Number of the Day

884 million: The number of people across the globe who lack reliable access to safe water supplies.

Today is World Water Day, which was established in 1993 by the United Nations to highlight the global water crisis. Nineteen years later, approximately one in eight people still do not have access to drinkable water.

Every day, women in parts of the world where safe water is not immediately accessible spend 200 million hours collecting water for their families, the equivalent to building 28 Empire State Buildings every single day. In many places, children, especially girls, are taken out of school and denied an education in order to help procure water for their families.

But it doesn't need to be this way.

Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease. Only two years ago, a child died every 15 seconds. That improvement saves 1,440 children every day. More can be saved. We just have to make it a priority to save them.

[Water.org co-founders Gary White and Matt Damon, both white men, speak about the crisis over images of women and children of color using, carrying, and distributing water made accessible by simple pumps.]

Damon: Did you know that almost a billion people are forced to spend countless hours scavenging for even the smallest amount of water to survive each day?

White: It's hard to imagine that so many people survive on just a few gallons of contaminated water. The good news is there's solutions for this. We just need to have resolve to get this done.

Damon: March 22nd is World Water Day, a day dedicated to something so basic and simple that most people never give it a second thought—clean water. Join us to help end the global water crisis. Take action by donating your voice to the cause at Water.org. Thank you.

Water.org, a charity to which I donate and which I strongly endorse, has ideas for how you can help here.

If you can, please consider donating. Only $25 will provide one person with a lifetime of safe water. Donate with a credit card here, or with alternate payment options (like PayPal) here.

If you can't donate yourself, you can start a fundraiser here. Or donate your voice here.

Teaspoons ahoy!