Water is essential to human life, yet many people take it for granted. Today, 1.1 billion people – nearly 20 percent of the world’s population – lack access to safe, clean drinking water, and 2.6 billion live without basic sanitation facilities. Contaminated water and inadequate sanitation exacerbate the spread of preventable waterborne illnesses, resulting in the deaths of about 6,000 people every day, the majority of whom are children. Moreover, these problems are leading contributors to worldwide poverty and social instability. Consider these facts:
- More than 5,000 children around the world die every day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water and a lack of sanitation facilities.
- More than 125 million children under age five live in households without access to a clean water source, and more than 280 million lack adequate sanitation facilities.
- Women and children in developing countries often spend as many as six hours each day traveling to retrieve water for their families, a task that adversely affects their health and prevents them from pursuing an education.
The Water Resource Group has been appointed to support Rotary’s efforts to address this important global issue. Besides providing information to Rotary clubs and districts, it urges every Rotarian to become aware of water-related issues and participate in a water or sanitation project. The group also works to identify, facilitate, and develop guidelines for major Rotary water and sanitation efforts around the world.
Visit the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group site to network with Rotarians from around the globe who are committed to promoting safe water and sanitation.
Contact your Water Resource Group coordinator or District Safe Water Chair Robert Vaughn for guidance on how your club or district can get involved in a water project.
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