Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 5, 2026 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-f <br /> SUBJECT: World Water Day Proclamation <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proclamation David Stancil, 245-2522 <br /> Wesley Poole, 245-2513 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation designating March 22, 2026 as World Water Day in <br /> Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: In 1992, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution to <br /> declare March 22 of each year as "World Day for Water" or as it is commonly termed, World <br /> Water Day. In observing World Water Day, governments and organizations are invited to <br /> devote the day to the promotion of public awareness, focusing attention on the importance of <br /> freshwater and the sustainable management of freshwater resources. <br /> This year, the theme for World Water Day is `Where water flows, equality grows.' As stated on <br /> the World Water Day website, "The global water crisis affects everyone — but not equally. <br /> Where people lack the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, inequalities flourish, <br /> with women and girls bearing the brunt. It's time to center women and girls in water solutions. <br /> Women must shape the future of water. Water services must withstand climate change and <br /> meet everyone's needs. We need a transformative, rights-based approach to solving the water <br /> crisis, where women's voices, leadership and agency are fully recognized. Where water flows, <br /> equality grows. When women and girls have equal voice in water decisions, services become <br /> more inclusive, sustainable and effective. We must invest in women's leadership to make water <br /> a force for a healthier, more prosperous, gender-equal future that will benefit us all." <br /> This year's campaign will highlight safe water and sanitation as human rights and critical <br /> enablers of gender equality (from https://www.unwater.org/our-work/world-water-day). <br /> Orange County is active in a variety of water resources initiatives, including the Jordan Lake <br /> One Water (JLOW) initiative and the Upper Neuse River Basin Association (UNRBA). <br />