Linggom Roy M. Napitupulu

Did you know that more people in the world own cell phones than have access to a toilet? Did you know that one in eight people don’t have access to clean water? The numbers are staggering, and from what I’ve read, they are increasing despite the efforts of a lot of people who are committed to correcting this problem. According to Water.org, 3,575,000 people die each year from water related diseases. Isn’t that horrible and unacceptable?

Here in the United States, if I were to take a five-minute shower, I am using more water than some people have access to in an entire day. As I’m writing this, it is 5:20 in the morning, and I’ve already used a lot of water. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death for children under age 5, and that diarrhea is often caused by those children drinking unsafe, contaminated water.

The problem can seem overwhelming, but websites like Charity Water break it down in an easy to understand format, and they offer ways that we can all do our part to help. First of all, we can stop wasting so much water. Leaving the water running while we brush our teeth or allowing a faucet to leak by not fixing it are things that we sometimes don’t even think about, but those things waste water. Also, letting the hose or sprinkler run unattended on our grass to keep it green, and running the dishwasher when it isn’t full also waste water.

This infographic by GOOD details some specific ways that we can all conserve water and not be as wasteful. I know I’m going to think twice before I run the faucet in the future. Most of all, these statistics make me realize how truly blessed I am. I am grateful for each drop of water that I have access to, and I hope you are too. Regardless of how many things we want in life that we don’t have, if we have access to unlimited water, we are truly fortunate and, if I may suggest, we should count our blessings and say a prayer of thanks.