Bill Text: NY K00671 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 671 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 22, 2022, as Water Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-7)

Status: (Passed) 2022-03-22 - adopted [K00671 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00671-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 671

BY: M. of A. Jackson

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        March 22, 2022, as Water Day in  the  State  of  New
        York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of  environmental
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 22, 2022, as Water
Day in the State of New York, in  conjunction  with  the  observance  of
World Water Day; and

  WHEREAS,  Water  holds immense value and is one of the planet's most
precious resources; people utilize water for a variety of purposes every
day, including drinking,  agriculture,  industry,  recreation,  hygiene,
sanitation, and health care; and

  WHEREAS,   Water   resources   are  limited  and  valuable;  warming
temperatures,  as  well  as  other  natural  and  human-made  stressors,
threaten  to  further  impact the quantity and quality of our water on a
large scale; and

  WHEREAS, World Water Day emphasizes the  importance  of  water,  the
role it plays in our lives, and how we can better protect it; this vital
day  of recognition celebrates water while also raising awareness of the
2.2 billion people who do not have access to safe drinking water; and

  WHEREAS,  Every  year  on  March  22nd,  people  and   organizations
commemorate World Water Day by taking action to address the global water
crisis;  a  core  focus  of  this  day  is to support the achievement of
Sustainable Development Goal 6, water and sanitation for all,  by  2030;
and

  WHEREAS,   The   theme   of   this   year's   World   Water  Day  is
"Groundwater-Making the Invisible Visible"; and

  WHEREAS, Global access  to  safe  water,  adequate  sanitation,  and
adequate  hygiene  resources  reduce  disease-related illness and death,
resulting in  improved  health,  poverty  reduction,  and  socioeconomic
development; and

  WHEREAS,  The  COVID-  19  pandemic  has  highlighted  the  critical
importance of universal access to safe water, as handwashing  with  soap
and  water  is  one  of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of
COVID- 19; despite this, many people lack access  to  these  fundamental
necessities,  putting  them  at  risk  of  diseases  related  to  water,
sanitation, and hygiene; and

  WHEREAS, Globally, 2 billion  people  do  not  have  safely  managed
drinking  water  services,  3.6  billion  do  not  have  safely  managed

sanitation services, and 2.3 billion do not have access to a handwashing
facility with water and soap at home; and

  WHEREAS,  Although  water  is crucial in daily life, many people are
unaware that much of their water comes from the ground; an estimated 145
million Americans  get  their  tap  water  from  a  groundwater  source;
statewide,  New  Yorkers  use  almost  900  million  gallons  per day of
groundwater; and

  WHEREAS, Life would not be possible without groundwater and we  must
therefore protect it from overexploitation; most the world's dry regions
rely  solely  on  groundwater; a considerable percentage of the water we
use for drinking, sanitation, food production, and industrial operations
comes from groundwater; it is also vital for  ecosystems  like  wetlands
and rivers to function properly; and

  WHEREAS,  Accounting  for  approximately  99  percent  of all liquid
freshwater on Earth, groundwater has the potential to provide  societies
with   tremendous  social,  economic,  and  environmental  benefits  and
opportunities; and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore,  groundwater  already  provides  half  of  the
volume  of  water  withdrawn  for domestic use by the global population,
including the  drinking  water  for  the  vast  majority  of  the  rural
population  who  do  not get their water delivered to them via public or
private supply systems, and around 25 percent of all water withdrawn for
irrigation; and

  WHEREAS, This vital natural resource is often poorly understood, and
consequently undervalued, mismanaged,  and  even  abused,  rendering  it
vulnerable  to  depletion and pollution; in the context of growing water
scarcity  across  many  parts  of  the  world,  the  vast  potential  of
groundwater  and  the  need  to  manage  it sustainably can no longer be
overlooked; and

  WHEREAS, Small steps and local actions  collectively  improve  water
quality for people, wildlife, and the environment; it is imperative that
there be greater awareness of this environmental issue, and more must be
done  to increase activity at the local, State and National levels; now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 22, 2022, as Water
Day in the State of New York, in  conjunction  with  the  observance  of
World Water Day; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.