PL
In 1992, in Rio de Janeiro ,the UN General Assembly designated March 22nd as World Water Day. While any time is a good time to discuss water shortages and retention, this holiday is the perfect opportunity to combine knowledge, debate, and action. After all, water is the foundation of life, a strategic resource, and a prerequisite for stable social and economic development. Therefore, a systemic approach to water management, developed jointly by the government, local governments, and all citizens, is crucial.
In this context, the updated Drought Effects Counteracting Plan (uDECP) is particularly important – it is a document outlining steps to increase the country’s resilience to water shortages and mitigate the effects of drought. Its update is an open process, based on the collaboration of many groups: administration, experts, local governments, social organizations, and residents. It is precisely this integration of stakeholders that allows for the creation of effective solutions that address the real needs of society.
Water is a Strategic Common Good
Water affects human health, determines food security, determines economic development, and influences the quality of the environment. Therefore, it is crucial that each of us takes steps to protect this resource. Ensuring safe access to water requires systemic measures, cooperation between multiple sectors, and public engagement. This is a task that will bring enormous benefits for everyone – both ecological and financial.
Building water security also means strengthening the country’s resilience to both water shortages (droughts) and excesses (floods). Responsible water management is based on combining technical solutions with nature-based solutions – increasing water retention, protecting wetlands, sustainable landscape management, and the rational use of resources.
Through such actions, we protect not only the environment but also the country’s social and economic stability.
Why Is Water so Important?
Water is more than just something we drink or bathe in. It is essential at every turn and has many non-obvious uses. Here are some of them:
- Access to water is a matter of social justice. In many places, access to water is difficult, which is why it is so important to build water infrastructure and retention measures that improve the quality of life for residents of cities, rural areas, and regions particularly vulnerable to drought.
- Water is the foundation of national security. Water security, or society’s ability to ensure stable access to water resources, is one of the pillars of national security.
- Water and green spaces in cities have a positive impact on residents’ mental health. Research shows that access to parks, ponds, and nature positively impacts our well-being. Walks by the water help us unwind, which is extremely important in the context of an increasingly fast-paced world.
All these areas share a common denominator – decisions about water are, in fact, decisions about people. They concern quality of life, equal opportunities, and a shared future.
Water for an Equal Start – uDECP in Practice
One of the key challenges of contemporary water management is ensuring equal access to water resources – regardless of place of residence, social status, or local environmental conditions.
The updated Drought Effects Counteracting Plan (uDECP) is precisely the answer to this challenge. This document is not merely a collection of technical recommendations. It is an action plan for equal opportunities and sustainable development, outlining practical steps to strengthen the country’s resilience to drought.
The plan update process involves extensive collaboration and dialogue. Representatives of public administration, the scientific community, local governments, social organizations, and residents are involved in its development. This allows for the development of solutions that address both the needs of the environment and the people.
Mateusz Banasiuk, a Polish actor, is our campaign ambassador, supporting the Stop Drought! Start Retention! campaign. Thanks to this collaboration, we can efficiently inform the public about educational activities and the project’s progress. The ambassador also attended the debate held in May of last year. We invite you to read the material: https://stopsuszy.pl/konferencja-27-maja-2025-r/.
Forum4Water – Energy, Availability, and Security in a Conversation without Division
As part of World Water Day celebrations, on March 23, 2026, Polish Waters organized Forum4Water. The event aims to discuss solutions that combine water security, nature conservation, and socio-economic development.
The Forum is a space for dialogue between various groups: public administration, experts, youth, social organizations, and industry representatives. Only through cooperation and the exchange of experiences can effective water management strategies be built.
Thematic topics discussed at Forum4Water:
- water as a factor in equal access to quality of life – a resource enabling a fair start for residents of cities, rural areas, and regions at risk of flooding and drought
- water as a strategic common good – the foundation of life, human security, and economic development
- the role of the state in ensuring equal access to water services and combating water exclusion
- water-derived energy as an opportunity for clean, local, and stable energy
- how to develop hydropower in a modern, safe, and environmentally friendly manner
- strengthening the country’s resilience by combining technical solutions and nature-based activities – in line with the principle: “We support nature with technology – we don’t fight the river, we learn to live with water.”
We invite you to follow the event on Polish Waters’ social media on March 23rd – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.
Campaigns and Educational Activities for World Water Day
The celebration of World Water Day also includes educational and social activities engaging various age groups.
The “Together for Water – One Day, One Action for Water” project is one such initiative. The idea behind the initiative is to demonstrate that many small actions combine into one nationwide initiative for water security.
The premiere of the episode of the Reasons to Talk podcast, titled “The Still Waters Break the Banks” will focus on the importance of water and the challenges related to resource management.
Additionally, the premiere of the mini-podcast “Young Voice for Water” is planned, aimed at engaging children and young people in the conversation about the future of water resources.
Community involvement is crucial in counteracting the effects of drought. Through education, private action, and local initiatives, we can make a significant difference.
Drought is not a problem that can be solved solely at the level of government institutions. Each of us has an impact on the water balance of our surroundings – from how we manage water in our homes and gardens to how we act in public spaces. Water management has a direct impact on social equality, and our daily decisions can support water retention and mitigate the effects of drought.
What do you do every day for water? You can find inspiration at www.stopsuszy.pl in the education tab. We also encourage you to promote water conservation and good water retention solutions. Share your drought-fighting methods on your social media profiles with the hashtags #stopdrought #startretention.
