Clean, safe drinking water is scarce for over 3 billion people across the world. At least 1 billion literally never have access to clean, safe drinking water, putting them at constant risk of severe thirst-related ill health effects, infectious diseases or toxic contamination. Over 100 countries face either sporadic or chronic crisis-level problems related to clean water scarcity.

As the Innocentive project reports:

Yet, over half of the world’s population is at risk for water shortages, with far-reaching effects. Lack of adequate clean water has serious health implications, including the prevalence of water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and E, and diarrhea. Globally, diarrhea is the leading cause of illness and death and 88% of those deaths are due to inadequate sanitation and availability of clean water. Water shortages also foment civil unrest and often lead to violence and regional conflicts, as we have seen in Darfur, Somalia, Chad, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, among others. Lack of water perpetuates poverty, increases the risk of political instability, and affects global prosperity.

The Clinton Global Initiative is working to bring water purification packets to remote areas around the world where available water poses a threat of toxic agent or disease transmission, in order to speed the delivery of clean, safe drinking water to affected populations. Innocentive is offering possible financial benefit for solutions to what may be the world’s most severe public health crisis.

Use this discussion to share your ideas and experiences, including links to research and reports about best practices for solving the world’s water crisis…

http://www.ecospheretech.com/corporate-info/overview

Ecosphere Technologies is “developing eco-friendly technologies to solve major water remediation challenges on land and at sea”. According to their website, they are working to produce “technologies and services to ensure clean water availability in emergency disaster situations, and to enable more environmentally responsible water management practices for industry. As the world awakens to issues of global warming and humanity’s impact on the planet, our commitment has never been stronger. Support for the Ocean Futures Society is but one example of how Ecosphere Technologies exemplifies the power of corporations and conservationists to pursue shared goals for the common good.”