CHALLENGES
The challenges we are facing
There are billions of people around the world who have access to piped water or an improved source (such as a borehole or covered spring) but whose water is undeniably unsafe for human consumption. Globally, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faces. Contaminated water can transmit diseases such diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio.
Below we highlight some important facts about the global water crisis.
Institutions, such as schools, or communities throughout Latin America need to provide drinking water to hundreds of millions of beneficiaries per day but are often unaware of technologies that can be used to treat their water or local technologies are too expensive.
FACTS
WATER-RELATED DISEASE
June 9, 2019
Water-related disease cost 443 million school days each year (equivalent). Kids who attend schools expand their world view and not only improve their skills but also look beyond the jobs available in their rural communities: Their dreams become bigger!
CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER
WHO, 2017
Contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause 525,000 diarrheal deaths each year.
ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER
Februari 2014
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke clearly: “Access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene must feature prominently in the post-2015 development agenda. We must improve water quality and the management of water resources and wastewater. This is a matter of justice and opportunity.”
PERU
INEI Peru, 2019
In Peru the average reported diarrheal cases and anemia amongst young children are as high as 15% and 43% respectively.
BENEFIT-COST RATIOS
OECD 2011
Benefit-cost ratios for investments in water sanitation services have been reported to be as high as 7 to 1 in developing countries.