Contaminated water jeopardizes both the physical and social health of all people.
It is an affront to human dignity. Yet even today, clean water is a luxury that remains out of the reach of many. Worldwide, more than a billion people have no access to improved water sources, while nearly two and a half billion live without basic sanitation. In fact, the absence of a safe water supply contributes to an estimated 80 per cent of disease and death in the developing world. World Water Day reminds us to think of water in global terms, and to support global initiatives to give all people everywhere access to safe water.