World Water Monitoring Day

Enhancing accountability and sustainability for every drop!

World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness of the importance of protecting water resources around the world by engaging with people to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. World Water Monitoring Day is officially celebrated on September 18 annually, but monitoring and educational events can take place any time between March 22 and December 31 annually. During this time, people of all ages throughout the world community have an opportunity to monitor the quality of their local watersheds and enter the results of their efforts into an international database. Water boards and stakeholders also use this period to educate and create awareness on natural water resource monitoring targeting professionals and managers in the sector, across different disciplines and end users.

The Department’s Surface and Groundwater directorate (SGWI) engages in a wide variety of data collection and analysis activities such as specialised springs, transboundary aquifer and Acid Mine Drainage monitoring, surface and groundwater quality and level monitoring including rainfall station, in support of the public’s needs and in support of decision making processes. This is in line with adhering to the South African National Water Act (NWA, 36 of 1998) to protect and ensure all natural water resources are used and managed sustainably, and the public has reliable, affordable, accessible and good quality water on daily basis for domestic and economic use. Monitoring these water resources and ensuring environmental sustainability further contributes towards the progress of achieving SDG goal(s) namely Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6);

• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
• Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
• Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
  • WWMD activities are aligned with ensuring progress towards Target 6.B: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management