We need water, for life to exist. It is a prerequisite for all human and economic development.The United Nations General Assembly, in December 2003, proclaimed the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life‘.

Yet today, according to the World Health Organization, approximately 884 million people are without adequate drinking water, and 2.5 billion people are without adequate water for sanitation. Waterborne diseases are the leading cause of death for children under age five. Every 15 seconds, a child dies because of a lack of clean water and sanitation. Half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by people suffering from waterborne diseases. The World Bank says that 88 percent of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene.

There has been a lot of attention on the issue of water scarcity lately, and for good reason. Although water is a renewable resource, it is also a finite one. But despite the very real danger of future global water shortages, for the people without safe drinking water, today’s water crisis is not an issue of scarcity, but of access.

Get connected and stay informed. Sign up for Water.org’s eCommunity and join the growing community of people working to bring safe drinking water to those in need.

Talk to people! Telling others in your circle of influence about the global water crisis, Water.org, and how they can also get involved is one of the most important ways you can help.