Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, 1798
Many have heard this quote and understand its reference to a mariner on the open ocean surrounded by saltwater he cannot drink. But have you ever considered that the essence of this quote can apply to the drinking water supply of 780 million people on the planet1? We cannot live without water. It is the single most essential nutrient needed for human survival and accounts for up to 75 percent of our body weight. A lack of water causes major body functions to begin shutting down in as little as three days and occur within a week. Face it, you need water or your up a creek, so to speak.
Unfortunately, millions of people in the world do not have access to safe water sources. As a result there are 3.4 million deaths annually from water borne illness2. In developed countries we are insulated from a lack of clean water or poor sanitation. We take water for granted. Its always there, simply go the facet and fill your glass. Think I’m wrong, then ask yourself how much water we use on lawns?
The gap between the water haves and have nots is significant. Just consider that a typical 5 minute shower sends more water down the drain than is used by a person living in a slum of an undeveloped country for an entire day to understand this discrepancy3. This graphic (courtesy of water.org) does an outstanding job of illustrating this point.
So what can be done to help those in water need? Some very simple ways for individuals and groups to get involved are outlined by water.org. Visit any or all of the following links to learn more.
DONATE YOUR VOICE
RAISE FOR THE CAUSE
SUPPORT A COMMUNITY
1. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation. (2010). Progress on Sanitation and Drinking-Water, 2010 Update.
2. World Health Organization (WHO). (2008). Safer Water, Better Health: Costs, benefits, and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health; Updated Table 1: WSH deaths by region, 2004.
3. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2006). Human Development Report 2006, Beyond Scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis.
One Drop at a Time 