Visitors to the New England Aquarium on March 22 will be welcomed by volunteers and staff representing the Aquarium and Boston Water and Sewer Commission to engage guests in lively, interactive discussions about the importance of World Water Day.
The United Nations’ (UN) World Water Day is held on March 22 each year. Events are organized on or around this day to increase people’s awareness of water’s importance in environment, agriculture, health and trade. The theme of World Water Day 2017 is wastewater, water that has been used in washing, flushing, manufacturing, etc. and whose subsequent quality has been adversely affected.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes there are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to home, and coping with the health impacts of using contaminated water. Boston is fortunate when it comes to wastewater, which today goes to the modern Deer Island facility for treatment and then diffusion at sea.
On March 22, from 11 am – 2 pm, New England Aquarium and Boston Water and Sewer employees and volunteers will welcome visitors, offer giveaways and share expert environmental advice on ways to take part in water conservation and wastewater awareness. Topics include protecting our marine environment, which starts in the home. Guests will learn about keeping “wipes out of pipes” and how to prevent FOG – cooking fats, oil and grease – from going down the drain, which negatively affects wastewater systems. Children and the young at heart will be able to decorate bookmarks and make refrigerator magnets displaying key environmental messages.
Over the last few decades, public policy directives and infrastructure improvements have led to vastly improved water quality in Boston Harbor and the Charles, Mystic and Neponset Rivers. Environmentally aware and proactive organizations like the New England Aquarium and Boston Water and Sewer Commission have played an invaluable role in the clean-up.
Join in the interactive World Water Day activities with presentations about simple steps to protect the marine environment, Q&A with experts, arts, crafts and environmental messaging exercises, giveaways, and more.
March 22, 2017, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
The New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston 02110, Main Lobby.
