World Day for Water is an international day organized to focus on the challenges for water resources planning, development and management for the next century.
"In Prince Edward Island, we simply turn on the tap to obtain wholesome, safe water directly from the ground without the treatment required in most other parts of the world," said Minister Mitch Murphy, Technology and Environment. "Around the globe, millions of people do not have access to safe drinking water, a commodity we often take for granted."
According to UNESCO, the lead agency in charge of the organization of World Day for Water, this day is pivotal in order to focus attention on the need, among others, to address the problems relating to drinking water supply; to increase awareness about the importance of conservation, preservation, and protection of water resources and drinking water supply; and to increase governments, international agencies, non-governmental organisations, and private sector participation and cooperation in organization of World Day for Water celebrations.
Earlier this year, the Town of Souris, Prince Edward Island placed second in a national "taste testing" competition for municipal water across the country. More recently, the Department of Technology and Environment announced favourable results of a study on municipal water quality conducted by the Sierra Club of Canada and the University of Waterloo.
"These independent assessments remind us not only of how good our water is," added Murphy, "but also how important it is to protect this resource by using it wisely and cultivating good environmental stewardship practices in your home, community and enterprises."
The Government of Prince Edward Island maintains monitoring programs, and has just completed a major review focusing on water quality data collected jointly by the province and federal agencies over the past two decades. This work, and earlier studies confirm the most recent studies. In addition, the government is currently developing guidelines for the protection of the sources of groundwater supply. While the current legislation provides different instruments to protect water quality, these new guidelines will provide municipalities with additional tools to protect groundwater quality in most sensitive areas around municipal supply wells.
The Department of Technology and Environment is responsible for the management, protection and enhancement of the Province's groundwater, inland surface water, coastal estuaries, and programs related to the management of coastal sand resources. The Department regulates water and sewer infrastructure and administers available funding support programs for same, as well it manages several provincially owned utilities. The Department also provides chemical and microbiological laboratory services.
For more information about World Day for Water, contact Clair Murphy at 368-5036 or visit the World Day for Water website at
www.unesco.org/science/waterday2000/.