Water Resource Group:

Water is essential to human life, yet many people take it for granted. Today, almost a billion people – nearly 20 percent of the world’s population – lack access to safe, clean drinking water, and 2.6 billion live without basic sanitation facilities. Contaminated water and inadequate sanitation exacerbate the spread of preventable waterborne illnesses, resulting in the deaths of about 6000 people every day, the majority of whom are children. Moreover, these problems are leading contributors to worldwide poverty and social instability. Consider these facts:

More than 5000 children around the world die every day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water and a lack of sanitation facilities.

More than 125 million children under age five live in households without access to a clean water source, and more than 280 million lack adequate sanitation facilities.

Women and children in developing countries often spend as much as six hours every day travelling to get water for their families, a task that adversely affects their health and prevents them from pursuing an education.

The Water Resource Group was appointed to support Rotary’s efforts to address this important global issue. Besides providing information to Rotary clubs and districts, it urges every Rotarian to become aware of water-related issues and participate in a water or sanitation project. The group also works to identify, facilitate and develop guidelines for major Rotary water and sanitation efforts around the world.

Water Resource Group – Team

The Water Resource Group is led by:

General Coordinator: Charles E. Clemmons, c.clemmons@att.net

Assistant General Coordinator: Luis Felipe Valenzuela, lfvalen@intelnet.net.gt

For a complete list of the groups Area and Zone Coordinators – and to find out who to contact in your area, go to the following link:

http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/rg_water_contact_info_en.pdf