The Importance of Having Access to Clean Drinking Water

It cannot be denied that clean drinking water is essential when it comes to promoting health and preventing infection, diseases, and death. However, not everyone has access to it.

According to the United Nations and other similar organizations, it is estimated that for each person, a minimum of 20 to 50 liters of clean water is required per day. This amount is needed for food preparation, drinking, and personal hygiene.

Without access to drinking water, a person can die in a matter of hours or days. Having access to water, but one that is unclean is also harmful.

Water’s importance

Because our bodies are made up of nearly 70% water, we need water to live and survive. Water connects different aspects of our lives – health, livelihood, work opportunities, and even economy.

Water is important in sustaining life. Lack of water often leads to life-threatening health issues like dehydration, malnutrition, worm diseases, viral illnesses, diarrhea, cholera, and infections. In fact, according to The Water Project, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by people suffering from water-related diseases.

Water impacts the global economy. According to water.org, $260 B is lost globally due to lack of safe water and sanitation. Likewise, according to a study for HaloSource, Inc., the lack of access to safe drinking water will likely impact economic growth negatively by 2050, if not earlier.

Water is important in education. Hydration has a strong influence on energy levels and brain function. Different studies show that even mild dehydration can be detrimental to working memory and brain performance in varying ages.

In poor communities, lack of safe drinking water also causes children to do water collecting activities instead of focusing on school.

The water crisis

Though clean and safe water is obviously and undeniably important, not everyone lack access to it. At present, 1 in 9 people doesn’t have access to safe water. Worldwide, 663 M people live their lives without access to safe water.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2 B people worldwide source water from feces-contaminated sources. By 2025, the WHO predicts that half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas.

More than that, we can’t always be sure that the water serviced to our taps are safe and free from any contaminant. With lack of water supply also comes water pollution and contamination which is rampant in all parts of the world.

Different news headlines today show the truth about water. Truly, living healthy during this water crisis will be a day-to-day challenge.

What you can do

After being reminded of the importance of having access to clean drinking water and the alarming water crisis we are all facing now, we can still do something on our part. Here are some of them:

Support global water programs. To help poor and remote communities gain access to clean, safe drinking water, you can support global water program initiatives like that of UNICEF, The Water Project, CARE, water.org, Water for People, and a lot more through donations or spreading awareness of their programs.

Install a water filtration system. To ensure the quality and safety of the water you’re giving your loved ones, invest in a home water filtration system. Today, there are water filters that can reduce or eliminate contaminants like chloramine, fluoride, arsenic, lead, pathogenic microorganisms, etc. from your water supply.

After knowing how important and essential water is, let’s make it our goal to make at least little steps to give everyone access to clean and safe water. Clean and safe water is more than just a need. It’s a right for everyone.