In honor of World Water Day, we’re shedding light on a few facts about water that put the work of Waterkeepers into perspective.
1) 2.2 billion people live without access to clean water
That’s 28 percent of the world’s population, or more than 1 in 4 people — and 2 million of them live right here in the U.S.
This is a tragedy and an injustice. It’s also something we’re helping to change, together, across 49 countries through organizing, litigation, and advocacy for smart water policies. Our work happens at the community level, by connecting and mobilizing more than 350 Waterkeeper groups worldwide.
2) Every year, an estimated 250,000 tons of tiny plastic pellets are lost in our oceans
Nurdles are pellets made of molten plastic and sold to manufacturers that turn them into straws, Styrofoam, water bottles, and other consumer goods. And microplastics like these make up 85 percent of plastic pollution found on shorelines.
The environmental impact is difficult to overstate: Researchers have determined that nurdles are vehicles for toxins and pathogens, choking delicate ecosystems, and polluting entire food chains that end with us.
3) It takes up to 7 gallons of water to flush a toilet
All the while, just 1 percent of the Earth’s water is drinkable, and 2 billion people lack reliable access.
These facts demonstrate the importance of Waterkeepers’ work across 49 countries to conserve these precious resources.
All around the world, where we use activism, organizing, and litigation to protect the water every single one of us uses — perhaps even more than we realize. And it all relies on your partnership.