A model dressed up in a mermaid costume takes pictures in a swimming pool to promote water conservtion, days before World Water Day, in Chengdu city, Sichuan province, on March 20.

A UN report released in March last year warned that, about 748 million people worldwide have poor access to clean drinking water, cautioning that economic growth alone is not the solution — and could make the situation worse unless reforms ensure more efficiency and less pollution. [Photo/IC]