The Problem in Today's World With Unclean Water

Today, more than 1 BILLION people lack access to clean drinking water.  And over 2 BILLION people do not have access to proper sanitation.  With such a large amount of people throughout the world in need of clean water WPI feels that it has a responsibility to meet this need wherever the need is greatest.  Water is life’s most basic need, it sustains life, yet so many people throughout the world go without this necessary part of life.  An estimated 25,000 people die every day from the lack of clean water and proper sanitation! That is one person every 3.45 seconds!

Unclean water affects every part of a person.  From children not being able to attend school, to parents not being able to maintain a steady job, to high medical costs due to disease.  Water is the sustaining factor in life and without it, families in developing countries never have the opportunity to enhance their status of life.  For around one-sixth of the world’s population, this tragedy is all to common. Click on the links below for more information regarding various topics about the effects of unclean water...

Unclean Water Leads to More Disease...
It is estimated that around 80% of all disease in the world stems from unclean water, poor sanitation, or crude living conditions (hygiene).  Fatal cases are most commonly found in the developing countries of the world where the people who are affected by these diseases are less likely to receive appropriate medical attention.
Water and sanitation is directly linked to the health and well being of every person in the world.  Clean water has a positive influence on life, while unclean water has the exact opposite, a negative impact.
One of the best ways to prevent poverty is to fight Disease.  Disease has a direct affect on every person, especially in the developing countries.  Illness does not allow men and women to hold a job, keeps children from an education, and brings unneeded expenses to the family.  The poorest people in the world are also the most unhealthy.  Bringing clean water and proper sanitation methods to these people, dramatically increases their health, and leads to a dramatic opportunity for decrease in poverty.

Gathering Water is a Big Task...
Many places around the world require that people walk long distances to gather water.  Whether it is a man or a woman who is gathering the water, it is very time consuming.  It is not uncommon for people to have to walk in excess of 2 hours to obtain water.  With so much time taken out of the day spent on gathering water, there is little time left for income producing activities.  This leads to the poverty of the family.

Water Effects a Family's Economic Standing...
With so many negative factors from income, to education, and time spent fetching water, a family is dramatically affected by the lack of access to clean water.  Depending on each specific situation, there are factors that come into play that dictate the very survival of each family.  When a family does not have the ability to have a steady income or send children to school, it ultimately results in a negative affect sometime in the future.
These factors determine the economic standing of families throughout the developing nations of the world.  Imagine never being able to have a full time job because you had to make sure that you water bucket was full.  Imagine never having the opportunity to go to school, simply because you had to walk to the nearest river that may be 5 miles away just to get water for your family. 
And not only do humans need water, but most impoverished families in rural settings have animals that they use for food or to sell as income.  These animals must have water just the same as humans.  There are so many things that play into the status of every family that lacks access to clean water.