15/03/2012. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in 1992 suggested for the first time to celebrate any day as a World Water Day for the purpose of remembrance of the significance of fresh water for humankind. Based on this suggestion the UN General Assembly declared March 22 as the World Day for Water in 1993, and it has been celebrated since that year. Everyone in the world drink 2-4 l water per day, but more fresh water is used up for consumed agricultural products. In this regard, 15000 l water is consumed for 1 kg meat production, while up to 1500 l water is utilized for 1 kg wheat. Unfortunately water reserves have unequally been distributed among the countries all over the world. Billions of people suffer from the shortage of fresh and clean water. Fresh and clean water problem is one of the most urgent challenges of 21st century the humanity face.Azerbaijan’s fresh water reserves alongside its subsoil waters are estimated 35 km3 per annum. 70% of the country’s surface water reserves is provided due to big transit rivers i.e. Kura, Aras, Ganikh, Samur rivers. The main water arteries i.e. Kura and Aras rivers are exposed to high amount of pollution in the territory of the neighbour countries. 90% of the agricultultural products in Azerbaijan are grown in irrigated lands. Food safety of the country is directly connected with water reserves. Water reserves of the country able to be used under the condition of the maintenance of formed ecoystems and ecological balance are less. Researches indicate that water reserves of Azerbaijan may decrease 20-25% as a result of the rise of temperature and evaporation due to the global climate change. Floods and torrents that inflict great number of damages are also causes of this issue.
According to experts fresh and clean water problem in Azerbaijan stands among main ecological issues of the country.
Pursuant to the injunctions of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On several measures regarding the supply of people with ecologically clean water”, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) installed modular purifiers in 188 settlements of 20 regions with the population of more than 350 thousand in order to provide the people settled along the Kura and Aras rivers as well as in other settlements with ecologically pure water, gave to the use of people in 2007-2011, and works in this sphere are under way.