Post by Erica Oakley, Humanitas Global Development
How often do you stop and consider how much water we use in our daily routines? You probably woke up this morning and used fresh water to take a shower, brush your teeth, use the bathroom and make a pot of coffee or cup of tea -- all in the comfort of your home. However, according to the UN, there are 783 million people who do not have access to clean water and almost 2.5 billion without access to adequate sanitation.
With the expectation that the availability of clean water will decrease in the future due to growing populations, increased food demands, global warming, pollution and demand for hydropower - to name a few, there is much to be done to ensure that this vital resource is avilable for generations to come.
It may seem like an uphill battle, but luckily there are a host of individuals and organizations that are working hard each day to ensure that people around the globe gain access to clean water.
In honor of World Water Day, we would like to continue the tradition of recognizing a few organizations - everyday heroes - that we think are doing tremendous work in tackling our global water woes:
- Worldwide, dirty water causes girls to miss over 145 million days of school every year according to the campaign Women for Water. Through this campaign, Women for Water are uniting women's voices from around the world to fight the global water crisis that disproportionately impacts women and girls.
- Water is a catalyst for disease prevention. A lack of clean water and knowledge of proper hygiene results in diarrhea diseases killing approximately 2,000 children each and every day. Water Aid is working to curb the spread of diarrhea and other infectious diseases through digging wells, helping to build latrines, and spreading knowledge on safe hygienic practices.
- According to Water.org, those living in informal settlements (i.e. slums) often pay 5-10 times more per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city. The cost is even greater between developed and developing countries. With this major discrepency in the cost of water, Water.org is using their star power to create some serious change and provide affordable drinking water to everyone through forging local partnerships and creating community ownership.
- Global Water believes that water is the lifeblood of the community and when water sources are unsafe, the impact ripples throughout society. Whether it is drilling wells in Africa or handwashing and healthy school programs in Central America, Global Water is working with local groups to bringing inexpensive and realistic options to those most in need.
These are just a few of the countless organizations who work tirelessly everyday to create a world where everyone can have access to clean, safe and reliable water. On World Water Day, we thank these organizations and people who are working to make access to clean water a reality for generations to come!
