Pertinent Statistics

Water pollution affects billions of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2 billion people use contaminated drinking water sources. Each year, 485,000 people die from diarrheal diseases linked to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and hygiene. In low-income countries, 70% of industrial waste is dumped untreated into waters, polluting the usable water supply. About 80% of the world's wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused. The United Nations estimates that by 2025, half of the world's population will be living in water-stressed areas. Additionally, contaminated water contributes to over 1.2 million deaths globally each year, including through diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis A.