GEF

Unit 1  |  Why Water Matters 21 Much of the world’s population is water poor , which means they do not have access to the water they need. Millions of developing world farmers rely on rainwater to provide for their crops. This leaves them at the mercy of periodic droughts, flooding, and uneven supply. Women and children must often walk up to three hours per day in order to collect the water they need for their families. By 2025, The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that half of the world’s popu- lation will be living in water-stressed areas. According toWHO, in 2015 663 million people relied on unim- proved water , including 159 million who were dependent on surface water . The result is high rates of diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea, malaria, dengue fever, and cholera that are caused by insufficient supply and poor water quality. WATER POOR Not having access to suf- ficient water or water of an adequate quality to meet one’s basic needs. UNIMPROVED WATER Water that is not protected from outside contamination. SURFACE WATER Water on the surface of the Earth in lakes, streams, and wetlands.