LANSING — State Rep. Henry Yanez (D-Sterling Heights) introduced a House Resolution today declaring March 22 as World Water Day in Michigan, and joined other states and nations in expressing commitment to the availability of pure water in Michigan, the United States and the world.
“We have spent these last few years trying to fix the manmade water disaster in Flint, so World Water Day takes on a special significance for Michiganders,” said Yanez. “Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the belief that access to clean water is a human right as well as critically important to our economy.”
The Great Lakes makes up one-fifth of the world’s fresh water supply, and is the source of drinking water for about 40 million people. In Michigan, more than 525,000 jobs are directly connected to the Great Lakes through sport and commercial fishing and shipping to name just a few.
World Water Day has been celebrated on March 22 every year since 1993 when it was first celebrated by the United Nations. It is a day to recognize the importance of clean water as a human right, that clean water is integral to the global economy and international security, and to express support for the nearly 1.5 billion laborers around the world who work in water-related sectors.