Water for People
Significant demand has been placed on global water supplies by extensive population growth across the globe. Pressures from urban expansion, agriculture production and environmental protection all have an impact on water availability. It is becoming more difficult to provide enough food, water and other necessities for the global community.
An estimated two billion people worldwide do not have access to adequate drinking water. One of the UN Millennium Development Goals is to reduce by half the proportion of the people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by the year 2015. Much needs to be done in order to approach this goal.
Water supply and sanitation are essential for meeting basic needs. For millions of people around the world, access to clean and adequate water is a daily struggle. Over one billion people lack access to improved water supplies and 2.4 billion lack adequate sanitation.
Shortfalls in these fundamental human rights have significant consequences. Water-related diseases are among the most common causes of illness and death, affecting mainly the poor in developing countries. They kill more than five million people every year, more than ten times the number killed in wars. The diseases can be divided into four categories: water-borne, water-based, water-related, and water-scarce diseases.
Water for People: Related areas of expertise
Learn more about our partners' experience in these areas:
Coastal hazard mitigation
Community development and participation
Conflict resolution
Drinking water desalination
Drinking water storage, transport and handling
Economic rehabilitation
Emergency response
Environmental education and communication
Environmental health and vector control
Environmental law
Groundwater aquifer management
Hydrometeorology
Integrated urban development
Land use planning
Post-disaster assessment and restoration
Property rights management
Public/private partnership
Resource economics and financing
Seasonal climate and extreme event forecasting
Social science and gender analysis
Strengthened enforcement capacity and judicial system
Urban and rural sanitation and hygiene
Urban and rural water supply and potable water treatment
Water allocation decision-making and management
Water and wastewater utilities performance
Water demand management and water conservation
Water quality management
Water recycling and wastewater reuse
Water source protection
Water well drilling and maintenance
View all areas of expertise