#1. Prevented Water-Borne Illness
As we mentioned above, 3.575 million people die every year as a direct result of water-borne illness. When people without access to purified water resort to drinking from contaminated water sources, someone could easily contract diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. However, a major effect of clean water is that it helps prevent water-borne illness.
#2. Raised Sanitation Standards
Another effect of clean water is the ability to obtain higher sanitation standards. Just how we rinse off our fruits and vegetables before eating them, it is imperative that the water you wash with is purified and safe to use. Furthermore, the same applies to how we wash our bodies.
We ingest water through our food, and our body even absorbs some of the water we wash with. Therefore, both are difficult to do effectively if you do not have clean water. As a result, even if your drinking water is clean and purified, washing with unclean water can still make you susceptible to various hazards.
#3. Hydrated Body and Flushed Toxins
As the body is naturally comprised of 60% water, it is imperative that the water that enters your body is derived from and clean and safe source. For optimal functionality, humans must stay thoroughly hydrated with purified water. Several benefits of hydration include:
- Promoted cardiovascular health
- Lowered and regulated body temperature
- Proper functionality of muscles and joints
- Supple skin
- Optimal kidney function (lower risk of kidney stones, UTIs, and kidney failure)
Additionally, hydration also helps the body naturally flush toxins from within. However, with unclean and contaminated water, more toxins enter the body than those that leave it, creating a harmful environment for bacteria and illness to spread.
#4. Boosted Agriculture and Food Production
Agriculture and food production are crucial for everyone across the globe. If a small village’s crops are irrigated with contaminated water, any bacteria and diseases found in the water can be spread to those who eat the contaminated crops. However, the safest food sources stem from working with safe and clean water.
#5. Improved Women’s Health
Did you know that the average distance someone in a developing community walks to fetch water is 3.75 miles? In most cases, collecting the daily water supply falls on the women in a village.
On average, a 5-gallon jug filled with water amounts to 44 pounds. Over time, the excessive weight of the water containers carried over a long distance can create additional health issues for the individuals carrying it. Also, imagine how much more challenging the task of toting a water jug would be when already suffering from dehydration brought on by drinking unclean water.
However, by providing clean and accessible water to the millions without, you can improve women’s health as they spend their day finding a clean water source for themselves and their families.