About the Initiative

Background

The creation of the IAWD was promoted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (AIDIS) and the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA). These agencies signed a Declaration during the XXIII AIDIS Inter-American Congress in Havana, Cuba, November of 1992. Since the inception of the Initiative, it was decided to commemorate the Inter-American Water Day the first Saturday of October of every year, the first celebration of which was in 1993. Beginning in 2001 The Organization of American States (OAS) was incorporated into the Initiative. The initial IAWD Declaration for the Initiative demonstrates the basic principles that guide and direct the celebration.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the IAWD are to: highlight the relationship between water and good health, educate and create awareness among the public about its proper and efficient use, and foster ongoing water-related activities at the school age population and the community at large.
Other objectives include the following:

• To promote the fight against water pollution and contamination, especially with regard to water-borne diseases--particularly Cholera.
• To encourage all governments, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and communities to participate in the IAWD celebrations.

Historical overview

In November 1992, three Organizations, the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (AIDIS), the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), signed a Declaration at the XXIII Inter-American AIDIS Congress, in Havana Cuba, creating the Inter-American Water Day (IAWD). This special observance which falls on the first Saturday of October was celebrated for the first time in 1993. In April of 2001, the Organization of American States (OAS) joined the initiative.

The signers of the IAWD Declaration realized that, while in general, the areas of Latin America and the Caribbean are abundantly rich in water resources--not unlike many other regions--water is not uniformly distributed among and inside the countries. And, as essential as this natural resource is, it is not well managed and protected in the Region. In many areas, access to clean drinking water or water service at all is problematic for many of the poorest in the region. In areas where water supply services are accessible, water quality should be improved. Access to clean drinking water in sufficient quantities is a right, not a privilege, and all citizens should be afforded this opportunity.

IAWD was therefore established to create public awareness in the Americas about the importance of water in our lives. The vision is that the event should be viewed as a "celebration of water" in the Americas. While there has been marked improvements in providing safe water to under-served areas in Latin America and the Caribbean; and increased improvements in health, particularly among the most vulnerable sections of the population--children, studies continue to show that many diseases are still attributed to unsafe drinking water. Water-related diseases continue to be one of the leading causes of illness and death among young children in the Region. As we enter into the next millennium, there is increasing concern about the need to ensure a sustainable supply of drinking water to all citizens.

In April of 2000, the International Coordination Group was constituted and the Guidelines for Cooperation Among the Partners of the IAWD Initiative were approved. In addition, the constitution of the National and Local coordination groups were promoted in each country of the Region. Furthermore, the web page--where additional information and documents from previous years can be found--was organized during the same year. The tendency, more and more, is to use this web page as a connecting element and as a memory for the participants of the initiative. Finally, a discussion/ distribution list of information, open to all interested individuals, was set up.

Since the IAWD Initiative was created, activities have been organized around several themes.

The following is a synopsis of themes from 1993-2000:

1993 - "Water is Life and Health". This was the inaugural celebration and emphasis was placed on educating the public about the important relationship between water and good health. Two educational pamphlets on water conservation and water-related diseases were developed. In addition, an article titled "Health Risks Associated with Pollution of Coastal Bathing Waters" was published. This article outlined many infective diseases that may result from bathing or ingesting uncooked, or partially cooked fish or shellfish, from sewage polluted coastal water.

1994 - "Water and Your Environment". This theme focused on the issues related to drinking water and the protection of drinking water sources in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of the chapter on Protection of Quality and Supply of Freshwater Resources of Agenda 21. Three pamphlets were distributed, which addressed the following issues: the importance of groundwater in the Region, and the identification of possible contamination sources; health effects associated with drinking contaminated water, and common sense procedures that could be helpful in preventing contamination of drinking water sources. An illustrated booklet was also used to educate the public on simple and effective treatments for making water safer in communities and homes.

