The World Health Organization reports that there are 2.2 million diarrheal deaths yearly related to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene-principally among children under five. Approximately one billion people do not have access to safe water sources.
Community residents often assume water is safe to drink and rely on polluted rivers, lakes, and in some cases, unsafe wells or piped water. Household water treatment and safe storage results in improvements in water quality and reductions in water borne diseases.
The most affected are people in developing countries, living in extreme conditions of poverty, on the fringes of urban communities or in rural areas. In many countries, forty percent of all hospital admissions relate to unsafe water and lack of sanitation.
