We’re gearing up for World Water Day, and we hope you’ll be joining us in spreading awareness to the clean water cause.  We’re working with our corporate sponsors and YOU, of course, to support the efforts of Partners in Health and Engineers Without Borders–USA in the work that they do to provide clean water around the world.

Did you know, in a recent report released by the WHO and UNICEF show that some 5.9 billion people, or 87 per cent of the world’s population, now have access to safe drinking water?  This reports suggests that we are on track to meet our 2015 Millennium Development goals.  We’re positive that this in large part to the active nature of local communities, nonprofits like PIH and EWB-USA, and supports like you!

So what can you do this World Water Day to show your support for the clean water cause?  Here are a few of our ideas:

• Participate in UNICEF’s Tap Project.  Restaurants across the US ask patrons to donate $1 for the tap water they normally enjoy for free, which is then donated to UNICEF. This year, UNICEF Tap Project donations will fund programs in Central African Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Togo, and Vietnam—countries that UNICEF water and sanitation experts have prioritized for their immediate needs.
• Leave comments for the EPA on their web forum about how to better protect America’s waters.  That’s right, they’re asking for public input for the next two weeks on how to address and solve some of the most significant water pollution problems facing the nation.  Please leave your ideas!  (You’ll see this is especially important if you’ve been following the Supreme Court decision regarding the EPA’s jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.)
• Watch a documentary about water to raise your awareness.  There are some great ones out there, including award winner Up the Yangtze, about the Three Gorges Dam.  Our witty and intelligent friends at the Groundwater Up Project just finished their documentary on issues of clean water in Delhi (though these issues are surely not specific to Delhi).  Check out their trailer:
• Get your friends to sign up with replyforall!  We are pushing to get enough users to provide 100 families with clean water for 1 year.  If you remember last year, we had enough of your help to build 2 wells for 2 villages!  Help us this year to reach our goal– we need less than 300 new replyforall users to get there, so spread the word!

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	Between 1990 and 2004, 62 million more people in rural sub-Saharan Africa gained access to water supplies.
	By using this email signature, Johanna and Engineers Without Borders-USA provided an hour of clean water for 9 people.

Related articles to check out:

• Pete Wentz: UNICEF’s New Tap Project Spokesperson! (justjared.buzznet.com)
• Global Access To Safe Drinking Water Increased, Sanitation Lagging Behind, WHO-UNICEF Report Finds (medicalnewstoday.com)
• Toxic Waters: Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Hampering E.P.A. (nytimes.com)