Supplying Clean Water

It was hot and my energy levels were running out when I was taken by the hand and led down a windy path until we reached a clearing. My young friend said, "you are thirsty?" Out of the corner of my eye I saw that he had brought me to a hole where I assumed he and his family got their drinking water. Oh dear. I took a step closer and my stomach turned upside down. Surely no one could drink the water in this hole and not become ill. 

The water was brown and had things floating in it. Whether they were alive or not I couldn't tell. I didn’t want to know. Underneath the surface I saw a quick movement and bubbles rose. My young friend lay down beside the water, cupped his hands and drank. Should I have stopped him? What other choice did he have?

Later that night I sat with my bottle of chilled mineral water and drank my fill. I did appreciate it, but more than that tears sprung to my eyes. I was rich but I didn’t deserve it. So what was I going to do to help my young friend?

1.4 million children die every year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. To provide clean water and sanitation for everyone in the world it would cost $9 billion. That is less than we spend on ice cream in Europe in one year ($11 billion).