It's World Water Week!

Did you know August 16-22 is World Water Week? This annual event is dedicated to the planet’s most urgent water-related issues. The theme this year is: “Accessing Water for the Common Good."

Around the globe, access to water is becoming harder and harder for many people, because of high demand and erratic availability. Still, there are some factors that provide an opportunity to improve things. For example, the global economy, as well as many local economies, are growing several times faster than population growth. And this growth might help people and governments to deal with problems and increase productivity. (Of course now the world's current financial turmoil may have a negative impact on this).

During World Water Week development workers, policymakers and others will explore ways to promote access to water for various populations in different situtations. One of the most important things is to include water in development policy, and help create management that promotes efficiency and generates benefits for the common good.

World Water Week takes place in Stockholm, Sweden, this year, and also included the Stockholm Junior Water Prize --  a competition for young scientists, between the ages of 15-20, to find creative solutions to the various issues around water. From using water-based bacteria to grow electricity, to improving village water supplies, their ideas are really innovative! Read all about them.