For millions of others, water may actually be available as an abundant natural resource, it just simply isn't available to them. It may be below shallow ground cover, but there is no technology to access it. Or it may be fresh spring fed water, but it is owned by major corporations that bottle the water for other countries more fortunate. The truth is, water is a luxury item most simply cannot afford.
The average American individual uses 100 - 176 gallons of water per day, while the average African family uses about 5 gallons per day. (World Resources Institute.)
The free water is not "quite" the same pristine water you get in a bottle, or from the tap. It is rarely ever clear. It is often used by more than just humans.
It is your bath water, laundry water, dish water, and drinking water.
It requires effort to gather. There is a reason why one would suggest skimming the water so as not to disturb heavier particles down below.
Free water sources aren't always running water like streams, they are often stagnant sources, either natural ponds or man-made holes. Such locations often attract mosquitoes and other dangerous, disease-carrying insects.
Malaria kills millions of people around the world each year.
Free water does not conveniently arrive through intricate piping systems.
Walking for water is very laborious. The average distance per trip is roughly 4-6 miles.
You typically cannot gather all the water you need in a single trip. A second trip is highly recommended, although not desired.
Water weighs 8 lbs per gallon, 30-40 lbs per trip.
Being a young girl means you will likely be responsible for gathering water for all of your family's needs.
School is not as important as fetching water.
If you do go to school, you will likely need to leave at midday to fetch water for your school as well, since it doesn't have water either.
Nearly half of your day is spent carrying water on your head, back, or if you are extremely lucky, tied to your bicycle or pushed by wheelbarrow.
You can burn 1,000 calories or more carrying water each day.
Having little water and murky water means very rarely having clean clothes, clean sheets, or even clean dishes.
Feeling unclean is not how most people would choose to live. Knowing that other people's clothes are also stained and odorous does not make you enjoy the situation any better.
Bacteria in unsafe contaminated water actually causes lesions, sores, and other scarring of the skin.
Clean water heals.
Water-borne illnesses are the leading cause of natural deaths in the world. More deaths per year than guns, cancer, vehicle accidents, or even war.
Cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid, malaria, schistosomiasis... are all deadly diseases in developing nations.
Some water-related diseases won't kill you, but some will leave you permanently blind, such as trachoma.
Clinics are few and far between in impoversihed communities. Lines are often very long, and water illnesses are very quick to overtake their victims.
Children under the age of 5 are often victims of water-related deaths. Most mothers will lose one or more children to a sickness caused by lack of safe drinking water and/or sanitation.
Click here to read "Waking Up to the Water Crisis"
* Photos provided by Pamela Crane, Barak Bruerd, and staff of BWM, as well as photos submitted by Tam Faller.
For a large portion of the earth, water is scarce. In fact, less than 1% of the world's fresh water supply is readily accessible for human use. 