What Are Some Water Scarcity Facts?

Water scarcity facts provided by UN Water include:
  • 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries, of which 733 million live in high and critically water-stressed countries
  • 3.2 billion people live in agricultural areas with high to very high water shortages or scarcity, of whom 1.2 billion people—roughly one-sixth of the world’s population—live in severely water-constrained agricultural areas
  • 1.42 billion people—including 450 million children—live in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability
  • About 4 billion people, representing nearly two-thirds of the global population, experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year[1]
In addition, women and girls can suffer the most from lack of water because they are often in charge of getting the water for the household. This often takes quite a bit of time for those in rural areas without infrastructure. This leaves them at risk for attack and sexual violence.[2]

Globally, 44 percent of household wastewater is not properly treated for safety, which can contaminate otherwise useable water, making the water situation worse.[3] These kinds of unchecked water issues can exacerbate the water crisis in regions where people are struggling for safe clean water for the most basic of daily tasks, like cooking and hygiene.

A water source is needed that cannot be easily contaminated and is not at the mercy of weather patterns or natural disasters. GFA World has a solution that meets all of these needs. It doesn’t require infrastructure from the government or thousands of dollars to install or maintain.

The Jesus Well can be put into a village for just $1,400 on average, and is maintained by the local GFA congregation. The well is drilled as deep as necessary to provide water year-round, which also protects it from drought, contamination and natural disasters. Properly taken care of, Jesus Wells can last for decades providing more than enough water for the village residents’ needs.

The congregation’s care of the well plus using local workers for the drilling helps to keep the costs down. It’s a very local, sustainable solution that helps a village to start thriving where it may have only been barely surviving.


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