Water Programs

Nearly one billion people in the world don’t have access to safe drinking water, and drink whatever they have available, no matter what it contains. Over 2.5 billion people don’t have access to basic sanitation such as hand washing and toilet facilities. Contamination of water used for domestic use—drinking, washing, bathing etc.—is closely linked to the lack of adequate sanitation facilities to properly remove human waste from human contact. Human waste in water sources puts people at high risk of infection with diarrheal diseases, which kill 4,100 children each day or close to 1.5 million children each year.

A clean source of community water can have multiple positive outcomes: Bangladesh water well

The lack of safe water and adequate sanitation is the world’s largest cause of sickness. Adults who drink poor sources of water may be too sick to look after their children, take care of their animals or generate income.
Diarrheal diseases kill 4,100 children each day. Children who drink poor sources of water may become too sick to go to school due to parasites and other contaminants. Clean water at a school, and sanitation programs such as hand washing, reduce the incidence of communicable diseases.
Children and women, who are typically the water gatherers, spend less time walking far distances to get water. In rural settings, getting water from isolated sources can be a particular risk to women and girls. A safe source of water in a community setting helps offset that risk.
Mothers can spend more time in the care of their children and at their family gardens, or working on their own income-generation
Young girls can stay in school if their chores are minimized. They also gain time to read and study.

ERDO’s water programs include basic sanitation and hygiene education.

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