Why is clean water important?
In some parts of the world, people take clean water for granted. But in much of the developing world, water is a scarce and often unavailable commodity. In the year 2000, about 8% of the world’s population lived in countries chronically short of water. But by 2050 it is estimated that this number will rise to 45% of the world’s population – by then the equivalent of 4 billion people. Even where water is available, if it is not clean, it can become one of the biggest factors in spreading debilitating and often fatal diseases. Millions of people, including an estimated 1.4 million children, die annually most often from diarrhea, caused by drinking unsafe water.
