The Cause
Clean water is the number one deciding factor for a nations state of prosperity. It is no wonder then that half of the world's population is considered to live below the poverty line.
So, let's review some from last month's theme of poverty. The number of people living on less than $1 a day number around 1 billion. Some other 2 billion people live on less than $2, but more than $1.
All of those 3 billion people lack clean, sanitized water. We tend to think that water, like other necessities such as food or shelter, is lacking due to the financially destitute state that the nations are in. Well, as we said already, we find that water is the determining factor in a nation's prosperity.
Close to 2 billion people have access to a water source within 1 kilometer, but not in their house or yard, and consume about 20 liters a day. The average person in the United Kingdom uses more than 50 liters of water just flushing toilets, and about 150 liters total during the course of their day. Here in the States, the most prosperous nation in the world, the average person uses 600 liters a day, the highest average in the world.
Almost half of all the people, in developing countries, that suffer at any given time from some sort of problem that is health related can have their problem traced back to the lack of sanitation in their water. Yet, this water takes millions of hours each day to get, as millions of women spend much of their day retrieving water for their family, many of which have to walk long distances to reach the water source. We in America, on the other hand, purchase 26 billion liters of water every single year, and the numbers are only rising.
According to UNICEF, 1 in every 5 children in the developing world, about 400 million of them, do not have the access to safe drinking water. Furthermore, UNICEF said that, in light of this, about 1.4 million children will die each year from the unclean waters. A child dies every 8 seconds from water related illnesses. As a result of these problems resulting from contaminated waters, children are too ill to attend school—about 443 million school days worth of illnesses. This lack of education just goes to help keep the people in the vicious cycle of poverty.
Here's some of the most frequently encountered diseases that result from poor water sanitation:
- Diarrhea. Of the 4 billion cases reported each year, 2.2 million deaths occur, most of which are among children under 5.
- Intestinal Worms. In the developing world, about 10% of the people suffer from these. This can lead to retarded growth, diminished school attendance and performance, and malnutrition.
- Schistosomiasis. 20 million of the 200 million infected with this suffer severe consequences from the disease. Better water supply could reduce the infection rate by 77%.
- Trachoma.This disease has left about 6 million people blind, and results from poor water sources. Fix the water problem and trachoma infections could reduce by 25%.
So, where's the good news? Well here's a little bit for you: depending on the region, every $1 invested into a water supply yields a return of anywhere from $5 to $28. So, let's see how we can invest...
The Connection
Healing Waters International is a non-profit organization that is working towards providing communities with clean, sanitized, uninfected, and nearby water sources. They have a very high efficiency rating, spending only 5% of their funds on administrative costs.
At the close of 2005, Healing Waters had distributed more than 20 million gallons of pure, drinkable water, to people who would otherwise not have any. By the end of 2006, only a year later, they had already provided over 33 million gallons. February 2007 marked their 5th anniversary, yet they've already given so much water. They have built 53 water projects which cumulatively pump more than 1 million gallons of clean water each month.
Cristian Batista, ADU National Director, speaks with Pastor Manuel Fernando de Jesus at the distribution point in Los Alcarrizos.
` The only source of water in San Luis before the system is this public distribution point.
People line up for water at the system distribution center next to the Christ Our Justice Pentecostal Church.
Unlike many other water organizations that try to provide water by drilling wells in sparsely populated areas, Healing Waters has a unique system of water delivery. They set up a financially self-sustaining water system in a densely populated area and help the churches run the system to provide their community with water. The people have to pay for the water. Some don't like this idea, but, in the grand scheme of things, is much better than free handouts that cause impoverished people to learn to be dependent upon freebies (more on micro-economy to come in the coming months!). Instead, they pay, but pay less than a third of what it costs to get bottled water at stores. This low cost helps aid the communities economy whilst still allowing for people to afford the clean water.
Check their site out for yourself, read up some more on them, and see how you could help be a part of what they're doing around the world for those who need water.