to reduce and reuse it. In our homes, we can reuse greywater on our gardens and plots.

In our cities, we can treat and reuse wastewater for green spaces. In industry and agriculture, we can treat and recycle discharge for things like cooling systems and irrigation. 

By exploiting this valuable resource, the water cycle will work more efficiently for every living thing. Everyone’s participation will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) target to halve of the proportion of untreated wastewater and increase water recycling and safe reuse.

Wastewater and the water cycle:

Water has to be carefully managed during every part of the water cycle – from fresh water abstraction, pre-treatment, distribution, use, collection and post-treatment, to the use of treated wastewater and its ultimate return to the environment, ready to be abstracted to start the cycle again.

The Commemorative Coin issued on 26.06.2017:

I was very pleased to know that a small country like the Republic of San Marino, (an enclaved micro-state surrounded by Italy, situated on the Italian Peninsula, on the North-east side of the Appennine mountains and having an area of about 61 sq. Kilometres or 24 Sq. miles and population of around 35,000 citizens),  has brought the issue of wastewater management to the fore by bringing out this beautifully designed coin on 26.06.2017.

 The Banca Centrale della Repubblica di San Marino has issued its annual Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) set of Euro-denominated divisional coins, including a new silver collector coin available only in the set.

The 8 coins include 2 Euro to 1 Euro cent denominations.

The theme for the presentation, as well as, for the silver collector coin is water preservation and its sustainability.

                  The Reverse of the Silver 5 Euro coin

 The Reverse of the 5 Euro Silver coin is dedicated to the World Water Day annual event, designated by the UN in 1993. It depicts a heart with the cycle of water, which symbolises a careful management of water. The design consists of a stylised representation of the actual water cycle – from precipitation, to the oceans, to evaporation, enclosed within the shape of a heart symbolising a careful and planned management of water.

                   The Obverse of the Silver 5 Euro coin

The Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver coin shows a stylised depiction of San Marino’s three towers, located on the three peaks of Monte Titano in the capital and a traditional motif on San Marinese coinage.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination of coin: 5 Euros; Metallic composition: Silver: .925; Weight: 18.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 32.0 mm; Maximum mintage: 13,000 complete sets; Minted at: Rome’s IPZS (or the “Italian State Mint”) on behalf of the Treasury of San Marino; Date of issue: 26.06.2017; Designer: Obverse & Reverse: Andrew Lewis (Canadian); Edge: Milled. Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU).

General Remarks: The 5 Euro Silver coin will be the centre-piece in a set of 8 divisional coins – released annually by the Treasury of San Marino.

 The 8 divisional coins set in which the 5 Euro Silver Coin depicting the theme of careful management of water is the centre-piece

Some postersreleased byUN-Water bringing attention to conserving/careful management of water resources: