Facts About the Global Water Crisis and U.S. Efforts
1.1 billion people lack access to clean water and 2.6 billion people, almost half the total population of developing countries, do not have access to adequate sanitation.1
By 2015 Sub-Saharan Africa will account for more than half of the global clean water deficit, or the gap between water scare countries and those without water shortages, and just under half of the sanitation deficit, with South Asia accounting for the bulk of the remainder.2
At any given time close to half the people in the developing world are suffering from one or more of the main diseases associated with inadequate provision of water and sanitation such as diarrhea, guinea worm, trachoma and schistosomiasis. Diarrhea alone accounts for 1.8 million child deaths each year—4,900 deaths each day or an under-five population equivalent in size to that for London and New York combined.3
40 billion hours a year are spent collecting water in sub-Saharan Africa—a year’s labor for the entire workforce in France. Water-related diseases cost 443 million school days each year—equivalent to an entire school year for all seven-year-old children in Ethiopia.4
The global aggregate costs of lack of access to water and sanitation, measured in foregone opportunity and the expenses related to treatment of disease, total $170 billion, or 2.6% of developing country GDP.5
By 2025 more than 3 billion people could be living in water-stressed countries—and 14 countries will slip from water stress to water scarcity.6
Fifteen countries, most in the Middle East, annually consume more than 100% of their total renewable water resources.7
For some 39 countries, with a combined population of 800 million people, at least half their water resources originate beyond their borders.8
Every $1 spent in the water and sanitation sector creates on average another $8 in costs averted and productivity gained.9
Over 15 U.S. federal agencies are involved in international water issues. A majority of funding goes to 3 agencies – USAID, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State. In FY 2003-2005, the US government gave more than $1.7 billion in ODA for water-related activities.10
Funding is concentrated in a few areas: in 2005, USAID provided as much funding for Water for the Poor Initiatives in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the West Bank/Gaza ($100.414 million) as for the entire continent of Africa ($101.491 million), or for the Asia/Near East region ($99.333 million).11
