UNPROTECTED WATER SOURCES

Approximately 1 in 9 people lack access to an improved water source.

The majority of water sources in developing countries are unprotected. Families and schools typically dig holes or pits and allow for them to fill up via rain or ground water. In some areas where there is a river nearby, this becomes an option for water. All three methods are subject to ground and exterior contamination. Rivers are always contaminated from animals using the same source and people using the source as a wash area.

Of course, having a water source at all is considered to be fortunate. Many communities walk miles just to fetch water. This consumes a major part of peoples’ lives in water poor areas. In fact, women spend over 200 million hours A DAY collecting water.

LACK OF FILTRATION

Nearly 3.4 million people die each year from preventable waterborne illnesses. That’s almost the entire population of Los Angeles, CA dies every year.

This number can directly be attributed to lack of filtration of contaminated water and lack of sanitation and hygiene training. The majority of these illnesses are caused from fecal contamination. Biosand Filters, Sawyer Filters and other methods can filter out over 99% of all contaminates. Filters allow us to access communities out of reach of machinery or provide a community an option where a well is not an option.

Every 21 seconds a child will perish from a preventable waterborne illness.

Just $1 provides a person clean water for an entire year. Fixing the problem is easy. We just need to all decide to do it.

EDUCATION LOST

Education is one of the most important factors in poverty alleviation and creating opportunity in communities. The head teacher at our first project, Dambo Basic mentioned that it was “impossible for our children to get a good education because the water they did have was only for a small time during the day and they never knew when it would be shut off. When it would shut off we send the kids home. This has given us the opportunity to teach our children and we will now be able to have a laboratory for science.”

Without established water sources, schools cannot teach the children of developing countries effectively. Without an education, children grow up and have to steal and fight for their food. If we eliminate the issue of water, we can set entire areas on the path to success and sustainability.

You can help!!!