Join Us In Giving The Gift Of Clean Water

The Water Crisis

Lack of access to clean water is one of the largest public health issues of our time. This water crisis is condemning millions of people to live in poverty, without access to adequate health care, education, or economic opportunities.  

Facts About Water

Only 1% of the Earth’s water is suitable for human uses and consumption

97% of the world's water is salty or otherwise undrinkable and 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers

If the world's water fitted into a bucket, only one teaspoonful would be drinkable

Worldwide, nearly 1.1 billion people (roughly 1 in six people) lack access to safe drinking water

The lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 5,000 children per day

Out of the 2.2 million unsafe drinking water deaths in 2004, 90% were children under the age of five

Women and children suffer disproportionately from the lack of clean water as they are responsible for gathering water.  Many must walk an estimated six miles every day to get enough water for their families

Water-related diseases are the second biggest killer of children worldwide, after acute respiratory infections

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is a simple and low cost technique to generate sustainable & permanent safe water sources

RWH is a proven solution and one of the oldest recorded hydrological activities

RWH is practical with supply and consumption at the same site

RWH provides better quality of water than traditional sources of water**

RWH is cost effective, requiring almost no spare parts and no energy

RWH installations are simple to construct on existing community structures and easy to maintain

RWH systems cost an average of $30 per person*

RWH delivers a permanent water supply where it rains

A modest rainwater harvesting system can supply water to an entire community

The average person in the developing world uses 10 liters of water daily for their drinking, washing and sanitation needs; The average North American uses 400 liters per day.  

Click here to learn more about Rainwater Harvesting.

*Average estimated by WaterAid. Varies by project, conditions and needs; **Assumes the water is collected under the required conditions

Results with Rainwater

Rainwater harvesting yields not only safe, clean drinking water, but also has numerous environmental, social and economic benefits

Rainwater is a renewable resource and its exploitation does not cause any harm to the environment, nor to future sources of water

People that consume clean water and practice safe hygiene & sanitation are healthier!

Alleviates poverty

With healthier children and less time spent collecting water, women are able to engage in other income-generating activities to support their families

Improves sanitation. Increased water supplies encourages and enables:

• Proper hygiene, such as handwashing, thereby reducing the spread of water-related diseases
  
• Bathing fully to prevent water-washed diseases such as trachoma, scabies, typhus & lice
  
• Cultivating a kitchen garden for household consumption

Empowers the community to manage their own water supplies

WaterAid estimates that for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, countries see economic returns of up to $50

Our Goals

Complete 8 new rainwater harvesting systems by 2012

Deliver clean drinking water to a minimum of 3,300 families by 2012

Educate our peers, consumers, retailers and local communities about the world water crisis and the benefits of rainwater harvesting

Our Projects

The following is an example of the amazing work that WaterAid has completed during the past year with Nature’s Gate support:

In Konso Woreda, Ethiopia, access to safe water is limited to as little as 32% of the population. As a result of water shortages and poor sanitary and hygiene practices, the incidence of water-related diseases is particularly acute, school attendance especially by girls is extremely low, and women and girls spend up to 9 hours a day fetching and carrying water.

In addition to installing wells, WaterAid Ethiopia is promoting rainwater harvesting structures at schools and health clinics. This helps ensure the health of school children and those with serious illness. This innovative approach to providing water offers communities a primary water source and delivers a consistent, clean water supply during the dry season and during unpredictable droughts.

Resources

www.wateraidamerica.org.
www.worldwaterday.net.
www.blueplanetrun.org.

What You Can Do

Be Good to Your Body

• Look for the clean water logo on your favorite Nature’s Gate product

Get Active!

• Walk For Water: Nationwide walks to raise awareness and mobilize support to deliver clean water to children and communities in need


• Blue Planet Run 24: A series of nationwide 24 hour trail relays
  

• World Water Day: March 22. Stay tuned for how you can get involved!

Spread the Word

• Tell your friends and family to get involved