There are few things more crucial in our lives than clean water. Having access to clean water really isn’t something that’s optional, or that’s just nice to have. It’s a vital necessity that ensures the health and safety of the people who drink it. If you can turn on the tap and fill your Nalgene bottle with crisp, clean water in seconds, then you’re one of the lucky ones. Clean water at your fingertips is a beautiful thing, and despite how much we all need it, not everyone has access to it.
But there’s good news: many people and organizations are taking clean water efforts into their own hands, and are launching water recycling and sustainability projects. The people behind these projects are doing some truly incredible work, and are making real strides when it comes to improving access to clean water.
Let’s dive into the state of clean water today, and some inspiring clean water projects which are making a real difference.
When Clean Water Isn’t Just a Sip Away
Whether you’re a toddler or an Olympic athlete, staying hydrated is absolutely essential to human health. But not everyone in the world has regular access to clean water.
The World Health Organization estimates that while 74% of people in the world use safe drinking water regularly, the rest do not. Research from the WHO also breaks down some of the details: about 2 billion people do not use safely managed water services. This means they might have to travel 30 minutes or more to clean water, or they might drink from unprotected sources, such as springs and lakes.
What exactly happens when we don’t have access to clean drinking water? Unsafe water sources can be riddled with bacteria, can transmit diseases, and can present significant health risks to the people drinking it. The unfortunate truth is that hundreds of thousands of people die every year from illnesses transmitted through unsafe drinking water, including many children.
That’s why clean water projects are absolutely critical. When people, governments, and organizations help create access to clean water, they don’t only offer ease and comfort: they help save lives.
10 Clean Water Projects We Are Inspired By
In the wake of the state of clean water around the globe, many individuals, non-profits, governments, and other types of organizations have risen to the occasion, and have developed their own incredible clean water projects.
Here’s our list of 10 clean water projects that we are inspired by, and a bit about the groups behind them.
West Basin Municipal Water District
Charity Water
Maji
Planet Water Foundation
Pure Water Oceanside
Pure Water for the World
The Water Project
Water.org
WaterAid
The Nalgene Water Fund
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