Clean water along with hygiene training and sanitation can reduce disease by
up to 50%. Of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and
unhygienic living, 90% are
children under five years old.
Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of
diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of
violence, including war. The UN predicts that one tenth of the global
disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply and
sanitation.
Many children around the world spend their days collecting water for their
families or home sick with a water-related illness instead of going to
school. With safe water nearby, they can earn an education and build the
future of their communities.
Women are twice as likely to walk for water than men. The time spent walking
and the resulting diseases from contaminated sources keep them from getting
an education, earning a much-needed extra income and taking care of their
families.
When a community receives a water project, they can often use the new water
source to plant small gardens near their homes and secure their own food
supply. Self-sufficient households
are less affected by external conflict, famine or inadequate
government services.
In Africa alone, the overall economic loss due to lack of safe water and
sanitation is $28 billion. Every $1 invested in improved water access and
sanitation can yield $12 in economic returns, depending on the project.
