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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 03-05-2026; 8-f - World Water Day Proclamation 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 5, 2026 Action Agenda Item No. 8-f 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, 2026 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 `Where water flows, equality grows.' As stated on the World Water Day website, "The global water crisis affects everyone — but not equally. Where people lack the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, inequalities flourish, with women and girls bearing the brunt. It's time to center women and girls in water solutions. Women must shape the future of water. Water services must withstand climate change and meet everyone's needs. We need a transformative, rights-based approach to solving the water crisis, where women's voices, leadership and agency are fully recognized. Where water flows, equality grows. When women and girls have equal voice in water decisions, services become more inclusive, sustainable and effective. We must invest in women's leadership to make water a force for a healthier, more prosperous, gender-equal future that will benefit us all." This year's campaign will highlight safe water and sanitation as human rights and critical enablers of gender equality (from https://www.unwater.org/our-work/world-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). 2 Upcoming activities here in Orange County related to World Water Day include Orange County Creek Week, which will be held March 21-29, 2026. More information on Creek Week 2026 may be found at https://www.orangecountync.gov/3491/Creek-Week. 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 our 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. 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORLD WATER DAY PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, the United Nations (UN) has declared March 22nd 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 2026 is "Where water flows, equality grows," highlighting safe water and sanitation as human rights and critical enablers of gender equality; and WHEREAS, the intended goals of World Water Day 2026 is to ensure safe water and sanitation for all and to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; 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 4 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, proclaim March 22, 2026 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 5T" DAY OF MARCH, 2026. Jean Hamilton, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Laura Jensen Clerk to the Board of Commissioners