Imagine waking up one day and realizing that the water does not come out of the tap, you cannot bathe, wash dishes or clothes and, worse, you do not have water to drink. What would you do?
Life without water is unimaginable since this is an essential element for existence. Water resources have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people and play a key role in human health, the wellbeing of the population and economic growth, as well as food and energy security.
Unfortunately, globally, more than 80% of the wastewater that we generate goes back to the ecosystems without being treated or recycled. 1,800 million people use a source of water contaminated by fecal material, which puts them at risk of diseases such as cholera, typhoid or polio. In addition, non-potable water and lack of hygiene and infrastructure cause around 842,000 deaths per year.
The main source of water supply in the Yucatan Peninsula are the aquifers, which have one of the most important karst systems in the world, where aquifers are supplied. However, they are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic contamination, that is, produced by man, due to the porosity of the calcareous rock, which contributes to a high permeability, facilitating the entry of contaminants into the water and its rapid propagation.
International collaboration on these issues is very important, which is why World Water Day arises, where governments and entities participate in order to guarantee their availability and sanitation. World Water Day is coordinated by UN-Water and is celebrated annually on March 22 as a means to draw attention to the importance of fresh water and the defense of the sustainable management of this resource.
Since there is no life without water, it is essential that we begin to act, that we consume water in a responsible manner and use only the necessary one, that we reduce its contamination and save as much as possible, closing the keys if they are not used, or reusing the Water. In this way, we can all contribute to protect it.