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The Global Water Crisis

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What is the global clean water crisis? 

Water is essential to life, yet 2.1 billion people in the world - 1 in 4 - lack access to it. The water shortage is a growing threat to people around the world.

We are working every day to address this clean water crisis. We’re here to bring safe water and sanitation to all. By empowering people with this fundamental human need, we're helping provide families with hope, health and the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.

2.1 billion people lack access to safe water
115 million people depend on surface water to meet their basic needs

How many people don't have access to clean water?

More than 2 times the population of the United States lives without a household water connection. These people, in particular women and children, must spend time to get water, instead of working or going to school or caring for their families. 

2x
the population of the U.S. lives without a household water connection
A woman named Zawelde using a water tap to fill her mug outside of her home in Uganda.
A woman smiling while holding her young child in front of a pink wall in Indonesia.

The power of water

Access to safe water can protect and save lives, just because it's there. Access to safe water has the power to turn time spent into time saved, when it's close and not hours away. Access to safe water can turn problems into potential: unlocking education, economic opportunity, and improved health. 

Every human being deserves to define their own future, and water makes that possible. To lessen the impact of water shortages tomorrow, we must expand access to water today. We've transformed more than 88 million lives with access to safe water or sanitation, and together we can reach even more people.

Meet the people we empower

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