Water is a basic necessity of life for countless species across the planet. And less than 1 percent of the world’s fresh water is readily available for human use. The rest is inaccessible, nonrenewable or too expensive to transport to population centers at a reasonable cost.
Unfortunately, while the amount of available water on earth remains unchanged, population growth continues to skyrocket (some estimates place us at 9 billion people on earth by 2050). In short, conserving water is not simply a matter of principle any longer: it’s a necessity.
Additionally, contamination remains a serious problem worldwide. An estimated 1.8 billion people across the globe drink water that has been contaminated by fecal matter and parasites. 1 in 3 don’t have access to a toilet.
Thankfully, there are many non-profit organizations who are dedicating themselves to addressing the world’s water issues — working to ensure clean water for all people, finding ways to cleanse water sources of pollution, and heavily promoting conservation strategies.
Here are a few who are especially noteworthy:
Let’s take a deeper look at their work.
The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)
SIWI is a policy institute based on Stockholm, Sweden that performs research, helps build institutional capacity and advises organizations around water resource issues. Each year, the organization hosts World Water Week, an event that awards partners who have made meaningful contributions to work in water conservation.
charity: water
Charity: water tackles the problem of clean water scarcity by raising money for sustainable clean water projects worldwide. What sets them apart is their commitment to applying 100% of public donations to clean water projects. Completed projects can even be viewed by interested parties on Google Maps.
The Clean Water Fund
Since 1974, the Clean Water fund has advocated for clean, safe water and air in homes, workplaces and communities throughout the United States. This is meant to complement and amplify the work of Clean Water Action, a fellow water-focused organization that helped pass the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and a number of notable laws surrounding clean water.
water.org
Water.org is a non-profit organization that secures funding for local water projects that are run by a diverse roster of partners from that area. The organization operates in Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia and believes strongly in the concept of community ownership, from initial financing to ongoing maintenance.
WATERisLIFE
WATERisLIFE brings clean water to those in need through both short-term and long-term projects. A particularly innovative solution was The Straw, a handheld water filtration device that provides clean drinking water at the source with each sip. Additionally, the organization educates global communities about important sanitation and hygiene principles, preventing ongoing contamination of clean water sources.
Related Stories:
The post 5 Organizations Helping to Solve Our Global Water Crisis appeared first on Is Green 4 U.