When I wake up, I turn on the light, stretch, grab a cup on my nightstand and take a big sip. I'll go to the bathroom, wash my hands, and then head to the gym and I'm able to fill my water bottle at any water fountain. I aimlessly waste clean, drinkable water in the shower while thinking about the day ahead.
I never thought about the quantity or quality of the water I drink, much less the water I bathe, wash my hands, and cook with. This is how most of us reading this fortunately live. However, the reality is much different for others.
780 million people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water.
For me, that is hard to quantify. I cannot think of 780 million anything. So here are some examples.
Over Two Populations in The United States (332 Million Estimated)
78 Populations of North Carolina
To obtain the contaminated water that 780 million people are drinking, they must walk for hours to dip jerry cans into ponds, rivers, and any other source of water they can find. These jerry cans, when full, can weigh up to 40lbs - you'll frequently see individuals with curved spines spending their lives carrying these weights around.
Women and girls are responsible in 8 out of 10 households for collecting water. This makes it extremely difficult for girls to attend school and obtain a proper education.
After the women and girls get the water and their families use it, the next issue is the outcomes of drinking dirty water.
Cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio, to name a few. Not only can this be caused by ingesting the contaminated water, but "people may decide handwashing is not a priority, thereby adding to the likelihood of diarrhoea and other diseases" (World Health Organization).
Children are most susceptible to diseases like parasitic worms, diarrhea, and cholera - causing up to 10% of deaths in children before the age of 5.
With all of these issues caused by the lack of clean water, it must be a complex and extensive problem to solve. However, it is not.
There are many solutions to gain access to clean water, from hand-dug wells to bio-sand filters to gravity-fed systems. These different methods can be assessed, chosen, and assigned to each potential location to serve the community best.
Where it becomes difficult is getting the proper tools, technology, and knowledgeable individuals on location. They are all needed to assess the site, drill, and install the new wells. Costs can vary between which project is a good fit for the location.
Even with all the difficulties in planning and fundraising, it is still possible.
We have the resources. We have the technology. We can solve the water crisis. All we need is collaboration.
When The Water Trust released its updated estimate, I almost felt embarrassed. $24 is what people will spend on lunch, one of their multiple monthly subscriptions, a couple of cups of coffee during the week, or a few drinks (depending on where you live). For most of us in the United States, $24 is something we won't bat an eye at.
For $24, you can give someone clean drinking water and change their life forever.
For $24/mo, you can give 12 people clean drinking water and forever change multiple families' lives.
For $10,000, you can sponsor an entire well project and forever change a community of hundreds of lives.
The Hedrick Project has partnered with The Water Trust to lead our clean water project. 100% of the funds raised go directly to their extraordinary work.
In addition, The Water Trust has an emphasis on the upkeep of the water solutions they build. The Water Trust focuses on connecting with local communities to educate them on well operation and create savings groups to pool funds for the upkeep of their wells.
$24 today can change a life forever. Please consider donating monthly - even if you cannot donate $24 a month, donating monthly will tremendously impact the lives of those in rural Uganda.
Please consider donating to our clean water project. The good news is, together, we can solve the water crisis.
For $24/mo, you can give 12 people clean drinking water every year. For $10,000, you can sponsor an entire well project. 100% of your donation will go directly to our uninfected water partner.
Share this article with your friends and family members as well. The more awareness we raise on clean water, the more lives we can change and impact over time.
The Hedrick Project is a Charlotte, NC-based 501c(3) on a mission to better animal, human, and environmental life globally. We use media and storytelling to raise awareness and fundraise for our extraordinary partner organizations.