Historical Estimates Undershot The Need

A new study using land-based, airborne, and satellite data, in combination with household surveys, estimates that 4.4 billion people lack safe drinking water across low- and middle-income countries. That’s more than half the world’s population and  more than double previous estimates of 2 billion people going without worldwide. Lack of access to safely managed drinking water remains one of the greatest threats to human lives today.

Water And Safe Water Are Not The Same Thing

Safely managed drinking water services must satisfy three criteria: available on demand, accessible on premises, and free of priority contaminants such as E-coli. Access to water is one thing. Access to water that is plentiful, safe, reliable, convenient, affordable, and available to all without discrimination is quite another.

Prioritizing People

With your support, we have moved the needle in the right direction by 1.4 million people already. Cova is uniquely positioned to respond to the water crisis. Our safe-water model works because it prioritizes people. Local involvement is critical in ensuring that the benefits of safe water extend well beyond the initial implementation phase. Communities equipped to sustain their health and economic gains independently make safely managed water sustainable.

The number 4.4 billion is surreal for most. We can’t visualize a crowd this big or count this high, let alone accept a problem this great. So instead, let’s remember that this new number is more than a statistic. It’s more than its seeming intangibility. It’s people. And no matter how high, it is our ‘why.’