·

About 70% of the earth is covered in water.

·

Freshwater lakes and rivers, ice and snow, and underground aquifers hold only 2.5% of the world's water. By comparison, saltwater oceans and seas contain 97.5% of the world's water supply.

·

Fifty percent of the world's wetlands have been lost since 1900.

·

If all of the world's water were fit into a one gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon.

·

On a global average, most freshwater withdrawals -- 69% -- are used for agriculture, while industry accounts for 23% and municipal use (drinking water, bathing and cleaning, and watering plants and grass) just 8%.

·

During the 20th century, water use increased at double the rate of population growth; while the global population tripled, water use per capita increased by six times.

·

One fifth of the world's freshwater fish -- 2,000 of 10,000 species identified -- are endangered, vulnerable, or extinct. In North America, the continent most studied, 67% of all mussels, 51% of crayfish, 40% of amphibians, 37% of fish, and 75% of freshwater mollusks are rare, imperiled, or already gone.

·

Over 800 million people lack access to safe drinking water, 2.4 billion to adequate sanitation.

·

Each day almost 10,000 children under the age of 5 in Third World countries die as a result of illnesses contracted by use of impure water.

·

African and Asian women walk an average of 6 kilometres each trip in order to fetch water.

·

One drop of oil can render up to 25 litres of water unfit for drinking. 

·

You can survive about a month without food, but only 5 to 7 days without water. 

·

The world is on track to reach the Millennium Development Goal re water, but is woefully behind its targets for the MDG re sanitation.  

·

Rotarians have contributed over $89 million in water & sanitation projects over the last ten years.