WaterPartners International Observes World Water Day 2007

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Mar 22, 2007, 4:03:59 PM3/22/07

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WaterPartners International Observes World Water Day
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Water - the most basic element on earth. Without water, human life
doesn't exist. And without safe water, neither does good health.

For most of us, it's a short walk to the faucet in the kitchen, or
bottled water in the refrigerator. But for more than a billion people
- about one in six people on earth - getting safe water each day is no
easy task. Women and children around the world walk 200 million hours
every day for water - water that often comes from a polluted source.

The effects of unclean water are devastating. Every 15 seconds, a
child dies from a water-borne disease, the leading cause of death and
illness in the world. Lack of access to safe water leads to a
perpetual cycle of disease, death and lost productivity.

But the good news is we have the cure. We know how to provide safe
water.

Today, March 22, has been designated World Water Day - an
international day of observance and action to draw attention to the
plight of those without access to safe drinking water. On this
important date, WaterPartners celebrates its progress and renews its
commitment to achieving its vision - the day when everyone in the
world can take a safe drink of water.

To date, WaterPartners has reached more than 165,000 people in eight
countries - India, Kenya, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ethiopia,
Guatemala, Honduras and the Philippines. Last year, WaterPartners
worked with 13 partner organizations in more than 50 communities to
establish safe water and sanitation facilities for approximately
60,000 people, completing 14 projects and launching 12 new projects.

Nearly half of the project funds disbursed were part of WaterPartners'
WaterCredit Initiative. WaterCredit provides small loans to
individuals and communities in developing countries who do not have
access to traditional credit markets, empowering people to address
their own water needs. The repaid loans go back into a revolving fund,
and are then re-loaned to the next individual or community.

Mrs. Seda is one satisfied WaterCredit customer. Mrs. Seda and her
children used to walk long distances for water- water that wasn't
always safe to drink. Thanks to a WaterCredit loan, Mrs. Seda now has
her own water tap right outside her home. Her family's health has
improved, and she has started a garden that provides food for her
family and extra income. (Read more stories like Mrs. Seda's at
water.org)

The ripple effect of safe drinking water is truly amazing. On World
Water Day, please join us in saving more lives and transforming more
communities by starting your own ripple. Your gift will bring safe
drinking water to people who desperately need it - for less than you
may think.

- For $25, you can provide access to safe drinking water for life to
someone who desperately needs it.

- For $150, you can meet the water needs of a whole family.

- For $1,000, you can provide a public water point for a 500-person
neighborhood in an urban slum.

- And for $10,000 or more, you can help change the fortunes of an
entire village.