HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-06-2025; 8-e - World Water Day Proclamation 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 6, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-e
SUBJECT: World Water Day Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks
and Recreation (DEAPR)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation David Stancil, 245-2522
Wesley Poole, 245-2513
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation designating March 22, 2025, as World Water Day in
Orange County.
BACKGROUND: In 1992, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution to
declare March 22 of each year as "World Day for Water" or as it is commonly termed, World
Water Day. In observing World Water Day, governments and organizations are invited to
devote the day to the promotion of public awareness, focusing attention on the importance of
freshwater and the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
This year, the theme for World Water Day is `Glacier Preservation.' As stated on the World
Water Day website, "Glaciers are melting faster than ever. As the planet gets hotter due to
climate change, our frozen world is shrinking, making the water cycle more unpredictable and
extreme. Glacial retreat threatens devastation. For billions of people, meltwater flows are
changing, causing floods, droughts, landslides and sea level rise, and damaging ecosytems.
Glacial preservation is a survival strategy. We must work together to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and manage meltwater more sustainably for people and the planet."
This year's campaign will urge people to realize that glaciers are critical to life —their meltwater
is essential for drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean energy production and healthy
ecosystems (from https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day).
Orange County is active in a variety of water resources initiatives, including the Jordan Lake
One Water (JLOW) initiative and the upper Neuse River Basin Association (UNRBA).
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Upcoming activities here in Orange County related to World Water Day include Orange County
Creek Week, which will be held March 15-22, 2025. More information on Creek Week 2025
can be found at www.orangecountync.gov/creekweek.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION
OBJECTIVE 6. Protect water supply/watersheds.
Safe and abundant water is a critical component to conservation of precious natural resources
and preserving and growing the County's economy. Celebrating World Water Day helps to
acknowledge the various ways that Orange County residents value water as an environmental
resource, and in cultural groups, industries, and domestic lives, leading to a more complete
understanding of water's importance and the need to preserve equitable access to it.
Celebrating World Water Day shows support for minimizing impacts on the water supply and
affecting mitigation of climate change impacts.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the
Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign the Proclamation on behalf of the Board.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORLD WATER DAY
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the United Nations (UN) has declared March 2211 as World Water Day and
has invited governments around the world to devote the Day to the promotion of public
awareness of the importance of water and the sustainable management of water
resources; and
WHEREAS, the theme for World Water Day 2025 is "Glacier Preservation," highlighting
that glaciers are melting faster than ever, glacial retreat threatens devastation, and glacier
preservation is a survival strategy; and
WHEREAS, the intended goal of World Water Day 2025 is to realize that glaciers are
critical to life — their meltwater is essential for drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean
energy production and healthy ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, today, water around the world is under extreme threat from a growing
population, increasing demands of agriculture and industry, and the worsening impacts
of climate change; and
WHEREAS, according to UN estimates, 2.2 billion people around the world are living
without access to safe water; and
WHEREAS, climate change is and will continue to strain the availability, quality, and
quantity of water for the basic human needs of potentially billions of people; and
WHEREAS, the UN Sustainable Development Goals provide the clear goal of providing
safe water and sanitation for all people by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the United States uses 82.3 billion gallons per day of groundwater for public
supply, private supply, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, thermoelectric power,
and other purposes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and 55% of the population
of North Carolina depends on groundwater for drinking water; and
WHEREAS, water use has a direct link to overall monthly housing affordability when
considering that ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day,
according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and
WHEREAS, Orange County recognizes that water and sanitation measures are key to
poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability; and
WHEREAS, people around the world and in Orange County value water for its cultural,
religious and spiritual meanings; and
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WHEREAS, Orange County serves as the headwaters for three of the major NC river
systems — the Cape Fear, the Neuse and the Roanoke — and includes 15 different
watersheds, 10 of which are used downstream for drinking water; and
WHEREAS, Orange County has been working for decades to monitor and preserve water
quality and quantity for residents though programs such as watershed protection zoning,
the Upper Neuse River Basin Association, the Jordan Lake One Water initiative, the
Groundwater Observation Well Network, and policies to address the impacts of climate
change-land
WHEREAS, Orange County residents are helping to protect water quality and quantity by
practicing and supporting responsible agricultural practices, wetland protection and
restoration, and innovative wastewater management and reuse programs;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do proclaim
March 22, 2025 as "World Water Day" in Orange County and encourage County residents
to celebrate the Day by sharing with each other the ways in which they value water.
THIS THE 6T" DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
Laura Jensen
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners