Water Problems Essay

Submitted By maugno
Words: 291
Pages: 2

1. Water problems affect half of humanity: * Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. * Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day. * More than 660 million people without sanitation live on less than $2 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1 a day. * Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%. * 1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometre, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 litres per day. In the United Kingdom the average person uses more than 50 litres of water a day flushing toilets (where average daily water usage is about 150 liters a day. The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.) * Some 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhoea * The loss of 443 million school days each year from water-related illness. * Close to half of all people in developing countries suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits. * Millions of women spending several hours a day collecting water. * To these human costs can be added the massive economic waste associated with the water and sanitation deficit.… The costs