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FACTS ABOUT WATER FOR LIFE

Water has unique properties that make it the best solvent for the kind of chemistry that we need to start and sustain life.

The General Comment on the right to water, adopted by the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in November 2002, is a milestone in the history of human rights. For the first time water is explicitly recognized as a fundamental human right and the 145 countries that have ratified the International CESCR will now be compelled to progressively ensure that everyone has access to safe and secure drinking water, equitably and without discrimination.

To ensure our basic needs, we all need 20 to 50 litres of water free from harmful contaminants each and every day.

A child born in the developed world consumes thirty to fifty times as much water resources as one in the developing world.

Approximately 70% of all available water is used for irrigation.

An analysis based on health statistics for the year 2000 shows that globally between 1,085,000 and 2,187,000 deaths due to diarrhoeal diseases can be attributed to the 'water, sanitation and hygiene' risk factor, 90% of them among children under five.

The Global Water Supply and Sanitation 2000 Assessment (WHO/UNICEF, 2000) shows that 1.1 billion people lack access to improved water supply and 2.4 billion to improved sanitation.

If improved water supply and basic sanitation were extended to the present-day 'unserved', it is estimated that the burden of infectious diarrhoeas would be reduced by some 17%; if universal piped, well-regulated water supply and full sanitation were achieved, this would reduce the burden by some 70%.

Information from:
World Water Development Report 'Water for People, Water for Life',
Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Source: UNESCO Water Portal, March 2005