Sometimes I think it is easy for us in the cities and suburbs of the Western World to forget the importance of water … that is until it is gone. Access to clean and safe water is central to our lives and enables us to do so many things. I can not think of how many times in my day that I am reliant on clean water .. from personal hygiene to drinking .. washing clothes to washing fruits and vegetables & .. to watering the vegetable garden and washing eating utensils. It is central to our lives.
Currently, a billion people in the world lack access to clean, safe drinking water (Charity: Water). That’s one in eight of us. It could be three kids in your child’s class of 24, it could be one person in your family of mom, dad, four grandparents, and two kids. It could be anyone. The facts are these: Eighty percent of disease is caused by unsafe water (Charity: Water). Unsafe water kills more people per year than AIDS and cancer combined (Hydraid).
How can you make a difference?
All it takes is an investment. Not charity, investment. Invest $20 in Charity: Water and 100% of that investment will reap dividends: partially funding the building of a well so one person in the developing world will have access to clean, safe drinking water for 20 years. Invest $32 in Hydraid and that investment will reap dividends: buying one biosand filter that requires no electricity and minimal setup, to give up to 10 people access to clean, safe water for 10 or more years.
For more information check out www.worldwaterday.org/ ,hydraid.org, charitywater.org, and tapproject.org
Photo by Jong Marshes on Unsplash
