The World Water Day in 2011, Water for cities: responding to urban challenges, is intended to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and climate change on water resources and environmental protection capabilities of cities and small towns. Key issues such as the growing urban water and sanitation demand, increased pollution from municipal and industrial discharges, climate change and its unforeseen risks and challenges, overexploitation of available water resources, better targeting of the urban poor will be discussed. The critical role played by local governments and other service providers in tackling these challenges will be explored.

The official World Water Day 2011 Event will be celebrated in Cape Town, South Africa from 20 - 22 March 2011 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

For the occasion, UN-WWAP is organizing one week event in the premises of its Secretariat, Villa La Colombella. The event will include a presentation of case studies made on the Management of Water Resources in Urban Areas (Cities), and the projection of a film show on water in various cinemas of Perugia. There will also be the prize-giving celebration of the project "Water for All, All for Water", created in the framework of the World Water Monitoring Day event to make young people aware of the importance of water quality in our lives.