While water conservation and quality have been a concern in many parts of the world for years, it wasn’t a mainstream issue in this country when the United Nations General Assembly designated the day during its 1992 Conference on Environment and Development.

But today large swaths of the United States are mired in drought conditions, the water infrastructure is in bad shape in some areas, and according to an Associated Press investigation earlier this month, traces of pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking-water supplies of 41 million Americans.

The goal of World Water Day is to bring global water issues to the fore. This year’s theme is sanitation, which covers matters like hygiene promotion, sanitary facilities, water quality, and wastewater management. In 2006, the theme was water culture; in 2007, water scarcity.

What can you do about your own water? Start by assessing the quality of your water. Your community water system is required to provide you with an annual Consumer Confidence Report, or CCR, a detailed statement on the quality of the water in your area.

If you’re concerned about water quality and want to buy a water filter, read our latest report. The article covers the different types of filters, which range from carafes that you store in the refrigerator to whole-house systems; the Ratings (available to subscribers) include more than two dozen products.

If you want to conserve water at home, read “50 Ways to Save Water” on GreenerChoices.org and follow the tips here:

• Water your lawn only when necessary. "Watering Basics" offers detailed expert advice.

• Run your washing machine only when it's full. When you’re buying a new washer, refer to our water efficiency Rating to find a model that uses less water.

• Don’t wash dirty dishes by hand or prerinse them before loading your dishwasher. A household that uses its dishwasher almost daily could save up to 6,500 gallons per year by eliminating prerinsing.—Daniel DiClerico