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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> WORLD WATER DAY <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> WHEREAS , the United Nations ( UN ) has declared March 22 "d 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 water and the sustainable management of water <br /> resources ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the theme for World Water Day 2026 is "Where water flows , equality grows , " <br /> highlighting safe water and sanitation as human rights and critical enablers of gender <br /> equality ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the intended goals of World Water Day 2026 is to ensure safe water and <br /> sanitation for all and to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls ; 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 groundwater for public <br /> supply , private supply , irrigation , livestock , manufacturing , mining , thermoelectric power , <br /> and other purposes , according to the U . S . Geological Survey , and 55 % of the population <br /> of North Carolina depends on groundwater for drinking water; 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 />