1995 - "Water a Heritage to Preserve". The theme this year emphasized the need to manage water resources through effective and integrated approaches that would protect human health and aquatic ecosystems. A guidebook titled "Protecting our water to protect life" was developed for secondary school children. Another booklet, "Water, a Heritage to Preserve" explored practices and systems of water management and aimed at stimulating a dialogue among various community factions.

1996 - "Water, too Valuable to Waste". The intent of this theme was to promote community awareness and participation in activities related to water conservation. The objective was to focus attention on the need to better manage, protect and conserve water resources at the individual, community and national levels, with particular emphasis on public participation. Two booklets were published, one addressed the issues related to water and health; and the other was an informational guide used to raise the awareness about the need to place greater value on this natural resource--water. A pamphlet on conservation tips was distributed.

1997 - "Drinking Water Quality and Your Health". This year the focus was on waterborne diseases and solutions to reduce the occurrence of such diseases--including cholera--and educating the public on the importance of practicing proper hygiene and water protection. A booklet titled "Water Quality and Your Health" emphasized safe water as a source of life. Designed in a question-and-answer format, the booklet addressed many issues on how certain diseases are contracted. Simple methods on how to avoid diseases, and if necessary treat diseases, was discussed.

1998 - "Getting to Safe Water- Lets All Get Involved". The theme refocused attention on water quality, emphasizing the importance of microbiologically safe water. In a Region where microbiologically unsafe water is a serious public health problem affecting a very large segment of the population, the theme underscored the need for people to know the risks involved and the role they must play in protecting themselves and their communities against diseases. A booklet named after the theme explored the issues involved in making water microbiologically safe. It emphasized that individuals, communities and governments have to work together to ensure safe water and that safe water not only reduces the incidence of water-borne diseases, but can also increase quality of life.

1999 - "A Right to Safe Water for All Children --Let Us Commit Ourselves". The Right of all children to have safe water and sanitation was the focus of this theme. The vision was to spotlight every child's right to safe water: (a) as a human right; (b) as the single most vital element in combating diseases, and (c) for protecting the environment. A guidebook on water and environmental health for schools and communities of Latin America and the Caribbean titled "Boys and Girls in Action" was developed. This guide highlighted children's rights to better heath and a safer environment, and recognized that drinking water access at school, home and in the community is a fundamental right. UNICEF joined the initiative, for this specific year.

2000 - "Water, Every Drop Counts, Let's Use it Wisely'. Highlights the problem of water availability we are confronted with owing to the fast increase in demand, contamination problems, limited investment in the sector and exhaustion of this resource. As was the case in previous years, a work guideline for the theme was developed. Seven chapters emphasized perspectives on the following issues: water in the XXI Century on a global and regional basis; integrated water management; water and agricultural and industrial activities; water and household activities; contributions from authorities and technicians in the sound water management; contributions from educators and mass media in the suitable water use; and suggestions from campaigns surrounding the water issue.

2001 - " Water and Health: a Toast to Life". The theme emphasizes once again that, in so far as larger quantities of treated water are available, hospitalizations and deaths from water-borne diseases are mitigated. The theme comments that when we are speaking on water, we are dealing with our own lives. The six chapters of the guide are as follows: water and health--two strategic allies for life; environment, water resources, and water management in the Americas; evaluation of water supply and sanitation services in the region at the end of the second millennium; today's activities for constructing the future; and tasks for all and by all: the responsibility and participation of diverse social sectors. The guide emphasizes the 10 year commemoration of the initiative in 2002.
2002 - " Water, Waste Not, Want Not " is the theme selected during the most recent International Coordination Group meeting. Clearly, the theme emphasizes the importance in preserving this resource, waste control, and the significant economic value of water. The 10th anniversary of the Initiative is to be celebrated in 2002.

The IAWD, celebrated on the first Saturday in October of each year, is aimed at impacting not only the general public but also the national authorities. While it is important to raise the population's awareness about water management issues, the event should reinforce the urgency of authorities to address water access and quality problems in urban and rural areas--especially for populations most lacking these services.

First celebration of DIAA