Water is life, and yet, millions are denied access to it.
At Walking For Water, we believe clean water is a basic human right—a cornerstone of survival, health, and development. Yet, approximately 2 billion people worldwide still lack access to safely managed drinking water, and 3.6 billion lack access to improved sanitation.

The Crisis: Water Scarcity and Health

Access to clean water is essential not only for survival but also for thriving communities. Without it, lives are cut short, futures are stolen, and poverty deepens. The lack of clean water forces families to endure long, exhausting journeys to collect water, often from contaminated sources. This leaves little time for education, economic development, or caring for loved ones.

• 1 in 4 people globally do not have access to safely managed drinking water.
• 3.6 billion people live without access to improved sanitation (UN, 2023).
• Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation contribute to 1.2 million deaths annually, many of them children under the age of 5 (UN Water, 2021).
• Diarrhea kills 395,000 children each year—a largely preventable tragedy linked directly to lack of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (UNICEF, 2021).

Water as the Foundation for Health and Development

The consequences of water scarcity are far-reaching. Beyond the immediate health risks, the lack of access to clean water holds back progress in nearly every area of life, trapping communities in cycles of poverty and underdevelopment. The lack of clean water is directly linked to:

• Health: Contaminated water leads to waterborne diseases, contributing to child mortality, malnutrition, and the spread of preventable diseases.
• Education: Children, especially girls, spend hours each day collecting water, missing school and opportunities for personal growth.
• Economic Independence: Time spent gathering water could otherwise be used for work, farming, or entrepreneurship, stalling economic development.

Clean Water and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to clean water is not only a fundamental human need but a key enabler for achieving many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Clean water is a precondition for progress in the following critical areas:

• SDG 1 – No Poverty: Access to water reduces time spent on collection, allowing people to work, farm, and earn livelihoods, thereby breaking the poverty cycle.
• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: Water is crucial for agriculture and food security. Without water, crops fail, and families go hungry.
• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Clean water prevents waterborne diseases, improving child health and reducing mortality.
• SDG 4 – Quality Education: Access to water improves school attendance, especially for girls who are often tasked with fetching water.
• SDG 5 – Gender Equality: The burden of water collection disproportionately falls on women and girls, preventing them from pursuing education and careers. Providing access to clean water empowers women and promotes gender equality.
• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: Our mission directly supports this goal, aiming to ensure that clean water and sanitation are accessible for all.
• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Reliable water access is a key driver of economic productivity, enabling individuals and communities to grow and prosper.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: Clean water resilience is vital in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change, including droughts and water scarcity.

Why Now? The Need Has Never Been Greater

• Global Water Crisis: With increasing climate change impacts and population growth, the water crisis is becoming more urgent. By 2050, 1 in 4 people will live in a country affected by chronic or recurring water shortages (UN Water, 2021).
• Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic has underscored the importance of clean water for hygiene and health. Without access to water, communities are more vulnerable to disease outbreaks.

Join the Movement:

We can solve the water crisis, but we need you.
Donate to LoveSpring now to help us build more water pumps, deliver clean water to the most vulnerable, and ensure that future generations thrive.

Sources:

• UN World Water Development Report, 2023
• UN Water Progress Update, 2021
• UNICEF, “Diarrhea: Why Children Are Still Dying and What We Can Do About It,” 2021
• UN Water, “Water Scarcity Facts,” 2021