Bringing Clean Water to the People Who Need it Most (VIDEO)

The Global Water Challenge is a coalition of diverse, non-profit organizations working to provide creative and sustainable solutions for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Bobbie Thomas and Paul Faeth talking to Tim King from Atlanta

(ATLANTA) - Groups are teaming up to take on water quality problems in the United States and abroad. They say thousands die every day from drinking contaminated water in parts of the world where water is always scarce.

Scarce they say, but that does not mean decent water isn't there. Simple wells in some communities have the capacity to bring healthy water to thousands.

Paul Faeth with Global Water Challenge and style guide Bobbie Thomas took time out for a satellite interview with Salem-News.com and they talked about the importance of clean water to countries all over the world as well as people in our own backyard.

Bobbie Thomas is the Senior Editor for In Touch Weekly, and author of the column "The Buzz," which highlights the hottest celebrity trends in lifestyle products. Along with Paul Faeth, she's urging everyone to get enough water to maintain their health.

It's all part of the Global Water Challenge and the Water Way Challenge.

Faeth said, "Safe, clean water is a human right and necessity. Access to clean water and sanitation leads to healthier, longer and more productive lives – and it breaks the cycle of poverty."

Thomas is directing her energy back toward people in the United States, particularly women, and delivering the message that getting better habits when it comes to drinking water, can make a lifelong difference to your health.

Global Water Challenge

Global Water Challenge (GWC) is a coalition of diverse, non-profit organizations working to provide creative and sustainable solutions for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

GWC’s mission is to generate a global movement to meet the urgent need for safe water and sanitation by generating collective awareness and investment in sustainable water supply/sanitation innovation by corporate, public, and nongovernmental actors.

Facts About Water

• In the developing world, close to a billion people lack access to clean water.
• Dirty water and poor sanitation kills 5,000 children every day.
• Every year, 443 million school days are missed by millions of children between 5 and 15 years old due to water and sanitation related illnesses.
• A typical five-minute shower in the United States uses more water than a person in one of the developing world’s slums may have available all day.

GWC Helps Women and Children

Helping Women Around the World.

According to figures released by GLC, women and children spend 40 billion hours a year collecting water.

"On average, they walk 3.5 miles a day carrying 42 pounds of water. This greatly reduces the time women have to spend on productive work, such as earning an income for their families. This is why GWC sees women as a key target audience for their water programs around the world."

Providing Safe Water and Sanitation in Schools.

Half of the schools in the world lack access to clean water. Yet safe water, clean toilets and basic hygiene education lead to better health among children, increased attendance among girls, and a drop in general absenteeism. In fact, results from a GWC schools program showed that children who attend schools where water is available and latrines are maintained are 30 percent less likely to miss school. This is why GWC funds water, sanitation and hygiene education programs around the world.

Learn more about Global Water Challenge at globalwaterchallenge.com.

Crystal Light is spreading the word about GWC and financially supporting their work to bring safe drinking water to those in need. To learn more, visit DeliciousChange.com.