store locator
Find us on Facebook
Search

What You Can Do

Join Us In Giving The Gift Of Clean Water

The Water Crisis

Lack of access to clean water is one of the largest public health issues of our time. This water crisis is condemning millions of people to live in poverty, without access to adequate health care, education, or economic opportunities.

Facts About Water


  • Only 1% of the Earth’s water is suitable for human uses and consumption
  • 97% of the world's water is salty or otherwise undrinkable and 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers
  • If the world's water fitted into a bucket, only one teaspoonful would be drinkable
  • Nearly 1 billion people lack access to safe water
  • 2,000 children die every day from water-related diseases.
  • Women and children suffer disproportionately from the lack of clean water as they are responsible for gathering water.
  • 40 billion working hours are spent carrying water each year in Africa.

    • Rainwater Harvesting

    Rainwater harvesting is a simple and low cost technique to generate sustainable & permanent safe water sources


  • RWH is a proven solution and one of the oldest recorded hydrological activities
  • RWH is practical with supply and consumption at the same site
  • RWH provides better quality of water than traditional sources of water*
  • RWH is cost effective, requiring almost no spare parts and no energy
  • RWH installations are simple to construct on existing community structures and easy to maintain
  • RWH delivers a permanent water supply where it rains
  • A modest rainwater harvesting system can supply water to an entire community
  • The average person in the developing world uses 10 liters of water daily for their drinking, washing and sanitation needs; The average North American uses 400 liters per day.
  • Click here to learn more about Rainwater Harvesting.


  • *Assumes the water is collected under the required conditions

    • Results with Rainwater

    Rainwater harvesting yields not only safe, clean drinking water, but also has numerous environmental, social and economic benefits


  • Rainwater is a renewable resource and its exploitation does not cause any harm to the environment, nor to future sources of water
  • People that consume clean water and practice safe hygiene & sanitation are healthier!
  • Alleviates poverty
      With healthier children and less time spent collecting water, women are able to engage in other income-generating activities to support their families

  • Improves sanitation. Increased water supplies encourages and enables:

    • Proper hygiene, such as handwashing, thereby reducing the spread of water-related diseases
    • Bathing fully to prevent water-washed diseases such as trachoma, scabies, typhus & lice
    • Cultivating a kitchen garden for household consumption


  • Empowers the community to manage their own water supplies

    • Our Goals


  • Complete 8 new rainwater harvesting systems by 2012
  • Deliver clean drinking water to a minimum of 3,300 families by 2012
  • Educate our peers, consumers, retailers and local communities about the world water crisis and the benefits of rainwater harvesting

    • Our Projects

    The following is an example of the amazing work that WaterAid has completed during the past year with Nature’s Gate support:

    In Konso Woreda, Ethiopia, access to safe water is limited to as little as 32% of the population. As a result of water shortages and poor sanitary and hygiene practices, the incidence of water-related diseases is particularly acute, school attendance especially by girls is extremely low, and women and girls spend up to 9 hours a day fetching and carrying water.

    In addition to installing wells, WaterAid Ethiopia is promoting rainwater harvesting structures at schools and health clinics. This helps ensure the health of school children and those with serious illness. This innovative approach to providing water offers communities a primary water source and delivers a consistent, clean water supply during the dry season and during unpredictable droughts.

    Resources

    www.wateraidamerica.org.
    www.worldwaterday.org.

    What You Can Do

    Get involved with WaterAid America!


  • Learn more about WaterAid’s programs. WaterAid transforms lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities. WaterAid works in 27 countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific Region and Central America. Learn more at www.wateraidamerica.org.

  • Make a donation: As experts in practical, hands-on water solutions WaterAid has helped bring clean water to nearly 16 million people. But we need your help to achieve our aim of helping 1.4 million more people this year. Go to www.wateraidamerica.org to make a donation.

  • Spread the word: Please follow WaterAid on Facebook and Twitter to get regular updates about their work. Additionally, please re-post status updates and tweets to increase awareness of the global water crisis with your friends as well.

  • Organize a fundraising event: Individuals all over the world are helping WaterAid bring clean water to more people by organizing events and parties, donating their birthdays, competing in athletic competitions and other fun ways! Learn more about how to organize a community fundraising event at www.wateraidamerica.org.



    Look for the clean water logo on your favorite Nature’s Gate product!

    • shadow shadow