It is difficult to imagine that water shortages could be a problem on a planet that is 75% water, however, only a tiny fraction of the earth’s water is drinkable and overconsumption and pollution of water supplies have stressed the world’s fresh water systems to the brink.

Today, over 1.2 billion people don’t have access to clean water to live. Every year, over 5 million people (many of them women and children) die of water-related diseases which are the world’s leading cause of illness. Additionally 2.4 billion people lack basic sanitation and services that exacerbate these diseases.

World water day was last week, March22nd.