But every day, 900 million people have no clean water, and 2.6 billion have no access to adequate sanitation. Almost 10,000 children younger than 5 in Third World countries die as a result of illnesses contracted by use of unclean water each day, according to the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group. In fact, unsafe water is the largest killer of children younger than 5, worldwide.
On this, World Water Day, tips and suggestions about how to help the millions who can't enjoy the luxury of a daily hot shower or a safe glass of water to drink are flowing freely. Here's a sample of ways you can help and how others are already working to make a difference.
Give up "non-water" and give water to others. Living Water International's Lenten H2O Project is challenging folks to drink nothing but water during Lent -- or any other period of time -- and donate what you would have otherwise spent on soda, expensive coffees and sports drinks.
H20 Project from Living Water International on Vimeo.
Also in conjunction with Water.org, an anonymous donor is giving $10 for every $15 donated on Groupon Chicago (up to $20,000).
Three of the top YouTube video bloggers (Hank Green, Lisa Nova and Timothy DeLaGhetto) visited communities in Haiti to see firsthand the work of Water.org and its partner, Haiti Outreach. Each has created a video in celebration of World Water Day.
Buy an eco-friendly water bottle from the Mocha Club and provide clean water to 15 people in Sudan, where women walk an average of nearly four miles a day for water. The bottle has the "ripple effect" of also keeping plastic water bottles out of landfills here at home.
Water scarcity is disproportionately a problem for women, Charity Water points out, and can keep a woman from getting an education, caring for her family or earning needed income. Read about efforts around the world or donate here.
Philanthroper -- much like a daily deal site, except it features the story of a charity every day -- is asking for donations as little as $1 for Blood: Water Mission, which says that for the price of a bottle of water in the United States, BWM can give someone in Africa clean water for a year.
Water for Life has raised enough for one well. Help the organization raise enough for a second.
During Water Week, contribute to UNICEF's Tap Project and get a chance to win "celebrity tap water." The money helps provide 40 days of clean water to children. (Be sure to watch the very funny video.)
Also through UNICEF, thousands of restaurants are joining the Tap Project by asking patrons to donate $1 for a glass of tap water. A list of participating restaurants is here.
Sponsored Links
Raise a pint, help pay for a well. A series of happy hours across the country on Thursday promoted by Wells 4 Wells will raise money to build wells in sub-Saharan Africa. (Each well costs $5,500, so drink up!)With "A Pair for a Foot," Teva will help protect one linear foot of global waterways for every pair of shoes or sandals sold this year. Donations will be made to water nonprofits such as Ocean Conservancy and Waterkeeper Alliance.
For an eye-opening look at how much water we use (and waste), figure out your water footprint with National Geographic's footprint calculator. (We Americans use nearly 2,000 gallons a day -- twice the global average.)
Read about the efforts of other individuals and organizations on Twitter by using the hashtag #worldwaterday.
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