The World Health Organization estimates that over 3.4 million people die each year worldwide because they lack access to clean water and adequate sanitation. That's over 9,300 people every day, mostly young children as they are the most vulnerable. This critical problem is by far the leading cause of death and suffering in the world. It is not just a humanitarian crisis but an economic crisis as well. Some analysts calculate that for every $1 dollar spent in this area there is an economic return of $3 to $4 dollars in health and productivity gains. Our greater society has the technology and ability is to tackle this issue but still lacks the political will. Take a look at these pages and contact The Water Campaign or one of the many other citizen organizations listed on this site and find out how you can make a difference.  

(Excerpt below from the U.S. State Department)
The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 became United States law on December 1, 2005.
The Act requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other U.S. Government agencies, to develop and implement a strategy “to provide affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries” within the context of sound water resources management.

                                                                            
Over the past year, the Department of State and USAID have taken a number of steps to advance the goals of the WfP Act and to strengthen the U.S. response to water and sanitation challenges in developing countries. We have more clearly defined U.S. goals and objectives on water to respond to the Act and to take into account increasing demands for water—such as food production, energy, and the environment—and increasing risks, including the projected impacts of climate change. We have identified countries where water will be a priority for U.S. foreign assistance based on country need and where we believe U.S. assistance can make the most meaningful impact. We have developed a water framework (Annex A) that describes the kinds of investments the United States will make at the local, national, and regional levels to address water and sanitation challenges. We have developed strategies that identify region-specific goals, approaches, and outcomes. And we have established guidelines for the programming of resources on drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to ensure that we meet our statutory obligations. Most importantly, we have also delivered results on the ground—providing nearly 2 million people with first-time access to an improved drinking water source and more than 1.5 million people with improved sanitation in 2007. We believe these are significant steps that represent a growing commitment by the United States to make water a core element of our foreign assistance.

We could not have done this alone. Over the past year, we have worked closely with a number of partners both inside and outside of government to inform our thinking and implement activities. We look forward to building on these partnerships as we strengthen our efforts to address the world's water challenges.
                                                    

The WaterForThePoor.net web site is sponsored by The Water Campaign a project of the nonprofit United States Water and Power.
U.S. Water and Power is incorporated to promote integrated sustainable water and power solutions. www.USWaterandPower.com 
The Water Campaign promotes sustainable clean water and sanitation for the U.S. and the developing world. www.TheWaterCampaign.com