The World Health Organization reports that 2.6 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation. The United Nations says more than 1 billion people are living with a shortage of fresh water. And the World Plumbing Council says half the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from waterborne diseases.
“Clean water is not a luxury; safe, clear drinking water and sanitation is possible in any nation, big or small, when simple, sound plumbing practices are adopted,” notes the World Plumbing Council on its website. “Availability of fresh water is acknowledged as one of the strongest determinants of economic prosperity and hence political stability. Lack of water is, quite simply, keeping billions of human beings poor, sick, uneducated and ill-governed.”