The Global Water Crisis

Water is the world’s most abundant natural resource, yet unfortunately, there is an ongoing global water crisis.

In developed countries, the ease with which water can be accessed using taps from within the home gives a sense of security and creates the illusion that water – one of the most basic human rights – is ever-prevalent and readily available for all. But the reality is that 1 in 9 people around the globe do not have access to safe and clean drinking water. The consequences of this are multiple and affect all spheres of life.

Young children are placed at risk of illness and death from drinking contaminated water. Lack of access to clean water leads to poor hygiene practices, which can further spread diseases. Women and children bear the brunt of the burden, being forced to spend countless hours walking and carrying heavy loads of water from distant wells to their homes in unsafe conditions. This consumes valuable time and energy that could otherwise be used to obtain an education, work, or care for the family. These conditions perpetuate the cycle of poverty.

The Zahra(s) Trust Canada’s Water Appeal was created to help provide sustainable water solutions for families and communities around the world who lack access to water. This project provides different options for water solutions that vary based on region and availability of economic resources. These solutions include:

• creating electric water wells, which pump clean water using a bore water well and an electric motor at the cost of $2100;
• handpump water wells, which provide water through manual pumps for regions that lack electricity at the cost of $900; and
• solar water plants, which use solar power to channel water in arid desert regions.

Learn more about water wells and get answers to some frequently asked questions by visiting our previous blog post.

By contributing to the creation of a well, pump, or plant in regions that most need it, you can help create a ripple effect, alleviating the burdens that families and communities face every day to obtain clean water. Not only will your donation help families have more time to pursue essential household, educational, and economic activities, it will also help avert preventable deaths due to water-borne illnesses. Your gift of water is a form of “sadaqa jariya”, the gift that keeps giving. Learn more about Sadaqa Jariya here.

Water is the source of all life. Help empower others by providing their basic human right and a better quality of life through access to clean and safe water. Donate today.