Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
3 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> WORLD WATER DAY <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> WHEREAS, the United Nations (UN) has declared March 22nd as World Water Day and <br /> has invited governments around the world to devote the Day to the promotion of public <br /> awareness of the importance of freshwater and the sustainable management of <br /> freshwater resources; and <br /> WHEREAS, the intended goal of World Water Day 2021 is to reflect on the various ways <br /> that different people value water around the globe and in Orange County as it relates to <br /> their health, hygiene, dignity, and productivity at home, at work, and in recreation; and <br /> WHEREAS, today, water around the world is under extreme threat from a growing <br /> population, increasing demands of agriculture and industry, and the worsening impacts <br /> of climate change; and <br /> WHEREAS, according to UN estimates, 2.2 billion people around the world are living <br /> without access to safe water; and <br /> WHEREAS, climate change is and will continue to strain the availability, quality, and <br /> quantity of water for the basic human needs of potentially billions of people; and <br /> WHEREAS, the UN Sustainable Development Goals provide the clear goal of providing <br /> safe water and sanitation for all people by 2030; and <br /> WHEREAS, the United States uses 82.3 billion gallons per day of fresh groundwater for <br /> public supply, private supply, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, thermoelectric <br /> power, and other purposes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey; and <br /> WHEREAS, water use has a direct link to overall monthly housing affordability when <br /> considering that ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day, <br /> according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County recognizes that water and sanitation measures are key to <br /> poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability; and <br /> WHEREAS, people around the world and in Orange County value water for its cultural, <br /> religious and spiritual meanings; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County serves as the headwaters for three of the major NC river <br /> systems — the Cape Fear, the Neuse and the Roanoke; and <br /> WHEREAS, the County contains 15 different watersheds, 10 of which are used <br /> downstream for drinking water; and <br />