The Department of Water and Sanitation will embark on its annual month-long National Water Month campaign in March 2025. Water Month is an expansion of World Water Day, spearheaded by the United Nations (UN) on 22 March. It focuses attention on the importance of freshwater and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Each year, the United Nations Water sets a theme for World Water Day corresponding to a current or future challenge. In 2025, the World Water Day campaign is led by the UN-Water Expert group on climate and water. The theme for 2025 is "GLASIER PRESERVATION".

The Department of Water and Sanitation will embark on its annual National Water Month campaign in March 2025. This month-long initiative expands on World Water Day, observed globally on March 22 and led by the United Nations (UN), to highlight the significance of freshwater and promote its sustainable management.

Each year, UN-Water selects a theme for World Water Day, addressing current and future challenges. In 2025, the theme is "Glacier Preservation", led by the UN-Water Expert Group on Climate and Water. This theme underscores the alarming rate at which glaciers are melting, disrupting water systems and impacting millions through floods, droughts, and rising sea levels.

For South Africa, this theme reinforces the urgency of mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects to safeguard communities and ecosystems. World Water Day 2025 calls for global action to manage meltwater sustainably, reduce emissions, and secure essential water resources for the future.

South Africa will celebrate National Water Month from 1 – 31 March 2025. The programme is designed to have opening and closing events as well as weekly events sub-themed from the main theme, all working towards the main theme and messaged according to our determined key messages. In the forefront as key messengers are the Minister, Deputy Ministers, Director-General, and the Departmental and Ministerial Spokespersons as well as carefully selected technocrats.

This awareness campaign plays a crucial role in advancing the Department’s mandate, as outlined in the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan. It addresses critical challenges such as water scarcity, infrastructure maintenance and investment, recurring droughts driven by climate variability, inequitable access to water and sanitation, and declining water quality. By raising awareness and fostering collective action, National Water Month 2025 will emphasise the importance of securing South Africa’s water future.